WHEN I REACHED MY AGE, I SEE BETTER

 

 

https://www.fabulousquotes.com/2013/08/12/ive-reached-that-age-where-happy-hour-is-a-nap/

 

I have just celebrated my 48th birthday.  I feel so grateful with friends who have greeted me at social media virtually celebrating with me on this one beautiful yearly experience.  I just feel so special when it is my birthday ( I hope you all feel the same during your birthday).

I just would like to enumerate some things that I see about myself when I reached my age.

1.  I easily get soo happy with little things.

2.  I spent lesser time at social media because I just found much better use of my time.  Please don't get me wrong.  I know many of you love so much to browse.  it is not just me anymore that is why it takes so long for me to respond to comments and private messages.

 3.  I cry a lot.  This means that I get emotional with a lot of things such as seeing my daughter accomplish even a minute thing, seeing a simple smile given to me, seeing kindness displayed in front of me by a stranger and so many more.  I cry with joy in my heart when I drive...when another driver allows me to go first in a very congested time of the day...traffic).  And, I whisper "thank you" and "God bless you" for that driver. 

4.  I spent longer time talking to my husband and my little girl.  I sometimes call it "wasting time with love" and I find it so beautiful.  In fact, I like it so much watching both of them sleep or tracing some expressions in both their faces without them noticing me do that.  And it makes me just smile.

5.  I reached the sort of "peak" of career.  I value work / teaching my college students NOT this time recognition, designation and any other venue where I could be noticed ...soowwwiii ehehe (except that the more I sort of avoid them, they always come to my face such as hosting an online program haha).

6.  I have simpler choices with clothes, type of house, furniture, etc.  I have given up a lot of clothes before house transfer and will give up a lot more.  I will keep what will only be needed including all other stuffs in the house.  What keeps me busy online at times is to search for sites where I would be trained even more on mimimalism and simplicity of life. 

7.  I focus more on paying my debts than acquiring things which will even lump and add more problems to our finances.

8.  I care less about the idea of people talking about me or simply gossips and focus more on improving my craft.   

9.  Competing with others is a huge OFF already.  Even if I seem to be not giving comments about others beautiful and huge accomplishments at social media (which I don't have much of those times spent), In my heart is joy seeing success happening with other people and praying more success for them. 

10.  I care less about pleasing others when I do something.  I don't even want others at least to know that I did them (If I can hehe).  This one truly makes me happy.  In fact this blog site was created for the purpose of reflection and realization until it became a venue to be recognized and then I simply stopped because I got lost in the first goal.  And now, I am back.  It makes me happy just to blog without also being conscious about how many people reads my writing.

In short, I want to keep my life and things simpler this time so that I could focus more on essentials.  I don't even mind repeating wearing my clothes in a week (which was not quite me years back).

A lot has to be given up at my end and will continue to BE that until I see clearly and better.

I just have to continue to pray better... How is that?

HAPPY NEW YEAR OF 2022

https://www.inc.com/peter-economy/10-top-new-years-resolutions-for-success-happiness-in-2019.html

As I write, I keep on deleting my writing.  That means that I am not really certain about what to talk about for this blog.  Thus, I decided to continue writing and did not really intend to direct my mind into some definite topic to discuss except that the new year 2022 has begun. And I am trying to check on "how life has been for me or for us - my family".   December 2021 was spent trying to settle down in a new (permanent) residence with my family and trying to trim down expenses so that we could only focus on what is essential.   

Opening this blog was not a plan.  However, I kept on checking some documents online that I could use for some work-related stuff, and voila, I reached my blog site.  I ran through some comments from my readers and I got inspired to start again.  Truly words can be a powerful tool to lift others up ( I just don't have much time to linger at social media and do that to everyone).  But I would like to thank the Lord for inspiring me again through comments of beautiful individuals on this blog site.  Thank you, God.  

