A Very Special Christmas Bonus
Christmas bonuses can bring a mix of emotions, especially if we don’t get the Christmas bonus we hoped for. This post offers a gentle shift in perspective and a reminder of God’s greatest blessings.
HEALING GRACES & REFLECTIONS
Sheri Anne Maximille Cabañes-Madayag
12/5/20255 min read
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. 🎄❄️
December has come. And it’s the season of festivities and celebrations. Christmas decorations fill houses and establishments; parties and gift-giving are everywhere. Truly, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year.
One of the most anticipated by workers during this season is the Christmas bonus. This blog post reflects on a very special Christmas bonus we have ever received.
What We’ll Reflect On In This Post:
Not Getting The Christmas Bonus We Want
A Christmas bonus reflects the company’s (or employer’s) generosity and appreciation for the employee’s year-long hard work. Some bonuses come in the form of cash, while others are given as gifts, such as grocery bags or any item that serves as a token of appreciation. Whatever form a bonus is given, it is truly and undeniably anticipated by employees during the Christmas season.
Christmas bonuses stir a mix of emotions for most people. Some are celebrating getting more than they expected. Others are disappointed with receiving less. And few try to hold back tears for not having a Christmas bonus.
There is nothing wrong with hoping to receive a Christmas bonus. And feelings of joy, disappointment, and sadness related to our Christmas bonus situation are valid. After all, the Christmas season can be busy and expensive, and we could all use the extra cash or any gift that would make us feel valued at work.
My Christmas Bonus Situation
I have been through all kinds of Christmas bonus situations and have felt those emotions. I used to work as a nurse in a government hospital where we received so much during the Christmas season - 13th-month pay, cash gift, and grocery allowance. Having that much made me feel overjoyed and blessed, so I generously gave gifts to my family, friends, and coworkers.
When I switched careers and became a virtual assistant, I received a small amount of Christmas bonus from my client and my agency. I was still thankful, but disappointed because I used to get a lot from my previous work. Adding to the disappointment was knowing that other virtual assistants from the same agency received huge Christmas bonuses, plus paid holiday off from their clients. Seeing how others have been given so much made me jealous.
The worst came the following year when I did not get any bonus at all. None of my fellow virtual assistants under the same client received any bonuses. We were all disappointed and jealous of the other virtual assistants who received bonuses from their clients. I personally felt demoralized and unappreciated. I lost motivation to work during the holidays. The following year came, and still no bonus. At that time, I was already expecting there would be no bonus, so the pain was not as much as the previous year. But I still felt a little disappointed and jealous.
This coming Christmas, I am learning to manage my expectations. I still feel some disappointment and jealousy knowing the high chances of not getting a Christmas bonus. But this time, I am not fixating on it and will not let it affect my Holiday season. Since I started to build a closer relationship with God this year, I realized that I had taken for granted a different kind, yet very special, Christmas bonus. In fact, we all have received the best Christmas bonus we could ever have.
A Different Kind Of Christmas Bonus
When we think of a Christmas bonus, we often think of money or a basket of goodies. We have been accustomed to the idea that bonuses are something we deserve for our “hard work”. But whether or not we receive that monetary reward for our hard work, we should always be grateful for the most important bonus given to mankind - Jesus Christ, our savior.
Reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas, which is the birth of Jesus Christ, gave me a different perspective. The companies or employers we work for would give us bonuses for our hard work. Sometimes, we don’t receive bonuses despite our effort.
On the contrary, Jesus Christ was given to us not because we hit our targets, because of our outstanding performance, or because we were employee of the month. God gave us Jesus Christ out of unconditional love and mercy. We are undeserving sinners, but God gave us His Only Son for our salvation.
As stated in 1 John 4:9-10, “God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” That is the ultimate Christmas bonus that no economic recession or company budget cuts can ever take from us.
Moving Forward With Gratitude
This Christmas, we may not get the bonus we hoped for from work. It’s okay to feel disappointed. We should acknowledge our feelings with honesty. Breathe. Pause. Pray and lift our disappointments to God, for He listens and understands our feelings.
We may not feel blessed because of the Christmas bonus that did not come, but we must look at how blessed we are in so many other ways. Let us thank God even for the smallest blessings He gave us. Food on our tables. The air we breathe. The beauty of nature. People we love and love us back. The gift of life, peace, hope, and salvation. These blessings are priceless and even greater than any Christmas bonus.
Let us always remember that our worth is not measured by the amount of Christmas bonus from our companies or employers. Christmas bonuses come and go - spent, deposited, or given away. But the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ is eternal. It is the Christmas bonus that stays with us forever.
Leaving this bible verse from Ephesians 2:8-9, to remind us of God’s gift of salvation, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no one may boast.”
What’s your Christmas bonus story? How will you give thanks to God for giving us eternal salvation through Jesus Christ? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to reach out through my contact page.
