A New Life in Our Lives

When it rains, it pours! I said so because the past several months had been rough and difficult. I faced a lot of difficulties especially dealing with some personal issues. On the brighter side of things, I am very proud and happy to announce that we have a new blessing in the family… baby NICO!

Dominic Asher, a 7.4 lbs baby boy, born in one fine Friday morning (March 6, 10:12 AM) delighted every hearts in the family. I will sound too biased if I say that among the 12 newborns in the nursery, he was the cutest and the healthiest! Sure thing he is! He was born via caesarian operation. He is the first son of my elder brother and the first grand son in the family. So, that really excites us all! We are all going to experience “first-time” feelings… it’s going to be a first-hand experience for all of us in the house.

The first time I saw baby Nico, I couldn’t really determine whom he got his features, and I think it’s a bit early to say. He got his mother’s eyes & complexion and his father’s nose & cheeks! He got my…hmmm…hmmm… well, it’s really too early to say but I wish he will get my charms (hahaha)!

Trivia: I was the one who gave Nico his name, Dominic Asher! To be fair enough, I gave my brother and his wife several options to choose from and they liked that one! The words Dominic Asher mean ‘belonging to God’ and ‘blessed and happy’ respectively! (Lucky for them, I don’t have a baby of mine yet, or else, that name wouldn’t be available anymore.)

Welcome Baby Nico! Welcome into our lives and we love you so much!

More Patience Please...

I can't believe I have been out that long! February has been a terrible month for me... and the feelings still extend until this month of March. I just couldn't feel 'focused' with anything... and it seems like everything are out of control! But luckily, I am still surviving the everyday hassles of life. I guess those thingsmake life more interesting and challenging! It made more believe in 'patience is a virtue'. I guess more than just a virtue, it is a necessity especially in these ever-changing, ever-hectic and ever-demanding times.

So before anyone of you out there gets out of control (like I did), ponder on these words of wisdom:

"When we are angry our feelings change from moment to moment. Anger produces feelings that are unreliable. Our feelings often rise and fall as our energy is drawn from the unstable emotions present when anger is being expressed. In those moments our feelings may not be the most reliable source of information to help us move past it. Before you blow up, cool down." - Larry James

hAPPY

IT's GOOD TO BE BACK!

Let GO and Let GOD

Letting go takes love. It is a part of our growth process. Letting go could mean opening up new possibilities and welcoming new opportunities. It entails us to grow and mature in so many ways. While the act of “letting go” hurts, we cannot move on until we cling on to the past.

Letting go is not being selfish but actually being selfless. You allow yourself to grow as well as the other person. It is going beyond your comfort zone. Letting go is a responsibility not just a mere act of getting out of the situation. It requires changes and improvements.

Letting go needs courage. We have to be strong to let go especially when the relationship becomes unhealthy to both partners; most of the times when it hinders our personal or spiritual growth.

Letting go is not saying ‘to forget’ or ‘to ignore’ but to learn from the past experiences. By all means, we should carry with us the ‘happy memories’ and the lessons we have learned from our past relationships. Only that, we have to let go and release the emotional baggage so we could open up ourselves and be present for the new relationship.

Letting go could mean we need extra help from the ONE above; that there are still much greater purpose and reasons why things happened that way. It could also mean that there are things that we don’t have control with. And only by humbly surrendering ourselves, we could understand more and appreciate the reason for letting go.

Let us not be afraid to let go even if it hurts us. Don’t be afraid to let go even if it means losing the person (we cared for and loved) for good. Sometimes, what we are really scared of is the feeling of animosity. We feel that it’s going to be hard losing the person we once had and loved and depended on.

And when it hurts too much, we still have a lifeline. We can turn to the ONE who always provide comfort and peace; the ONE who is close to the broken-hearted (Psalm 34:18). Let us always believe that God will never leave us in the middle of our journey! Not now, not ever!

What's in the Middle?

Nothing is so new in my life the past few weeks. I sometimes feel that everything becomes a routine. I begin to self-inquire and sometimes confronted by my own stuff. I sometimes want to do other things, try to venture into new habits or opportunities but somehow it seems I am powerless to choose another course of action!

