Let Love Light The Way - The Tired Mama-PH's Christmas Wish

I was watching the Disney Junior Channel with my son and was able to catch the Christmas special of Elena of Avalor entitled "Navidad". In this episode, several groups of people living in Avalor were clamoring for Princess Elena to celebrate the festivities with each of them. Since each group of people had a unique tradition for Navidad, it was very difficult for Elena to decide where and with whom to celebrate Navidad. Her little sister Isabel (voiced by Jenna Ortega of Jane the Virgin), on the other hand, had her heart set on spending Navidad with her best friend Christina and didn't mind if she broke tradition- just as long as she could spend the holiday with her best friend. Amidst all the choices, Elena decided to make a new tradition where everyone would spend Navidad together, fusing all their traditions into one place. Of course, as expected, each group competed with one another to prove to Elena that their tradition was the best. It was funny, while everyone was competing with one another, a rich businesswoman used this to exploit and earn money from them. At the end, chaos erupted forcing everyone to carry on with their usual traditions in their own respective areas. Isabel was left deeply saddened as her best friend's father decided that it would be best if they too just celebrated Navidad their own way. Elena seeing her sister's angst finally realized the true spirit and meaning of Navidad- to celebrate the holidays with the people you adore. So Elena goes on a parranda singing "Let Love Light The Way" to get all the villagers together to celebrate Navidad at the Avalor Castle.

While I was watching this episode of Elena of Avalor, it made me stop and reflect on my life and what the world has become. Just like the villagers, there are aspects that tend to separate people around the world from one another, traditions, culture, and race. Just like the villagers, we take pride in ourselves and our lifestyle but, sometimes it can be counterproductive and lead to unwanted competitiveness or worse division. And just like the villagers, when we are blinded by selfishness, there's an opportunist ready to con you out of your money. To put it simply, people are warring with each other around the world and people are being persecuted for their religion, ethnicity, or race. And there are the opportunists who fund extremist groups- doesn't matter what side they are on just as long as they are capable of paying. It is a very uncomfortable thought.

Unfortunately, many of our world leaders aren't like Elena of Avalor who values all her countrymen and the fellowships or alliances that one has with another. It seems when today's leaders make a choice, sometimes it isn't for the greater good of the entire population but, for the good of the few who are aligned with them in office. It seems that greed has taken precedence over the true virtues among mankind. 

The digital world, social media mainly, has created a surrealistic world likened to the paintings of Van Gogh creating the image of an exaggerated life among people. Everyone is pretty, everyone is rich, everyone is perfect on social media. The virtual world has created a culture of narcissistic Millenials who seem apt at bullying another when ideals collide. It's a pity with all this energy spent by these people, if it were channeled in the right direction, could cause positive change. But, as advancements in technology were done to make people become closer, it is inadvertently causing conflict.

As a parent, it is very troubling that I know deep down inside that I may not be able to shelter my child from the cruelty around the world. But, I can teach him to be a good person, with love in his heart, so when he grows up, he can help make a difference in the world and hopefully help mend what needs mending and make sure that the world can go on peacefully for his own children. There is no other person I would want to spend the holidays with...I'm happy with him by my side.

This Christmas I wish for solidarity among people. I wish for peace- peace of mind, peace in our hearts and peace among mankind. Let's create new traditions and lasting relationships. Enough with the fighting, enough with the bigotry, enough with sexism, enough with propaganda, enough with what people think separates us from one another...enough is enough. We are all people...we are all put on this Earth to love, to support, to help, to grow, to raise, to culture, to cultivate, to explore, to seek, to be and to live. Let us all live with respect for each other. Let us all hold hands and together make this world a better place, in harmony-for the sake of our children and our children's children. Unity, kinship, love, peace, honesty, freedom, selflessness...humanity. We are all a part of one race...the HUMAN RACE.

Let love light the way...

Let Love Light The Way 

Music by: John Kavanaugh

Lyrics by: Craig Gerber

Performed by: Aimee Carrero, Emilio Diez, Gabriel Oliva, Jaime Camil, Justina Machado, Jilian Rose Reed, Laura Dickinson, Constance Marie, Gaby Moreno, Rich Sommer, Joseph Haro, Montse Hernandez, Christian Lanz, Jenna Ortega, Jorge Diaz, Ana Ortiz, Felice Hernandez, Baraka May, Dan Navarro, Fletcher Sheridan, and Antonio Sol

From: Elena of Avalor "Navidad" (Disney)

It's holiday time

The most special of seasons

So come gather 'round

To remember the reason

It's not all the gifts

The food or decorations

But the Spirit of Love

That marks this celebration

So, come walk with me

Sing along and you'll see

On this holiday

Let love light the way

You need nothing more

Than those you adore

On this holiday

Let love light the way

We all have our ways

Of observing this evening

Yet each of us shares

Something we all believe in

What makes this one night

Outshine all of the others

Is sharing our joy with our sisters and brothers

So come sing with me

All together we'll be

On this holiday

Let love light the way

And down every street

Are new friends we can meet

On this holiday

Let love light the way

(Instrumental Bridge)

Every December

As we honor all our traditions

It's nice to remember

That it's not a big competition

So, let love be your mission

The night outshines all the others

With our sisters and brothers

So come walk with me

Sing along and you'll see

On this holiday

Let love light the way

As we stand around the tree

All together we'll be

On this holiday

Let love light the way

You need nothing more than those you adore

On this holiday

Let love light the way

Let love

Let love

Let love

Let love light the way

Happy Holidays from The Tired Mama-PH!

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*Credit to sources:
Let Love Light The Way, video via Youtube, official site https://www.disneyjunior.com, Elena of Avalor (Disney)