The lady standing in front of me had a tattoo on her nape. “Wish you were here – May 12, 2010,” it read. What happened on that date, I wanted to ask. Did she lose somebody she loved? Another time, I saw a woman on the train wiping away her tears. She had a big bag with her. I wondered -- did she just leave her family? Was she thrown out of her home?
Just recently, my daughter told me that one of her friends committed suicide. What a tragic way to end one’s life at the age of 19. Did anyone know what he was going through? What demons did he battle with in his mind?
This story brought me back to my high school years when someone in our batch killed herself. Nobody had a clue that she was experiencing so much personal turmoil. Could we, her classmates and teachers, have done something to save her?
Every person has a story to tell. It can be a story of loneliness, pain, desperation. But that despair can turn to hope. Sometimes, all it takes is for someone to reach out and care.
Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do... We urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, cheer the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient with all. (1 Thessalonians 5:11,14)
August 23, 2010
August 17, 2010
Gentle Speech
On my train ride home, a woman walked in with her daughter and sat down beside me. The little girl, who was about three, was crying and screaming “I don’t want to ride the train. I want to ride the bus right now!” She kept repeating it over and over. I felt for her mom who must have been embarrassed, as everyone on the train was looking at them.
But how do you deal with a 3 year old who has her mind set on something she wants? As any experienced mother knows, the best way to handle a tantrum is to ignore it. To her credit, the mother did just that, gently speaking to the child that they had to take the train and would soon be getting off. But the screaming went on for about 20 minutes until they reached their station.
I’m glad I’m way past that child rearing stage. But some things don’t change, although roles have been reversed. Just the other day, I blew my top over my teenage son’s huge cell phone bill. He took it gently while I yelled at him. I went back to my room, embarrassed at my outburst. Good thing we weren’t on a train.
Like that 3 year old, I still need to learn a lot about controlling my emotions and taming my tongue.
Brothers, even if a person is caught in some transgression, you who are spiritual should correct that one in a gentle spirit, looking to yourself, so that you also may not be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)
But how do you deal with a 3 year old who has her mind set on something she wants? As any experienced mother knows, the best way to handle a tantrum is to ignore it. To her credit, the mother did just that, gently speaking to the child that they had to take the train and would soon be getting off. But the screaming went on for about 20 minutes until they reached their station.
I’m glad I’m way past that child rearing stage. But some things don’t change, although roles have been reversed. Just the other day, I blew my top over my teenage son’s huge cell phone bill. He took it gently while I yelled at him. I went back to my room, embarrassed at my outburst. Good thing we weren’t on a train.
Like that 3 year old, I still need to learn a lot about controlling my emotions and taming my tongue.
Brothers, even if a person is caught in some transgression, you who are spiritual should correct that one in a gentle spirit, looking to yourself, so that you also may not be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)
August 12, 2010
Perfect Love
There are days when I want to forget that I have responsibilities. When I’m annoyed, frustrated and disappointed with the people around me--I want to pretend that I’m not a wife, a mother and an employee.
It’s tiring to meet everyone’s expectations. I get sick of hearing complaints all the time. If I just live for myself, I can do anything without thinking what others will say. I don’t have to cook if I don’t want to. I don’t have to worry about anyone’s needs. I can skip work, sleep the whole day and not care.
Does God ever feel the same way about me? Does He get tired of my sins, my fears, my whining?
Thankfully, no--that’s why He is God and I’m just an ordinary person. His love is perfect and unconditional, not like mine.
"Great are you, Lord GOD! There is none like you and there is no God but you, just as we have heard it told...” (2 Samuel 7:22)
It’s tiring to meet everyone’s expectations. I get sick of hearing complaints all the time. If I just live for myself, I can do anything without thinking what others will say. I don’t have to cook if I don’t want to. I don’t have to worry about anyone’s needs. I can skip work, sleep the whole day and not care.
Does God ever feel the same way about me? Does He get tired of my sins, my fears, my whining?
Thankfully, no--that’s why He is God and I’m just an ordinary person. His love is perfect and unconditional, not like mine.
"Great are you, Lord GOD! There is none like you and there is no God but you, just as we have heard it told...” (2 Samuel 7:22)
August 8, 2010
Running the Race
When I was young, things couldn’t happen fast enough. I wanted to pull the days so I could graduate, get a job, buy a house and a car. Now that I’m nearing the golden mark, I wake up each morning wondering where the days have gone. Life passes by more quickly when you’re older. And this becomes more apparent with the changing of the seasons. As plants shoot up from the soil, bloom, shed leaves and finally die in the cold of winter, you know for sure that time has gone by.
