Lenten Reflection

It has been our family tradition to celebrate lent. We visit several churches to dedicate prayers intended for the occasion. We also go through the usual Roman Catholic tradition of fasting, abstinence, procession, and the likes. But like others, we also take this time to celebrate the holidays elsewhere, read: beach!

Now, more than ever, we feel that lent has become part of our family bonding. It's been three years now since Dad has been chosen to be part of the 12 Apostles. Because of this, we really do not have the chance to go out of town, but instead reflect at home while Dad does his duties.

For this year, I reflected how irrelevant I am to the world lest to the Lord. I am just a very minute detail of His grandiose creation and yet He loves me. That realization made me feel ashamed of myself. How arrogant and rude I was throughout my existence. 

I was so full of myself thinking I could just pray to the Lord and beg for what I wanted in life. I am not even worthy to call upon His name. But lent teaches us how much Jesus loves us, and thus the more I feel ashamed.

Before the 12 Apostles could even use Jesus' name to heal the sick and to preach the Word, they have been trained and tested. As for me? Why do I even deserve to be blessed by God's Grace? For this I am very humbled.

Thus, I made a resolution of giving back to the Lord as much as I can by glorifying His name. That in all things that I do, I must must must must must remember that it is for the Lord whatever I am doing. That all that I have and all that I am must be for the Lord. Whatever the role I am doing: daughter, sister, partner, friend, worker, subordinate, neighbor, playmate, office mate, colleague, acquaintance. Whatever it might be, I must be kind. That I am given what I have for a sole purpose of glorifying the Lord.

I am ending this with a prayer to the Lord, that despite my shortcomings and weaknesses, may Your hand work in me that I will be deserving to receive  Your love. Thank You Lord. 

You are My Sunshine

(got this from youtube, uploaded by djeliteplaylist)

This song reminds me of my most favorite person in the world. ^_^

Anecdote of Hard Work

Long time ago, there was a farmer's kid who dreamt of a better life. Better means having his own house, a car, and a stable job. This kid belongs to a large family, he is the youngest among siblings of nine. Unlike the babies in other families, being the youngest child did not give him the perks. Rather, it was a hindrance. It made him (always) the last to receive whatever there was. Food, clothes, including education privileges.

Despite the circumstances it did not discourage him to persevere. He worked his own way to go to school. He tendered the garden at school. Washed and iron clothes for his teacher. Side kicked with his (rich) cousin, so  he could share allowance with him. He found ways to cope with poverty and afford school. He learned early about pakikisama. He humbled himself by giving whatever services needed to his well-off aunts and made ends meet throughout high school.

In college, he worked as a night shift security guard so he could be a scholar. He always said, he was not intelligent, but rather smart and that he always persevere. He graduated college, and unlike in fairy tales, riches and prosperity were not instant. 

He married his childhood neighbor, and forced their way in the Metro. They had a child. Being still poor, they both worked hard to provide for their small family. Sometimes leaving the child to his in-laws. He even shared that they were so poor, they do not have any furniture at home. Just a banig to lie on. He even had to apply for a loan to buy a bed.

To cut the story short, God has his own ways of giving them grace. A publication came out of the newspaper  looking for a security personnel (not necessarily guard), but whatever the publication was, it did not say anything further, not even the company name. Turned out, it was the Head Office of the Development Bank of the Philippines. He was hired as a clerk in the security department. Being so, he exuded the traits of a dedicated personnel. He came to the office as early as 6am (call time was 7am), and made the right connections. His boss saw him work, and his colleagues lauded him for his perserverance.

With the right connections, he was offered an opportunity to go abroad. From there, everything was blurry. Life happened while he was away. He labored, he suffered, and sacrificed. It was not a walk in the park. Came 2010, he retired. Said he was tired of being away. Good thing, his wife managed his finances well. He went back to the country and reaped the fruits of his labor: a home, a car, and enough savings. They immediately ventured into business and persevered even more.

I guess in real life, you cannot really say it's happy ever after. But, for the poor kid, he trusted God has great plans for him. And through Him, he worked hard to achieve whatever he has now. 

He is still working hard though. He never rested a day in his life. He could have gotten a set of staff to manage his business, but he said it's his life's savings so he still manages it.

Here's to your hardwork kid. And yeah, the kid is my dad.

This is an inspirational tribute for your hardwork. Dreams do come true. Happy  fake birthday Daddy!