For some days in the past, I kept on imagining to start again.  I just did not have the inspiration to do it.  My mind was cluttered.  And,  I simply wanted to experience some peace and quiet to get back and write again. With that, I decided to shun myself from social media from Christmas to the new year.  And I simply loved the idea of not really engaging too much with it. It made me more in touch with myself and what could be more essential in life.

With this New Year of 2022, I pray for my family, my friends, relatives, and everyone.  That we will be directed in our efforts toward loving others and God.  

You could join me in this  ...in peace and quiet ...in our moments of prayer.  I do believe in the power of prayer.

Cheers to the NEW YEAR of 2022.

  

TEACHING WITH DEEP IMPRESSION AND AUTHORITY

" And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority" - Verse 22 from Gospel, Mark 1:21-28

I am currently teaching in a state university  handling Psychology courses.  At times, I get to be invited to facilitate trainings, seminars, now webinars (since they are now done online).  Earlier in my career, I resisted teaching.  However, my career path led me there.  

And, I choose verse 22 in the Gospel of Mark 1L 21 - 28 since it matched well with my being a teacher.  I always get that impression from my students -  deep impression and authority in the field when i started talking.  Perhaps also that's the reason why get frequent invitation.  

What led me into that so - called "authority" in the field.  I did finish the program BS Psychology.  I proceeded Masters in Guidance and Counseling but my PhD detoured to Education.  

I thought at first that I proceeded to Education since I had no other choice at the university where I had the privilege of getting free education since I was one of its employees.  However, when I finished the program, I felt a deep sense of attachment in the teaching profession and even became a Principal of the Senior High School and even went as far as writing a book that became a national best seller in the course Personal Development.  

I never expected it in my entire life.  Not ones in the past did I imagine these accomplishments.  I did not plan my life to lead to where I am now.

And, how does all these connect to the verse in the Gospel?

Jesus, was a teacher and still is continually forming us by His grace and the Holy Spirit present in us,  I feel such connection to him when I pray.  Every time I teach and facilitate trainings or give talks through seminars/ webinars, I feel many times that it is not just I but Jesus in me talking to His people.

So, it is not a deep impression from people for me but for God himself present in me.  The authority in me is not mine but God's.

I am not the one WHO IS THE LIGHT.  It is GOD.  And, I could only feel the awe afterwards at how God amazingly talks to His people through me as His instrument.  

I am forever grateful for this privilege to be His bearer for His people.  All Glory to His Name.  Amen.

MY YEAR 2020 REVIEW - THE CHALLENGES I HAVE ENCOUNTERED - PART 1

photo taken from :  http://smashinghub.com/the-challenges-of-designing-and-development.htm

I feel like I paused blogging in 2020.  I did not write much.  But it is the year of action in my life - from career to personal life plus the current pandemic that felt like also paused many lives specifically when going out was not possible due to lockdown.

Reviewing varied comments at social networking sites, many look at it as the worst year.  However, at my end, I would prefer looking at it as a very challenging year.  

1.  Challenge in Parenting 

I did not expect to confine my daughter most of the time in the house.  I felt her boredom.  Emotions can be very intense at times that I had to deal with myself and her confronting varied situations.  Patience is tested.  And, I need to improve myself on this.

2.  Challenge in being a teacher to my own daughter

Homeschooling was already an option we chose for her.  This time, modules provided by the school have displayed competencies not even really fit and relatable for her stage that I and my husband had to come in and do "double" time assisting her...Our daughter is slow with writing and so many modules had to be set aside for a while.  She won't answer some of them also so we had to come in again to simplify our teaching so that she can connect. Test of patience again, since a lot of times in between she would excuse and do something else.  Oh my ...patience is truly a virtue to practice:-)

3.  Challenge with Work

Early of 2020, I was on a regular work arrangement.  However, things immediately changed in March of 2020 when the pandemic has caused locked down for the whole country.  This made me do "work from home"  arrangement.  This meant that i had to handle my classes on asynchronous mode through a platform that I have been using.  This is new to many of my students so I had to simplify requirements and submissions.  Since I was designated under the office of the President of the university,  I had to engage in virtual meetings for certain office that was created by the President.  Until I finally decided to "resign" from that designation to be a fulltime faculty again so that I could have more time with the daughter for her homeschooling while doing "work from home" online /virtual teaching for my students (this time with more number of sections than when I was designated).  Really, going virtual is very tough since classes are not regular.  They are most of time provided with video discussions with quizzes, major exams and activities posted at a platform.  Oh my I really miss face to face teaching.

