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 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 ...

"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...

"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

We Are All Angels In Disguise

https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/3787233-angels-in-disguise

I was driving one afternoon out of the university.  The traffic was so tight that I felt like I had no way to go further than go back to the parking lot of the university.  Despite of that I whispered silent prayer to just make go through it when suddenly i saw the traffic flow stopped in front of me.  A saw a man in white shirt riding a motorcycle blocked the two lanes.  Looked at me sharply and signaled me through his eyes conversing through mine giving me a "Go" signal. 

I was like a child, obeying to that signal.  I swerved forward...goose skinned.  I was checking on him while he moved away so fast without looking back at where the car that I'm driving is located.  Well, I thought of an angel again.  And that week, I had lots of those encounters such as when I left my wallet at the grocery cart at the parking lot when someone called me up and raised in the air ...mmmmyyyy waallllettt  (ooohhhhh) with everything in it including my intestines, lungs and heart (just joking). 

And then, I left my ATM card at a cashier in one department store.  I realized the next day only that I don't have it when i was about to purchase some items in the grocery at another mall.  I still got it full and complete given to me by that beautiful supervisor of the grocery store information counter (SM uptown). Thank you Lord with shouts of Joy and Gladness... 

But gadanghag lang gyud ko  ( I was just very careless)  hahahhahaha.  Yet, the message.   I was being reminded by God with the presence of His angels in many different forms.  That HE IS ALIVE humans disguised as angels.  

And, my story did not end that way.  I returned the same favor to a driver who hit my car.  An old driver from Maramag Bukidnon carrying heavy loads.  He did not look at his mirror and suddenly turned his direction towards me (driver's side).  All those that ride with him "chorused" with their shouts of shock and "horroooor".  At my end  i was "hoorrrored" (hahhahaha) by what happened.  I don't want to make this story long.  I forgave him which I think shocked him "to the max".  I stated "  manong, let us solve this problem.  I will contact my insurance. Just pray that everything will be covered".  I asked for his number and in matter of less than 10 minutes, we were both back on the road.  

I'm sure it made him happy.  At my end, it felt more than that. PEACE.   I felt so at peace.  At that time, I was not certain with how much insurance would cover. The most important thing was that, I did not make life difficult for that man.  Did I suffer?  A little bit when i was questioned related to money by someone.  But i found my peace again...with the realization - Money is not everything.  My relationship with God is what I value the most.  

God will take care of me...I am sure of that...In fact He makes Himself so busy attending with me and my needs now ...:-)

Amen to that...

A toast to everyone who work it out to become ANGELS IN DISGUISE for others. I tell you ...Angels...they manifest their presence by letting us "loose" from our difficulties.  By making life easier for others (without question).  We can do the same...:-) 

THE MIRACLE OF THE PETALS OF THE BLESSED MOTHER MARY

March 3, 2018.  This was the date when we held our second month of the 2000 Hail Mary Devotion.  Due to varied commitments by those who previously participated, only a few were able to make it.  One of us named, Ms. Iris Tabimina decided to recite such devotion privately due to conflict of time with preparations for the exam  (she's graduating from Law School).  She never wanted to stop doing the devotion. 

At first, I felt like teasing Iris with such decision since I could hardly imagine doing it alone due to my first experience of dizziness approaching the end part of the novena ( felt so sleepy that I dozed off to a brief relaxing sleep). However, Iris pushed through stating that she would start earlier (2am) and targeted to finish 10am.  Thus, we did a simultaneous praying -  us at the office while she did it at home.  

During the recitation, I never felt anything extraordinary except the feeling that I was so attuned while we did it compared to the previous month even and despite the temptation to doze off to sleep to almost the end part of the devotion.  At my end, I thought I could write immediately and start my month declaring how we did it last Saturday.    However,  I never felt the inspiration to write after that, except to relax.  

