Valuing Time

The Bucket list is a comedy-drama film starred by two academy-award winners Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. It is a touching film that shows that it is never too late to live life to its fullest... sometimes; you just need a deadline to get your life in gear (warner bros.).

If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting? ~Stephen Levine

Life is too short to be wasted. We think that we have all the time to enjoy and explore the things in life without knowing that tomorrow may never come anymore.Tomorrow is always an unpredictable thing. We may find ourselves planning for something only to find out that we have done something else. We rejoice and sometimes regret for the things we have accomplished for.

"If there is something better than sharing with others the best of what you have, it is sharing the best of WHO you are."

I, personally, get myself tied up with my work that I sometimes fail to appreciate the people around me. Though, I never missed to greet and smile at them, but am I really sharing my best with them? We couldn't afford to let the day pass without valuing the blessings God has given us. What matters is how we express our love and time with people and other things God has given us to enjoy at the present. If we are to look at life, it is a constant struggle of bringing out our best effort to express who we really are and what we are here for. Our everyday encounter gives us the experience that couldn't be brought back again. It is always a once in a lifetime experience.

Everyday is a new day and everyday is a renewal of our faith. Whatever we share now will leave a mark in this lifetime and will be forever cherished and will endure forever. That is the reason why we are called at this very moment not just to live and love... but to express and share it with others!Let us not wait to fulfill our dreams in our bucket list (a collection of all the things they wanted to do, see, and experience in life before they kicked the bucket) when the time is too limited. Yes, it is never too late to live life to the fullest... but why do we have to wait when we can do them now. THE TIME IS NOW.

A Portion of Thy Self

Rushing my way to the office early this morning made me fail to take my breakfast. I decided to eat my breakfast in our canteen. Tita Nida (one of the concessionaires in our canteen), was also eating her breakfast and offered me to join her. As we were talking, she told me about her adopted daughter's condition (I was amazed to know that she's only adopted). She told me that she has to work double time in order to finance the medications of her daughter who has a congenital heart disease. I asked if the girl is a daughter of her sister or any of her relatives... and she said "No. She is given to me by a stranger in our hometown in Mindanao."... (I was even more amazed.)

For years, Tita Nida shoulders the medications and other clinical procedures of the child. Most her income were spent in the wellness of the child. She told me that eventhough the child did not came out of her body, the hardship that she went through was even greater. The only thing that makes her strong is when she sees her (adopted) daughter smile. It is also very rewarding said Tita Nida because the girl is very smart and always tops in her class, she is now in 4th grade. Still, Tita Nida is saving money for the girl's heart operation... it has been long overdue since they have no enough funds for it.

A mother that loves her child is noble, but to love a child, who is not blood-related, given by a stranger, is much nobler. Despite of Tita Nida's little earnings, she accepted the child whole-heartedly. She loves the child like her own. She opened her heart and embraced the child with love and care. This left me thinking what I can do for others without expecting in return? Will I also be capable of giving an unconditional love like Tita Nida?

It made me think also of other parents who take their children for granted; parents who let their children suffer from child labor; parents who abuse or never have the time to attend to their children's physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs; parents who are ungrateful for having a child (while other sterile or unproductive couples struggle hard just to have one). How cruel these parents are.

It made me think of children who end up being abandoned in shelter homes... just imagine the emotional trauma these children are going through... insurmountable!

It made me think of the volunteers in the different organizations that provide shelter, education, and home to the abandoned children. These volunteers give their time and effort to teach and guide them. It made me wonder how they would survive without any compensation from their endeavor.

How wonderful it is to know that there are still people like Tita Nida who can share their love and care (and money) for children they are not related with. It is my dream to have a foundation for abused and abandoned children someday... a foundation that will provide education to them because I believe that formative years start in early childhood. I have a heart for children (and elderly, as well) especially for those who are neglected, abused, and abandoned by their loved ones. I realized that I, myself sometimes feel the same (neglected, empty, betrayed)... it was a mental disaster... an emotional calamity. But I am still blessed for I have my family & friends to support and encourage me. How much more with these children who are totally cast-off?

Someday, I will be a mother too... Hopefully, I will have my own children... but what if one day, a stranger knocks at my door and gives me her child to nurture and take care of? Will I be compassionate enough to accept the child? When that moment comes, I will be remembering Tita Nida's.

"No one has ever become poor by giving." Anne Frank

"Giving frees us from the familiar territory of our own needs by opening our mind to the unexplained worlds occupied by the needs of others." Barbara Bush

"The love we give away is the only love we keep." Elbert Hubbard

"Think of giving not as a duty but as a privilege." John D. Rockefeller Jr.

My Healing Song

This song I offer to God... who is my only source of healing.T his song serves as my inspiration and encouragement during those times when I was too depressed. And I believe that LOVE not TIME heals all wounds! Truly... only God's love heals all wounds and pains.