4.  Challenge with both Work and Family matters all done at home

At times there is no longer a  line between the two.  I do usual household chores, being a mom, teaching my students and teaching my daughter.  At times I got so exhausted that I had to pull out from the house and be at the workplace to just focus on work.  

5.  Challenge of loosing a Loved one

I lost my father later part of year 2020 (November 11, 2020).  Prior to that, there were emotional bouts at my end as I had to witness my father physically struggling.  Travels to Bukidnon and back in the city had to be done so that I could be with my father until he was hospitalized again ( twice during covid lockdown) until he peacefully passed away in November 2020.  

6.  Challenge with Dealing with Varied Personalities

As if I have not done this for years.  This keeps on like coming back to me. I constantly and regularly meet very challenging personalities at work or outside of it.  What strains me the most is to hold myself so that I will not "slip".  This means that I have set up a basic personal rule that I have lived up for years.  That is, not to say anything that I might regret or get back.  So the solution is to be SILENT.  Holding myself and WAITING FOR THE RIGHT TIME TO SPEAK OR NOT SPEAK AT ALL.  

Why did I come up with this rule?  It is what I learned on Emotional Intelligence.  And, from personal experience when I was not able to hold myself, expressed what I wanted and ruin relationships with people very close to me.  I did learn the hard way.  I do not want to go back and do it again.  That's why SILENCE and WAITING play a major role in my relating with challenging personalities.  And I learned to value KINDNESS despite circumstances.  That meant I have a choice to be kind to people who may choose not to be kind to me also.

Well, this is yet part 1.  And, they were few of those challenges that I met however, major ones that brought so much weight on me.  Pressure and stress.  However, I still ended up much better person.  I kept the faith.  I kept a good fight in the NAME OF MY LORD JESUS CHRIST.  

What I thank the Lord most is that, I am able to make a big come back in blogging.  And, I Glorify the Lord for this.  

HAPPY NEW YEAR OF 2021.

FINDING THE REASON TO MOVE ON

https://www.lifehack.org/articles/money/10-reasons-why-following-your-passion-more-important-than-money.html

I have not blogged for months already.  I simply stopped or simply forgot about blogging.  I even wondered why.  The taste of doing it.  The inspiration to write has been gone for months.  But I realized I have those thoughts running in my mind "i should have written this experience"...On and on.  until I lost touch again with this inner voice that would always prod me to write my experience.

I got so busy.  I went into doing so many things in my life taking care of work (shifting from face to face to virtual classes), family life, giving talks from time to time, record videos for my students and so many more.

The following are the things that got into me :

Firstly, I feel like i have a special meter stick inside in terms of making a choice.  I simply based them on how to make my life simpler at the moment ( left the "limelight" of having a designation at work and simply chose a career as a fulltime faculty in the social sciences).

Secondly, I tried to simplify my way of dealing with my students on a virtual platform :  prepared class guidelines, extended deadlines, accepted all submissions, record videos for students to review if they need to  (compared to live virtual discussions where they could only hear discussions one time only and those who will not be able to make will lose the chance of hearing the discussions), opened an account at edmodo where all tasks, links for videos and quizzes are posted etc. and gave lesser workload to students.

Lastly, a lot of things can happen though.  Nothing is final yet.  I will continue to blog and this time with vlog.  I have gone so far as my 10th year of blogging though.  This is a great reason to keep on pushing even with a "foggy"  and unclear path ahead.  I just feel that what I went through is part of the process.  I am human and I went through the process of living, grilling and learning from life.  There is no reason to stop.