And, just this morning (Monday, March 5, 2018), I received such great news from Iris sharing what happened last Saturday at her house.  She related that in the middle of saying the 2000 Hail Mary, she dozed off to a brief sleep.  When she woke up, she could not believe what she saw floating inside the flame of the candle...a beautifully crafted petal/rose.   From that site, she got her phone and took photos out of it (check photos above and below).

Yes, what you are seeing on the photos  are petals/ a rose - like figure.  Seeing that was like a consolation given her sleepiness.  It made her feel the excitement, joy and an inspiration from a religious experience of God making his presence felt through the cool, subtle presence of the beautiful Blessed Mother Mary.

In my heart, I felt God through the Blessed Mother sending her message of consolation to all of us through our co teacher Iris.  I felt the struggles of my day having to do so many things and yet deciding still no matter what to engage in the devotion.  The drive of all those who decided to be present despite their busy life was affirmed by the presence of the blessed mother.  The sleepiness, dizziness, tired bodies that briefly bounced from time to time to sleepiness and be awakened to fully engage.  All these, I believe are prayers.  The body may be tired but the human spirit is fully awake to partake in the mystery of the God's presence through this powerful devotion to the Blessed Mother.  

I pray that many will come to participate in their own ways and initiative in this devotion.  I pray that many communities will rise and pray this devotion every first Saturday of each month all the days of their lives.  And so the Blessed Mother may not only send her petals of affirmation but her "Love petals" for the conversion of hearts. 

God bless everyone:-)  

PS.  We thank all of those who participated in the second month of this devotion - Dioscora, Marivic, Mark, Mars, and Ann Tonette with Iris Tabimina who shared her "The Miracle of the Petals of Blessed Mother Mary".  

THE TWO THOUSAND HAIL MARY DEVOTION

I was in the US - New York (2008) when I first heard of the 2000 Hail Mary Devotion.  I wanted so much to join.  But was scheduled for a menial job to do.   It was a devotion said by a group of Filipinos.  When I came back here in the Philippines the same year, I never heard of anything like that.  Until last December 2017 during the wake of our State University President  - Dr. Ricardo Rotoras mentioned by one of our Guidance Counselors in the University.

"Ohh that again".  I exclaimed.  " I wanted so much to join such devotion but I never had any chance to join one."  Then came the new year January 2018, during one of our random conversations with Ms. Marivic Rotoras, sister-in-law of our late USTP president Dr. Rotoras.  We were desperate as to responding to the need, that is to find justice for the death for our president.  We simply decided to hold one on a first Saturday of the month.  We also decided to put in our personal intentions for family and the world.  When the decision was finalized, all else fell into place including the devotional guide and the faculty who signed up to join our first ever 2000 Hail Mary Novena at the USTP.

First Batch of UTSP Sen High Faculty who joined the novena :
Tonette, Marivic, Glenda, Iris, Mars, Lelia, Rosamie, Mark, Ekah and Magno (not on photo Angel, Ms. Torrecampo and Ms. Connie D.)

And.. today ...yes the first Saturday of the month of February 2018 is such a joyful day for all of us.  We started 7:30am with prayers that we would survive the 2000 Hail Marys....and truly by God's grace, we were able to finish the novena at 4pm.  Thank you God...so much for the grace of friendship of our faculty who just wanted to spend their time to pray the novena for the Blessed Mother Mary and offer prayers for our late president Dr. Ricardo E. Rotoras... plus the whole lot of package of intentions from each one.  TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!

Note :  Please visit this site for your reference of the 2000 Hail Mary Devotion and join us in this devotion to the blessed Mother Mary:-)  God bless everyone...

http://saintsebastianwoodside.org/2000-hail-marys-prayer-devotion/

The Grace Called "TIME"

http://patrickschreiner.com/?p=12406

I was searching for answers about scattering my energy in so many different ways that I felt exhausted and misdirected.  At first, I felt like I have accomplished many things as I ran through my checklist ( that is the planner in me that can't help without jotting down things to do in a day).  Still I felt like I still lack the time to do many things.  