Grrr… what is happening to me? I usually ask myself… am I now experiencing midlife crisis? But I guess it's a little too early for that! I still have a year to go(giggles)...

Midlife they say are those years when most of us begin to be uncomfortable with the direction our lives are taking. So, we ask ourselves “what now?”, “what’s next?”

Most of us are afraid to change and become anxious about the future! We become restless with our decisions and uneasy with our actions. We are uncertain of what really lies there at the other end. We feel we want to have a difference but are too afraid of trying because we are too afraid to fail. Some people choose to hide out from life and do nothing while some quit trying and watch life pass them and by and wonder why!

Sometimes, our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate to the task rather the fear of failure. But the wise ones make some new choices; the spirit to do something different and dare to be different!

“Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure” – Marriane Williamson

Welcome to the unsettling years! This happens to both men and women in different ways each. These are the times when we feel we are doing little to help fulfill our needs and others close to us. It is when we notice when our needs are not being met; we become restless.

They say a mid-life crisis is only a crisis we create! It is called mid-life crisis for it is believed that those are the times when people (in their mid-life years) experience confusion, discouragement, and feel relatively unproductive!

How to get through this?

It is miserable to get stuck with this so called ‘crisis’! We only get through it when we get past our fears to make new discoveries! It’s terrifying to know that we are the very source of our own misery. Some people never reach that understanding.

As we free ourselves from fears, we begin to love ourselves more. We start to put more into life and receiving more from it. We recognize more options. We feel good about discovering our greatest power… CHOICE! It is the best time to play big and get out from our self-imposed shells.

Let us not forget to understand our own feelings and what caused them, where they came from, who were responsible for them or what else might have influenced them. Those moments of understanding are enlightening!

It is best to demonstrate courage and love instead of fear! Live responsible in the present. FEEL and FILL every moment with love and great opportunities. Focus on now! The past is gone. Accept it. The future lives in the present! When we live in the present, we live happier, longer and a satisfying life. Touch this moment!

Get over with this so-called ‘mid-life crisis’ over early. If you feel that your life is just a series of upsets and compromises and you want to make up with the lost times, start moving on NOW. Be present. Live life moment by moment and enjoy every moment brings.

Most especially, don't forget to recognize the people around you. They are angels sent by God to help us enjoy life at the present. Yes, indeed we are the master of our own lives.

A Confirmation of LOVE

I arrived a little early in the school’s chapel. I found a comfortable seat at the last pew where I comfortably watched the young adolescent children chatting and buzzing around as they waited for their parents and godparents. I could see myself in them some years ago. Those blooming teenage kids, about 11-13 years old, were so lively and energetic. It was as if they own the world around them. They’re just so excited to explore and discover everything! For them, nothing in this life is too complicated. They will just about to experience greater challenges in the years ahead. My mind played with them as I wondered how they would be several years from now!

It was my first time to stand as a godmother and sponsor in a confirmation. Two of my boss’ sons will be receiving the sacrament of confirmation and I was invited to be the godmother of the elder son, Vince. The younger one, Allen, had just left the hospital to receive the sacrament and will soon return right after the confirmation for his scheduled operation on the following day. The doctor was just considerate enough to allow Allen attend his confirmation just so adding more strength, spiritually, before his operation.

Finally, my boss came with her two sons. The rite was about to begin. The commentator asked the students to go to their assigned places and announced the beginning of the Holy Mass. My boss and I sat beside each other. It was a solemn mass. In the homily, the Bishop explained to the students the value of the sacrament of confirmation. I did listen very well too! I must admit that of all the seven sacraments, it is the sacrament of confirmation that I don’t have enough knowledge about! The students listened attentively, though I knew most of these kids don’t really mind about the sacrament they will about to receive. Well anyway, I never mind too when I was at their age!

The rite itself started after the bishop’s homily. The godparents were asked to walk with their godchildren towards the bishop for the anointing of oil (chrism). My godson is a lot taller than I am. I told my godson that the bishop might lay his hands on me instead; of course that was just a joke! As we approached the bishop, I thought of the word ‘responsibility’. As a godmother, I should be a living-good example to him. I have several godchildren under the sacrament of baptism but this one is different. The feelings were different! Since, my godson is already a teenager; I anticipate greater expectations from him.