AN ANGEL ENCOUNTER

• 
• 
  
• Today, May 6, 2020, is not just any ordinary day.  I will try to simply and carefully describe the highlights of the day. Please read through and finish. God's angels are real ( please check on the photos herein). God's love was so real. I mark this day as a day of hope for God's Church..the People of God.
• 
  
• I went to the university today (after lunch) where I am currently working to sign some documents and a chance conversation with two colleagues at the office that I visited. I shared with them my experience with angels outside of the country (New York, USA). I uttered to both of them " I felt that manifestations of the presence of angels were more real to me with my experience there (US) than here in the Philippines and I was really wondering why".  This was followed by relating to them a brief story of that experience (they had goosebumps ...pls click this link: http://dang-justaboutanything.blogspot.com/search?q=angels+new+york&m=1).
• 
  
• After my visit to that office, I went out to feed hungry cats😂😂😂. Then I went straight to my office located on the 5th floor of the building where I could freshly breath fresh air ( despite COVID 19 pandemic).
• Feeling awed...I saw a beautiful rainbow  "painted" on the sky from where I caught myself thinking "God will never again send such tragedy to his people.  The rainbow is a sign of hope...A promise not to again punish the human race".
• 
  
• Well, that's what I thought.  And, I whispered, " Thank you, dear God".  Few minutes after that, the rainbow was nowhere to be seen except that it showed again before I went out of the university to go home.  I called my husband to inform him that I was going home but had to go to an uptown mall to check on an item that we planned and agreed to buy for our daughter.
• 
  
• I was so convinced to do that.  I was in front of the mall at 6:09pm ( the mall will close at 6:30pm). However, an unexpected turn of event happened.  I thought that I did not have to rush to buy that thing given the time on the clock.  There is always another day.  That's what I thought.  
• 
  
• The deepest drive and intention was to take the right turn and go straight to St Francis Xavier Church at the farther back of the mall.  
• 
  
• I was driving, taking my time this time (without the pressure anymore) towards the Church when I felt something unusual at what I was seeing in front of me.  I was awed and mesmerized again.  This time at the sight of the Church (refer to photo below) glowing at the back with a huge mass of heart-shaped clouds (well I understand that it could be some kind of "leftover" of the sunset) was something unusual (note: this is my third day to visit the Church).
• 
  
• But the streetlights were turned on and I was driving with headlights turned on already which means that it's dark already from where I came from( that was from the road fronting the mall where all vehicles already turned on their headlights).
• 
  
• I decided to do hazard parking at the right side of the road. Without going out of the car, I took photos of the Church which looked like it was a beautifully crafted blend of colors of a twilight scene.

Then I decided to adjust my phone camera for the zoom and looked up again to check if there is anything in it (just curious).

I could even feel myself getting irritated at not being able to capture that moment in zoom mode ( i meant the Church and the heart-shaped cloud..who knows what's in there...as I thought).  Since I was desperate, I positioned the camera supported by the steering wheel.  But I felt as if an external force started to slowly direct my hand to the right side.  And I was like stating "what is happening?".

I wanted to get the zoom but really, I saw my hand literally moving and focusing towards the right side of the Church ( note: I was so conscious seeing my hand moving in that manner...Ohhh My God!!!). And I felt something in my mind directing me to look up the sky.  I was not able to see it immediately because of the front mirror at the top of my head so I had to bow my head a little and look up the sky.  And "oh my God again".  

What a beautiful sight of a huge mighty Angel facing the Church ( the St Francis Xavier Church) that was formed on the clouds appearig like it descended from the heavens.

Really at that time, I could not believe what I saw.  I felt that my small world stopped while seeing that awesome view.

I went out of the car to get a better capture since streetlight posts blocked a minute portion of it.  And then, I took photos again this time with goosebumps on my skin plus that cold electrifying sensation (ok hands up...actually I am not really certain if I described it right).

Again, I felt that my whole world stopped until I decided to check if people saw what I just viewed in front of me.  I saw one lady running and taking photos also ( I was so glad to know that many were able to see that..).