Today, while discussing with a colleague named Suzy, she simply stated "perhaps you can ask for the grace of TIME".  That statement was like a spark in the middle of a long search.  Months have passed and I felt like everyday, I lack the time to write.  I did what I had to do at work but I always felt at the end of the day to have lacked the time to write for this blog site.  

What made me write in the past was that sort of "6th sense" in me to be able to assess an experience during the day that is worth sharing.  And I seemed to have lost that part when I could easily position myself in front of the computer and simply ...write.  So I became a "walking writer" inside my head running words as if I was writing them.  Everyday, is like a repetitive silent discourse running inside my head.  It was kind of noisy inside.  I always thought of writing them but to my dismay.  I always landed in bed tired and woke up the following day with regret at not doing it. 

Today, thus is a strong resolve to go back to writing.  My friend Suzy simply defined that grace which I need to have - "Time".  I felt like I wasted so much it months back.  I thought I did what was essential.  I did my job at work ...I think ...so well...as I see it...but God wanted to engage me more (as I see it since I felt bothered with not doing it) with His work at sending message...This time, I feel I am doing it right...

My prayer to God from this day forward is that He will give me that grace ....called "TIME" to focus on the essential part of this mission...:-) Amen...

PS: My thanks to Ma'am Suzy for that spark of "wisdom" today.  Perhaps you my friends could ask the same to God for yourself ...:-) what do you think and feel about it? 

Profound or Not...I still call it...a "Love Affair" ...

https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613465134

This writing is something very profound for me...and simple...  You see after an intense experience of  months-long live out retreat themed after the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the society of Jesus, life has never been the same.  I felt like I have renewed my commitment with life... with God himself - feeling, seeing, doing things with new depth and meaning.

Just recently, a friend( who is still in the process of knowing who and what I am like) asked me if I am religious.  I hastily answered "let's just call it...a love affair with Jesus". I guess i shocked him with my answer.  I felt the same hahha. I felt truly nervous with that. But I can never deny the fact that what I had and went through in the journey was a beautiful friendship and love that I felt, not focusing on the so called tragedies but the presence of a God that simply wanted to make me see more of him.  Now that is something profound.

Whatever my friend meant with being "religious" still I connect with the relationship that I felt growing despite the challenges that I encounter every single day.  Establishing that friendship... hmmm a love affair is in itself a grace that I continue to feel.   Well, if I could only take out my heart and feel less I would do that.  But the thing is, I am never the same.  When God found me back in his arms, I felt like he was telling me..."I will never let you go treading that wrong path, squandering your energy into something else not "useful".  

And so even if that "love affair" meant intensely feeling life...feeling God's heartbeat in everything...I will never trade that for anything.  At the moment, I feel I found the greatest treasure of all...GOD.

I invite you to reflect with me?

1.  Where are you in your journey with God?

2.  Do you feel him today?

Listen...listen...listen...

God's grace be with you!:-) with all smiles and love:-)

FALL IN LOVE

Attributed to Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ -
photo from http://www.usfca.edu/templates/usf_magazine_story_fall_2007.aspx?id=6442494549&tid=2147483673

Nothing is more practical than

finding God, than

falling in Love

in a quite absolute, final way.

What you are in love with,

what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.

It will decide

what will get you out of bed in the morning,

what you do with your evenings,

how you spend your weekends,

what you read, whom you know,

what breaks your heart,

and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.

Fall in Love, stay in love,

and it will decide everything.

RAISING EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT CHILDREN - PART 3 - BRINGING GOD,FAITH AND PRAYER TO OUR CHILDREN

http://clgonline.org/sovereignty-and-prayer-2/

This part would entails parents to get into the heart of their faith.  What do I mean by this?  This is really serious...YES ...very much.  It would entail going back into our own depth as to how much we acknowledge God in our individual lives, our faith and Prayer.  
I and my husband were brought up by Catholic parents. I beileve also that we were both strongly formed about God, faith and religion through them despite their imperfections.  Thus, we did not really find it hard to discuss faith and religion.  I greatly thank God for that.  