Think About It

If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting? ~Stephen Levine

A Monster Called Jealousy - and - A Heroe Called LOVE

Sometimes, or should I say, most of the times, lovers face little monsters called "Jealousy". These little monsters can only be defeated by a superheroe called "LOVE". When lovers are too in-love with each other, there's a tendency to become possesive.

I remember the lyrics of the song Too Much Love Will Kill You, it says: You're heading for disaster, 'coz you never read the signs... It'll drain the power that's in you make you plead and scream and crawl and the pain will make you crazy you're the victim of your crime. Too much love will kill you every time.

It's the same as in jealousy...


Jealousy in romance is like salt in food. A little can enhance the savor, but too much can spoil the pleasure and, under certain circumstances, can be life-threatening. ~Maya Angelou

It is not love that is blind, but jealousy. ~Lawrence Durrell, Justine, 1957

He that is not jealous is not in love. ~St. Augustine

Jealousy is always born with love, but does not always die with it. ~François Duc de La Rochefoucauld, Maxims

Soul-mates are people who bring out the best in you. They are not perfect but are always perfect for you. ~Author Unknown

Jealousy and love are sisters. ~Russian Proverb

Jealousy is simply and clearly the fear that you do not have value. Jealousy scans for evidence to prove the point - that others will be preferred and rewarded more than you. There is only one alternative - self-value. If you cannot love yourself, you will not believe that you are loved. You will always think it's a mistake or luck. Take your eyes off others and turn the scanner within. Find the seeds of your jealousy, clear the old voices and experiences. Put all the energy into building your personal and emotional security. Then you will be the one others envy, and you can remember the pain and reach out to them. ~Jennifer James


Superheroe called LOVE

I have a wonderful start in reading the Bible. The reason why I finally convinced myself to open and read the bible is not because I was obliged to, but because of LOVE. Let me tell you my brief history of finding God's Word.

Sometime in the later months of 2006, I got too depressed emotionally, mentally, and physically. It was too timely then that one of the readings in our mass was about love. The reading was really striking that it never got out of my mind even when the mass was over. Night came; still I could hear the reading in my mind. So, I jumped out of my bed and got the Bible in our prayer room where it remained untouched for years, with lots of dust covering it. I started looking for the verse I heard in the mass (I was not that much oriented at that time in finding verses). I browsed through the index and bingo!!! I found it!!!! It is in Corinthians 13.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Corinthians 13:4-7

Then on, I was inspired to read the Bible and it marked the biggest change in my life. It says that love is not jealous and always trusts but how come lovers are called to face these monsters? Maybe I guess these are sent to test how firm and strong a relationship is. It is an affirmation that love defeats jealousy. The evil does not in all times overpower goodness.

I always tell Joel that our relationship always takes three, God, Joel, and me... without any one of it, our love will not prosper and last. I am just lucky enough that Joel is a faithful believer of God and I am sure that no matter how many times those monsters attack either one of us, our love for each other and our faith in God will always prevail. God is the ultimate meaning of LOVE and that is why He is our superheroe!


- jen

Amazing Love

How could two different people fall in love? It is one amazing question with lots of surprising answers.

"Love at first sight is easy to understand; it's when two people have been looking at each other for a lifetime that it becomes a miracle." Amy Bloom

"If you have love in your life it can make up for a great many things you lack. If you don't have it, no matter what else there is, it's not enough." Ann Landers

"The heart has its reasons which reason knows not of. " Blaise Pascal

When We First Met

“And all the things you ask in prayer, having FAITH, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:22)

Having a relationship with someone like you would be the most impossible thing that could ever happen... that's my first impression when I met you. I never entertained the idea of falling in love with you in the first place because I am aware of what and who you are.

Honestly, I don’t have any standards for my future partner…I just remember praying to God, asking Him to bless me with a man who is a believer and has a strong spiritual foundation and faith with Him. Having this in mind, I knew everything will be taken cared of. I always believe in prayers and that God listens. So, when I met you and when we are starting to know each other, I realized that God really answered my prayer… literally (you know what I mean…)

Ours' is what I call an ‘extraordinary’ kind of relationship. I learned to love without expecting anything in return… I even convinced myself that I am willing to let go of you anytime… I love you with no fears of losing you, if it’s God’s will. If I will end up losing you, I knew for sure that you are in the most secured and safest love (that is in God’s).

Sometimes, it confuses me every time I say a prayer… so I just say “May Your Holy Will be done, Lord…” Everyday, I am learning the reasons why He has sent you to me… and I just couldn’t thank Him enough. He has sent a perfect man to such an imperfect "me"… honestly, it continues to amaze me, until this time…

Our Way Back Into Love