However, the scene may be interpreted by other witnesses different from mine.  I could call that spiritual experience.  And then it hit on me that I just said to two colleagues that afternoon " I felt that manifestations of the presence of angels were more real to me with my experience there( US) than here in the Philippines and I was really wondering why". Now by faith through the first-hand experience, I declare that angels are everywhere- hands up again!!!

However, checking the photo below on the entire Church and the mighty Angel of God at the right side is a MESSAGE for all of us ( as I and my husband reflected on this site during our prayer time and Bible sharing at night).

THE MESSAGE:

GOD is so present and is protecting His Church ( not just the building)- His own people who are actually suffering in this time of the pandemic. He is sending the message of HOPE and LOVE...of PROTECTION through the presence of His army of angels sent to protect all of us on earth.

The photo above seems to send the message that the heavens are here present (appearing at the top portion of the photo) among us...GOD IS WITH US. There is nothing to be afraid of. His CHURCH- GOD'S people are suffering.  But, GOD AND HIS ARMY OF ANGELS ARE AMONG US.

Note:  You may try viewing the above photo upside down. You may get a view from the outside world directly towards the earth.

PS:
Now it left me wondering why God chose the St Francis Xavier Church of Pueblo de Oro to reveal Himself and this wonderful message of hope and love to the world.  This is something to reflect upon.

My 12 and 8-Year Old Love Story Equals Twenty

"I'm so sorry".  I said that with a twisted low voice to my husband when he passed by in front of me.  He softly looked at me.  Then I added in my naughtiness, "You should say sorry to me, too"  ( with some giggles...and ouch really heheheheh).  He did not do that.  Instead,  he pulled me and embraced me tightly and bent his head to mine.  Now, you could say "Best love story of all time"  (hahahha nag drama lang). 

I think this is one of the best times to share our story as a couple on how we deal with each other.  We got married really late (in our mid 30's or almost late 30s hahahha).  

For almost 12 years in the relationship, we thought we have known each other that well. But, really, a lot of unexpected behaviors can surface still when we got married.  The best parts in our relationship were not really  those fine characters that we show to each other but the not so good ones that turned out to be our challenge on how to best respond to each other.  

The thing is, we are both assertive individuals.  We say things in assertion which left us in pain sometimes taking them too personally and soooo seriously.  Sometimes petty things become serious source of fights or argument which made us realize that we were wasting so much of those energies giving in to petty ones.  

We are 8 - year old married couple.  In the first two years of our being together, we did "bungol" (not talk at all  when not so good things happen) to each other.  But we both realized, we live together in one house and felt like we had  no choice but to stay together ( walking out could be easier when you are both single).  

Then,  the behavior a little bit progressed into putting a little drama in front of our daughter such that when we argue privately, we tried to deal with our daughter as if no argument happened between us.

On and on until, our daughter saw as argue and then she saw us reconcile immediately. So it led me also to realize that our daughter has to see the realities of mama and papa arguing at times and reconciling also.  

Benedictine Monastery - Malaybalay City

You see, the one of the best gifts that I received in our married life is the gift of person of my husband.  He is such a very forgiving person and more than anything prays with me and my daughter every single day.

With our daughter Maria Mikaela

One time in the past, we agreed to still hold each other's hands even if we had a fight or argument.  I felt awkward at first when it happened.  But we got used to it.  And even when we sleep at night, we find each other holding hands until we doze off to sleep.  

All I could say is...ours may not be the best love story..(or however you would call what I have with my husband) but is best founded and anchored in the relationship that we first established with God...This happens when couples pray together and bring their families together to prayer.  That's what I and my husband did to our family.

Now, this is our 12 (when we were still single) and 8 - year Old (married life) love story...equals twenty:-).

PS...I asked my husband this morning why earthquake frequently happens lately and specifically in a particular place in Mindanao.  He simply stated "so that man will go back to God...so that they will remember that they need to pray...and go back to God."  He is simply sooo natural ...

"PERFECTION OF OBEDIENCE..."