And...why am i including this in here?  It is because, i have seen how parents greatly and deeply influence their children. I have seen it myself with our daughter Mikaela.  I can see how fast she is with observing the things that we do at home, the words we speak and the prayer rituals that we do in the morning, at night, before meals or some mid day prayer and even going to the Church on Sundays (rain or shine hahahha) that I and my husband do together with her.  In all of those times, I realize that they positively affect her.  

What does it have to do with Emotional Intelligence?  I have a simple premise for you.  My faith dictates and formed me well believing that I am made and fashioned by an awesome God (hmmm in fact i do find myself soo awesome weheheh with all the gifts that He gave me :-) )...including the varied shades and colors of emotions.  Yes,  I am  a beautiful package put together handed as a gift for me to take care of.  In like manner also, our family is a beautiful package of awesome and beautiful individuals given by God to take care of.  

In my journey, i saw how emotions can be so clouded that they blur how we see the truth about ourselves and others and how they can have the greatest potentials of ruining our relationships including that of our family - spouse, children and the children's future.

We may have known EQ and its scope and domains.  We may have known how to transfer and train our children by it, but without prayer, knowledge looses its strength to penetrate the heart.  It is only God that has that POWER to reach even the hardest heart and shed that light and bring peace so that the most clouded emotions can settle down and lead the heart to see more.

So..what can the parents do?  

1.  Be open
2. discuss your faith to your children,  allow them to ask even if they be frightening to answer (hahaha that can happen)...
3.  Listen to how they feel about faith, God and religion

4. pray together
5.  find a way to serve the Church  (soon i and my husband will find a way to do that)  and
6.   bring your whole family to the HOUSE OF PRAYER...THE CHURCH.

LOVE...LOVE... LOVE... hhhhmmm LOVE GOD ... EQ is HIS ONE GIFT TO THE CHILDREN OF A FAMILY THAT PRAYS AND ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AS THEIR GOD:-)...AMEN

HUMILITY EQUALS TRUTH

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I heard the title above from a priest that delivered his Sunday homily at the Church’s pulpit.  It rang like a loud Church bell signalling the churchgoers to come and join the “festive” celebration to remain humble in the midst of life’s circumstance.

What did that priest discuss about it?  Acceptance of the truth about ourselves is tantamount to being humble and vise versa.  Humility is a challenge.  We like to polish ourselves in  front of people.  We want to put on the best curtain during fiesta.  Or bring out the best set of plates and silverwares to entertain our guests at home (I observed my own mother doing this since my childhood years).

When I was a kid, I would wear new dress during special celebrations like birthday, Christmas and fiesta.  In my school projects, I would strive to lavishly decorate my projects to get higher marks believing that it could tempt teachers to give me higher rating if I did it (which I did heheh).

Moreover, I had low self-esteem in my high school years so I hid in silence not really and fully participating for fear that I may be misjudged by my classmates.  I never participated in the school’s student government nor I became an officer of major organization in school except for the small time club that I joined in fourth year where I happen to be appointed as the president since there was no other “more qualified one” among the members. 

Even with my family financial status, there was nothing to boast.   My father was only a high school graduate.  He got married at the age of 19 or 20 years old.  He had to double his effort being a simple labourer of a pineapple company.  My mother was a fulltime housewife.  Yet, realizing that the family needs more financial help, they had to have other means of supporting us.  Papa started rent a farm while mama started her small broiler chicken business.

There were 6 of us children that had to be fed, clothed and sent to school.  I could not imagine how they were able to sustain all of us but they did with so much commitment and dedication.  When I was in college, all my older 4 siblings have graduated.  While I was on my way to finishing mine, my mother passed away through a vehicular accident.  I was left so lost and almost stopped my studies.  But God’s grace and divine intervention I survived that tough test.