After the rite, I went back to my seat right beside my boss, and then the mass continued. After receiving the communion, my boss suddenly broke into tears. I was so surprised. I have never seen her crying, not even once! I could remember when she told me “in our work, I couldn’t afford to be emotional”… For me, she’s an emotionless, apathetic person. I hated her. But at that very moment when I saw her crying, all my impressions about her vanished just like a wind! I couldn’t do anything but to comfort her and gave her a hug. I could feel her pains. She told me “I am so afraid! I am so afraid for my little boy’s operation!” Really, those words melted my heart away. Then, I found myself crying with her! Nothing is more painful than to see a mother crying much more to hear the cries! My boss shared to me “I only cry when he’s sleeping. When he wakes up, I have to smile again!”

It is really difficult to be a mother because you can’t show them your weak spots; you can’t cry in front of them or they lose hearts. You have to show that you are strong even when you are not because they gather strength from you.

At that instant, I remembered my mother! I remembered the times I gave my mom head aches and pains. I remembered how she gets worried every time I got sick or hurt. I remembered how she used to tell me to ‘do this’ or ‘do that’, ‘not that one’ or ‘this one is better’! I remembered how often times, I did not appreciate her for that simple gestures of love and care. I felt guilty; I thought she’s too hard and upright without looking deeper into her emotions and intentions. I failed to understand that she has feelings too just like me but she has to show me that she’s strong. I may not fully understand everything now but I know someday I will! Especially when I become a mother myself! I know I am so much like her. Just like in one of the memorable lines in the movie “Armageddon”, (Grace to her father, Harry): “I lied to you, too, when I told you that I didn't wanna be like you, because I am like you. Everything good that I have inside of me I have from you.”

Later that day, I realized, more than just witnessing the sacrament of confirmation (for the first time), it also confirmed and strengthen my thinking about a mother’s love; a love that is true and pure; a love that is so assuring and constant. A mother's love is instinctual, unconditional, and forever!

Let’s be grateful to our mothers by simply appreciating their presence in our lives! Let us pray for them that they may always have the passion inside them to love and nurture their families!

"A mother is she who can take the place of all others."- Cardinal Mermillod

Passing Through

Yesterday, I woke up with a very sad text message from a friend, informing that our dear friend is positive in her HER2 test; a test that confirms the agressiveness of cancer cells. I was stunned and just couldn't believe with what I learned! True enough that these kind of news can easily frustrate our souls. I quickly jumped off from my bed with one thing in my mind - I have to go to the Adoration chapel and offer prayers for her. I know very well I couldn't give much except for prayers. Just in time that yesterday was the WORLD SICK DAY.

I thought, I'm going to offer prayers not only for my friend but for all those others suffering from the bed of sickness; for all those who don't have enough money to spend for their medicines and medical procedures; for those who are sick and haven't found yet God's purpose and presence in their lives. I'm going to pray not only for those who are sick physically, but also those who are ailing mentally, emotionally, and spirtually. I am going to pray not only for the unwell, but also for their families who are suffering more than double of the pains and fears of losing their loved ones. I'm going to pray for the healthcare workers, doctors, nurses, and volunteers working for the welfare of the sick.

As I was praying inside the adoration chapel, I thought of God's graces. I thought, why then should we fear death when He is our ultimate destination? That our life here on earth is just a journey that prepares and leads us to a more fulfilling life - a life that everybody yearns for... the Everlasting Life!

Later that night, I received a message from my sick friend saying that her oncologist just told her that the HER2 test result is still inconclusive, which means there is still a high chances that the test will turn out negative! AMAZING! I was overwhlemed upon hearing the good news! I thought then, whatever the results are, God is truly powerful! Our Faith & Prayers offer not only relief but also HOPE - a hope we can never find elsewhere! Thank you, Lord for the gift of life!

***by the way, pink is the color used for the breast cancer campaign!