I posted this photo on my timeline at Facebook because it led me to think hard of the journey that I had in my search for the will of God.  

My friend Vilma was right with her comment "scary".  I felt the same.  I was asking myself if I would really trust those words said by Cardinal Tagle.  

In fact, what comes first is to find out the will of God.  That alone is quite challenging.  Since his will may be hidden in those most painful experiences that we had leading us to where his will might be or where we should be.  

And there is this term "perfection of obedience".  In the process of the search, a lot of things could happen.  You could derail and go other path.  You could give up and go back.  Or, the path may be too thorny and painful that you could "die" and simply give up.  

Looking back, I have disobeyed God.  Yet, I found myself not giving up.  I found myself still back in His arms.  Really, at my end, I would rather be back to God than be somewhere else other than him.  

Perfection, by human experience, entails lots of practice, discipline and continues grilling to hone the specific skills.  Perfection is a process.  It is not an outright reaching of goal.  It is beautiful to reach the goal to be perfect but we should savor the experience of "purification"  during the process of engagements despite the pain that we experience along the way.

Yes, obedience is an ingredient towards perfection.  Are we really obeying God? Or, am I really obeying God? Am I submitting to such will of God?

God has crafted a special process for each of us.  Definitely, mine could be a lot different from yours but the goal is the same  - perfection of obedience.  Well, I may have found God's will but a lot of times, I do not understand it or not understand God himself.  All I did was to simply submit.  I truly felt helpless.  

Where would I go?  Finding other options is not an option for me.  IT IS STILL GOD that I would choose no matter the darkest clouds that I underwent or may be undergoing in my life (oh God please give me the strength).

I pray for Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.  He is so full of wisdom.  He has the greatest treasure of all that which he found in his intimate moments with God in prayer shared to all of us.  I am so grateful to God for this beautiful servant of God.

"Heart to Heart" with My Students on Nature, Purpose and Calling

https://www.amazon.co.uk/True-Nature-Exploration-Being-Human-ebook/dp/B078YDYRQB

"Nature so freely gives thanks and praise to the Creator with its beautiful display of sights, smells, and sounds, as well as through its bountiful harvests. Nature is being true to the reason it was created. What lessons of truth and faithfulness we can learn from nature!" (https://www.loyolapress.com/retreats/natures-goodness-start-retreat).  

Two weeks ago, I gave an assignment to my college students (our topic was on the DIGITAL SELF).  I asked them to leave their cellphones at home just for a day.  I checked a week after that if they did the assignment.  Unfortunately, not one of them did it.  One young lady at the back exclaimed "it is too painful to do that".  And the others followed saying " We cannot do it", "I cannot imagine a day without it"; "I will miss my phone".  And, they generally spend 10 to 12 hours with their phones.  

Then I told them,  "your behavior implies that you have established a 'relationship' to a cellphone...to a thing".  I felt sad hearing them say that.  Young people or even us adults may have dealt with our cellphones like human being.  Most of our waking moments may be spent "establishing that type of relationship".  

Our nature calls for intimacy not for material things but to living beings - humans and nature around us.  But mostly among humans intimacy is spent in those moments with our loved ones.  Those people we want to spent time with.  If a lot of time is spent through gadgets and surfing the net, we failed in one of those  purpose for which we are made.  That is to establish connection with others.  To connect in love.  

I further stated to my students "what if in those moments of 12-hour engagement with your phones, God wanted to give you that special gift of person whom you could spend the rest of your life with and  you are not disposed to notice that person"...They all reacted "waaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh".  And, they may end deciding in haste being with a person as described by their "digital and virtual world".

The course that I am teaching is UNDERSTANDING THE SELF.  My audience are adolescents.   I feel that my current purpose is to lead them into the journey inwards to understand themselves better and be in touched with their nature, purpose or calling.  And basically, they have to go back and feel that purpose of going to school first and submit to the process of discipline, focus and shaping their person.  I just feel sad some of them dropped out from school even with free education because they are more busy doing some other things other than school work).