When I was so close to pain, I felt “naked” with the reality that life can just end anytime.  It humbles me to realize that I have no hold to life except those small things that I can manage and control …just within my reach.  But even those can be surrendered, lifted up and offered to God realizing that I do not own anything in this world.  That is the truth.  And that for me is humility.

Now I am living with a very simple truth.  I am married.  I no longer live alone.  I like the idea of going home from work seeing my daughter and husband  at night (i go home a little late than most of the workers i think...i do afternoon and night classes) so excited for me to be home.  At the moment, we only rent a small house in a low-cost housing subdivision.  Yet I joyfully celebrate having my oh so beautiful family …AMEN AND  THANK YOU GOD!!!!!

One day soon, we will have our own house that will become our “love nest”… GOD NEST OF LOVE…..  Yet and still, I would highly consider having such a simple structure of a house called home bathed in the abundance of love, simplicity, humility, etc.  And I would contain in my heart the truth that simple things in life are so lavish and made available to everyone.  I just have to open my heart for its overflowing life’s supplyJ 

Will you join me and be ready to take life’s overflowing?  Just one tip though…bare yourself before God…inorder to see His lavishness and abundanceJ

ONE PRIEST THAT MADE SO MUCH DIFFERENCE

just downloaded this from the net...ew  hehehe 

His name is Father Adam (hmmm I think I just have to ask for his permission to put his full name which up to this writing I have not asked yet).  He is a Spiritan pritest.  Actually, it was  the first time that I heard of his Catholic Congregation – Spiritan.  It was named after the Holy Spirit – the third person in the Blessed Trinity (as stated in the Catholic Doctrine.

Why am I writing about him?  I really find him standing “tall” and different among us aside from the fact that he is a foreigner.  I got to know him from two of my classes in my post graduate studies.  He gives straightforward answers to the questions of the professor.  He told the class also that he is assigned at a very far barangay from where majority of the people that live there are Muslims.  He stated further that he had to walk many kilometres in order to reach the place.  And in one of those candid moments, he asked (from where I thought at first that he was joking) “who among the Catholic priest have done what I did…that was to build 3 mosques for the Muslims” (in his mission area) and  just laughed and laughed. 

He is really candid …and spontaneous (the same meaning ha hehe)…  One time he just stated outright in class that nobody would like him since he is very outspoken and I guess he pointed to the two of us also that sat beside him (hmmm I thought ..talaga si father dinamay ako wheheheh).

Yup…who would ever like someone so outspoken nowadays.  From experience, the most outspoken would serve as representative of the group to speak up on their behalf or will end up being disliked by the management in the workplace for distorting stability and so called “peace” and balance (some kind of a pseudo balance).  But these are people are not afraid to speak about the truth.  In fact a lot of them die early (sssshhhh) just like Jesus (hahhahahah i feel that i have gone very far...what do you think? hehehhehe). 

Jesus was so disliked during his time.  Yet he was so free that nobody could even inflict fear on him.  Even death was never hindrance for him to speak up.  When I heard of Fr. Adam in our class, I thought I have seen Jesus so alive in him.  He was such a free soul inside that priest body.  He was so childlike and so playful.  Even the truth that he blurted from time to time was so swift and crisp that  a lot of us in class fell so silent.  Hmmm and at my end, I was left pondering.  Could Jesus be like this man?  (hahah or the other way around).  I just felt something so different about him.  That is his lack of fear to speak up about the truth. 

I don't really know much about his background.  All I know is that …I have seen Christ in him…in the person of Fr. Adam.

PS…hhhmmm there is one thing that you should know…ohhh he hates Math so much ….howdy hahahhahahah…hmmm but I find him soooooooo smartJ…a “head turner” in class…at that…J May God bless his mission and his congregationJ