The Family
With just a few days left until Christmas, my gaze turns toward the Holy Family of Nazareth and my own family. I realize how much I have been given. I grew up surrounded by hugs and days that seemed endless; where laughter blended with the daily chores and the nights ended with my mom praying the Our Father and Hail Mary with us—prayers that, unknowingly, wove a bridge between God and my family.
How easy it is to take the extraordinary for granted when it becomes part of the routine. It wasn’t until my daughter Cristy received her diagnosis—during that time of uncertainty, pain, silence, and, at the same time, hope for a miracle—that I understood, as if whispered to me by heaven itself, the magnitude of what God had already given me. It was then, in the middle of the trial, that I discovered the unconditional love that upheld me: my family, that silent rock; my friends, who became a safe refuge; and millions of people around the world who embraced us from afar with prayers and words that felt like roses in a desert. There, in the pain, I saw God closer than ever, with a love so pure that even in the darkest night, His light could still be glimpsed.
I think of Him, of everything He has done for me. God, who has given me more than I could have ever asked for, more than I needed, and so much more than I deserve. And yet, when He chose to enter our humanity, He did so with a disarming humility: He chose the fragility of a manger, a poor, cold, and silent corner, where love was the only wealth. “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger” (Luke 2:7).
Today, as Christmas draws near, I want to invite all of us to pause during our busy lives. To look around with new eyes and discover, perhaps for the first time, how fortunate we truly are: a family that embraces us, friends who accompany us, and a community that sustains us.
In these days, more than material gifts and abundant tables, let us give thanks from the depths of our souls and offer sincere love to those around us. May gratitude return us to Him, who always waits for us with open arms, with infinite patience and a mercy that never runs dry. For the greatest gift has already been given to us: a Child in a manger, a Savior in our world, love itself made flesh.
Merry Christmas. “Jesus, I Trust in You.”

Monica Lacouture was born and raised in Colombia, South America. She came to the United States in 1995 where she and her husband married and were blessed with three children — Daniel, David and Christina (the inspiration behind Build the Faith).
Although Monica was raised a Catholic and attended parochial schools, she admits that throughout most of her adulthood she was a “lukewarm” Catholic. Her faith took an unexpected turn in late 2012 when she attended a retreat and experienced a personal encounter with Jesus. Little did she know, that three months later she would come to rely heavily on her newly strengthened faith as she dealt with her daughter, Christina’s, terminal cancer diagnosis and treatment. Throughout Christina’s battle with cancer, Monica’s faith grew and in 2016, inspired by Christina’s strong faith and trust in Jesus, Monica, and Fernando founded Build the Faith. As President of Build the Faith, Monica feels blessed to be able to continue her daughter’s legacy of faith and hope.