Now am I true to my calling and nature?  Again, I sailed away and failed many times over.  But that does not mean, I won't reach out and help my dearest young ones...my very own students.  I love them so much that I cannot be otherwise being their teacher.

Breaking My Silence - My Journey to Becoming More Intimate with Life...with God

https://www.bluechairblessing.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

Months back my leadership to a group of young people (senior high school) ended.  I admit I was just trying to go on with the sail simply submitting to what was assigned to me at work.  There were several challenges that I encountered such as  being talked about as a "hot topic" during meal time (hahahhaha) by group of individuals, be a simple wife and mom when I get home. 

My life revolved around those themes.  People would ask "what keeps me busy at this time?";  or "Where are you assigned now?", etc.  And I would simply answer them with the new assigned tasks that I had at work (assistant of an administrator and currently still assisting the same boss moving up to a really higher and prestigious position of the university)  and teach a Psychology course at the same time.  

There were moments of "numbness and loss" however, the sail must go on.  The following are the things that I learned :

1.  Silence   

2.  Humility

3.  Simplicity

4.  Focus on the Essentials only

5.  There is no need to have the position if you want to serve

6.  Always anchor in God

7.  Faithfully do your job

8.  Create a balance (God, Family and Work)

9.  Between being right and being kind, always choose kindness

10.  Forgive everyday

11.  Learn like a sponge
12.  Laugh like there is no tomorrow 
13.  Give and give and give a little more (even to stray cats, dogs, frogs, etc... hahahhahah)

The thing is, my current disposition makes me more refined and focused.  I need not announce to everyone what has gone through me at the social media.  When life become simpler, you'll get settled with its simplest expression and the joy of having special people in your life such as family, relatives, students, friends and colleagues  who are so dear to me at this time.  

Working with people like my current boss is like serving God Himself.  You see when you get to work with God, you need not be at the limelight.  God's ways and commands will just make you obey and do things silently to get through the goals of making His goodness known to everyone.  Popularity really is not of God.  One may be popular for doing the good but that should not be the ultimate motivation why we do the good for others.  

I just feel the inspiration and joy of serving God through where I am.  The peace and joy are immense.  Even the pain is seen as a beautiful ingredient to my growth.  I am just so grateful to God for this wonderful grace...which I found in the most intimate moment in Prayer...

Thank you God...

Mom in Action

She had bouts of  on and off fever last week.  There were two days that she was well thinking it could go on that way.  However, another day occurred with it again with painful stomach filled with air inside.  Her tummy was like a "balloon" and burped when I lifted her up.  She had series of tests at the hospital Thursday night with negative test results (CBC and Urinalysis with a little of viral infection).  Her vital signs were fine and is not for admission yet.  

When Saturday came,  she did not eat much at lunch and resisted to drink water.  But then I insisted that she would.  She looked pail already from where my sister advised that shed would be checked again.   I and my husband did not have second thoughts.  We decided to bring her to the hospital. 

She was for admission due to very low Blood pressure already (60/30).  By middle of the night, her vital signs were stable.  The thing was, there was no available room in the hospital for her.  We insisted that we would stay the whole night in the emergency room.  Thanks be to God, we were allowed to stay.  The following morning, we were informed of an available room.  Thanks be to God again for such provision. 

Despite not getting enough sleep, I and my husband had to stick it all.  She had bouts of coughing on Sunday from where she was nebulized.  She did not like it that way.  However, we found a way to convince her to take the series of sessions with antibiotics.  

She had discomforts with dextrose attached to her body however, she tried to contain them.  We had guests at night at the hospital.  Our family friend Vilma who prayer over Mika(ninang of Mikaela), Fr. Norlan Julia, SJ, family members Gay and Dennis and cousins of Mikaela such as ate Louise and kuya Anton.  Lolo pops and tita Mae visited and the day that the she was discharged (3rd day in the hospital).  