I used to be so afraid of death. Just the thought of it would make me anxious. “There’s a lot I need to do”. “I still have many dreams to accomplish!” But as I aged, I came to accept the inevitable--like the passing of the seasons, life comes and goes.
And so, I ask the Lord for more time--no longer for material desires--but for things that matter most – to see my children finish school and settle down, to play with my grandchildren, to grow old together with my husband, to share my faith.
At the end of the road, I want to be ready to answer the question. “Did you have a life well-lived?”
I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
I used to be so afraid of death. Just the thought of it would make me anxious. “There’s a lot I need to do”. “I still have many dreams to accomplish!” But as I aged, I came to accept the inevitable--like the passing of the seasons, life comes and goes.
And so, I ask the Lord for more time--no longer for material desires--but for things that matter most – to see my children finish school and settle down, to play with my grandchildren, to grow old together with my husband, to share my faith.
At the end of the road, I want to be ready to answer the question. “Did you have a life well-lived?”
I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
August 4, 2010
Surprise!
I don’t really like surprises. Being the person that I am, I prefer to know exactly what’s going to happen and plan accordingly.
Although I had prepared myself for the life we would face here in Canada, I was hopeful that it would be different for me. So it was a surprise that nine months after we arrived, I still couldn’t find a decent job. I had almost resigned myself to the fact that I would never have a career, much less a similar job to the one I had in the Philippines.
But God brought me into my field of human resources, even though I had to start again at the very bottom. He also blessed me with employers who funded my studies, and I finished not one but two certificate programs.
Just recently, I was able to reach the position that I had in the Philippines before I left. It took nine long years and I no longer expected it--but what a pleasant surprise.
Shortly after, I got accepted as a freelance writer for an online media company. To do something that I love and get paid for it--another wonderful surprise.
Forrest Gump says “Life is like a box of chocolates--you never know just what you’re getting.” Our parish priest calls it “divine unpredictability”. God works in ways we often don’t expect.
I will wait in joyful anticipation for the many more surprises God has in store for me.
All good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights (James 1:17)
Although I had prepared myself for the life we would face here in Canada, I was hopeful that it would be different for me. So it was a surprise that nine months after we arrived, I still couldn’t find a decent job. I had almost resigned myself to the fact that I would never have a career, much less a similar job to the one I had in the Philippines.
But God brought me into my field of human resources, even though I had to start again at the very bottom. He also blessed me with employers who funded my studies, and I finished not one but two certificate programs.
Just recently, I was able to reach the position that I had in the Philippines before I left. It took nine long years and I no longer expected it--but what a pleasant surprise.
Shortly after, I got accepted as a freelance writer for an online media company. To do something that I love and get paid for it--another wonderful surprise.
Forrest Gump says “Life is like a box of chocolates--you never know just what you’re getting.” Our parish priest calls it “divine unpredictability”. God works in ways we often don’t expect.
I will wait in joyful anticipation for the many more surprises God has in store for me.
All good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights (James 1:17)
August 1, 2010
Omnipresent
Omnipresent. Webster’s defines it as “present in all places at all times.”
I love this word. It conjures an image of someone who will always be there for you. Who else can be described as such except God who is everywhere, anywhere, whenever you need Him.
At the church where I attend the Perpetual Help novena, the priest gives a beautiful blessing at the end of the mass. “May our Lord Jesus Christ be with you to defend you, within you to sustain you, before you to lead you, behind you to protect you and above you to bless you all the days of your life.”
What great comfort to know that I have an omnipresent God.
O LORD, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. My travels and my rest you mark; with all my ways you are familiar. Even before a word is on my tongue, LORD, you know it all. Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me. Such knowledge is beyond me, far too lofty for me to reach. Where can I hide from your spirit? From your presence, where can I flee? (Psalm 139:1-7)
I love this word. It conjures an image of someone who will always be there for you. Who else can be described as such except God who is everywhere, anywhere, whenever you need Him.
At the church where I attend the Perpetual Help novena, the priest gives a beautiful blessing at the end of the mass. “May our Lord Jesus Christ be with you to defend you, within you to sustain you, before you to lead you, behind you to protect you and above you to bless you all the days of your life.”
What great comfort to know that I have an omnipresent God.
O LORD, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. My travels and my rest you mark; with all my ways you are familiar. Even before a word is on my tongue, LORD, you know it all. Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me. Such knowledge is beyond me, far too lofty for me to reach. Where can I hide from your spirit? From your presence, where can I flee? (Psalm 139:1-7)
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