Consistent prayers of friends such as Fr. Xavier Olin, SJ, Fr. Oliver Verdejo, SSJV and Fr. Lino Macatol, II and Fr. Norlan Julia, SJ who prayed over her at the hospital also were said. More than anything,  God sustained us as a family in the challenge of taking care of our daughter and financially we were able to settle our financial obligations immediately.

Again, this is a "mom in action" and simply trying to share the journey with taking care of my little girl - Maria Mikaela.

"INVESTING IN LOVE?"

https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/investing-love-gm165743185-13028120

I had a brief conversation with young people one afternoon this week.  My attention was focused with "Angel" (not her real name...our student leader... I like it so much talking with her).  She mentioned about investing in a relationship with a person.  I suddenly said "when you invest, you expect a return...an income".  

When you "invest" in a relationship with a person, the relationship will become a business transaction.  The questions would unconsciously be "How much will I be getting from this?  What possible return will my relating with this person bring me?  or When will I get a total "return" from my "capital investment".

What followed in the conversation was the fear of pain from where I responded "Pain is part of the package of living.  A lot of young people do not like it that is why some go as far as hurting themselves to stop living".

So, let's go straight to the point and illustrate.  When you invest, you get to expect that the person may return the same to  you.  You may even expect to get more from what you give.  

It is not what love is.  It is simply giving and not expecting any return. It does not yield to justification or explanation why you love.  "You just give, even if it hurts or it becomes very painful, and you give a little more"... It makes you "bleed" to the bones (hahahah gross right).  

It purifies you until you become the best version of yourself (oh divah pang beauty queen ang dating).   Until such time when loving another person becomes natural for you to do  ..until you become the expression of Love yourself.    

Just try it...you will witness it happening...in you...

Knowledge Or Wisdom - Which of the Two Do You Have?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GcD33yma-8

Knowledge Or Wisdom - which of the two do you have?  I just listened from a talk (youtube video) delivered by Bishop Fulton Sheen on How to Improve Your Mind.  And the amazing thing that he mentioned at the end of the video says : "Never ask help from someone who does not live a good life...since Wisdom is a product of being good or living the good life".  

Looking at it in that perspective, Bishop Fulton Sheen pointed out... that wisdom is a product of living a life aligned with God's will and purpose for man. He gives us the message to simply do the right things for others by living the life of love for God and others.

We may have known of many learned and knowledgeable individuals in the field of professional practice (teachers, doctors, lawyers, businessmen etc.) and  the church (priests, pastors, etc).  However, the impact of sharing their knowledge does not sink deep or reach the heart.  We do not feel the depth of words that come out from their mouth.  

How do we acquire wisdom?  I happen to talk with a colleague and friend named Jerwin over lunch today and he mentioned how his mother may not have gotten that highest degree of education but is so full of wisdom in her words. Thus, she must have lived her life well remaining true to her calling as wife and mother.

More than anything, living life well is a product of a highly established union with God.  This calls for a regular time spent in prayer and worship.  There is a need to connect and reconnect everyday.  There is a need to be refueled and be refreshed since we all get tired in the journey. 

We need God in our life.  Not connecting with God, and embracing a life centered on the self will make the self as the only reference to making decisions, excessive self love and self centered perspectives.  The "I" becomes the center.  Dr. Wayne Dyer shares of the "EGO" which stands for "Edging God Out".

This time, we are being challenged to consider and look straight into the eyes of this respectable man of the Catholic Church who was known for his WISDOM in his teachings during his time.  We can truly learn so much from him. 

At this point, we can assess ourselves as to whether we are at the knowledge level or we have transcended to having wisdom in our state of life.

To quote :  

"Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979) is arguably this century's most widely acclaimed and best-loved Roman Catholic prelate. A master of the media, spiritual leader, and witty, literate, urbane teacher, Sheen had a far-ranging impact on American culture. There remains in his spoken and written words a keen insight into the universal human condition, and the universal quest for the Divine in the ordinary".

Reference :

Sheen, F.  From the Angel's Blackboard: The Best of Fulton J. Sheen.  Retrieved from the web : 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/731524.From_the_Angel_s_Blackboard