Today is like any other Sunday except for the phone call from my sister in Florida. Whenever I get a phone call I usually have an inkling and thought of them previously.
Turned out to be a good, candid & respectful conversation. All the elements or components of a good conversation were there.
I hadn't talked to her since she came here in Texas last year in May which was my mom's 81st birthday. We texted cordially, maybe in passing but not really intentional.
Now I know why...Sometimes, God gives us a long pause, a season to experience a gap so when we get back up, we're ready for a good conversation. That is when you can share so much substance with each other in a conversation.
I have five biological sisters. Of all five sisters, she's the one that I could talk to about curious, unexpected similitudes of life without conjuring mental pictures.She'll get it or dig it not because she wants to please me but because that's how a good conversation should be...elevation & hierarchy of heart's intention, respect, and affection.
She told me that in her recent vacation with her husband and two sons to the Philippines, (the younger son got married there in Iloilo very recently) that this was an eye opener to her. If you go in the metropolitan areas or cities in the Philippines like Manila, you would be waiting and be learning to wear Patience in your sleeves... We're talking about hours of waiting. Just delight yourself observing why this has become a way of life. And they're not murmuring, they're settled with what they can do which is to wait in the midst of traffic jam, in restaurants, coffee shops, and hotels, etc.
Filipinos are very resilient, hardworking, and responsible/loving people. They have this kind of integrity to work for a living. They have work ethics. They're very driven with hope to better their living condition.
Well, we talked about the importance of good family upbringing and how that is going to be crucial in building future relationships.And most of all, your heart connection to God is one measure that is undoubtedly proven to be the only one that you need traversing in this earthly life.
There are some unusual events in our lives that we sometimes think they should have never happened according to our wishful thinking. Little that we know that those events happened for us to move forward.
God is all about moving forward...If you remember what happened to Lot's wife in the book of Genesis. The angels told them emphatically not to look back to the place they were running from (Sodom & Gomorrah's ultimate destruction) And disobedience turned her into a pillar of salt. I was thinking it's more than disobedience--her heart was plagued with curiosity and couldn't help looking what's left behind...
Isn't it that's how we are? We don't know how to be still and trust the Lord with all of our heart, mind, and soul!
Good Night
God Bless
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My precious dog, Tootsie was diagnosed with a cancerous lump September 6 of last year. She's a real trooper, an inspiration to me. Just like me, she loves walking. She's notorious about it. Doesn't enjoy walking with other dogs. She's happy just me and her exploring the grounds.
I weighed in all my options on how to go about her lump. Going for the procedure to remove it is not a guarantee she'll be okay after that. She has to go through more tests and meds that may or may not work. So, I'm not subjecting her to any procedure of cuts, pokes and needles.. I give her prescribed pain meds and most of all will share her joy of walking outdoors.
She may be a non-verbal companion but she helps me a lot in catching my breath, slowing down, and taking time to think and reflect how she made my life colorful and healthy.
Walking with her makes me experience what being in the moment really means. We both have that kind of connection that we gravitate being and around Nature that gives us greater appreciation, attentiveness which I believe magical. I know she's a dog but I love her so much.
I prayed a lot and still praying that the Vet was wrong and that her lump will go away.
I have not noticed her slowing down or showing that she's in pain. But of course, I'm more mindful and taking precautions not to aggravate her condition.
This Saturday morning, I walked her to our favorite walking trail. It was raining. But she was expecting and very anxious to get in the car. So, we walked under the soft touch of rain. It was marvelous to do something out of the ordinary. Little rain won't stop us from doing what we love.Being in the rain and getting wet but not soaking wet, just right; if you want to call it that way is not going to make us sick. We were more excited about the experience and what an experience!
I ask God to prepare my heart when that time comes to say goodbye to my beloved dog. I just want her to be comfortable until the end and not in any pain at all. And that God will bless her with more healthy, active and happy years with me.
Tootsie is my gentle, beautiful reminder that she has rescued me from the nuances and mundanes of life; that with her loyalty and affection, I reap the benefits beyond my expectations, adopting her 11 years and a half ago.
God Bless and
Good Night!
I'm almost immune to disappointments. They no longer leave me astounded. I'll take their worth for what they are: lessons learned!
I used to roll my eyes, shrug my shoulders and say to people," Who do you think you are?" at the back of my head. Good thing that I didn't have the audacity to tell it to their faces how disappointing and nasty their behaviors are. Come to think about it, it is I, myself who let myself down.
Experts say on personal relationships that what you despise about somebody else maybe a reflection of an internal lack of which you are critical towards another person or even to a group of people.
When I was still married to my ex-husband, I and his mom didn't get along. She was so clingy to the point that hanging out in her house whenever we visit was a kind of torture to me. I tried to be civil and courteous when she was around. My ex-husband is a "mama's boy" and don't know boundaries, never had the backbone or a vein to address what was so obvious to be a problem.There was this huge disappointment hovering over my head.
Fifteen years later, I found myself and my young boys bound for Texas in 2000. In retrospect, for the first few years of being a divorced woman, I was very resentful and unforgiving. I blamed myself for not doing more to have saved our marriage; blamed my ex-mother-in-law for being the intrusion and my ex-husband for committing numerous adultery. And worst, my children will grow up without the love and authority of a father. And I felt like a loser for not keeping my marriage, my vows under God's commandment. I thought that I will be paying retribution for the rest of my life for a failed marriage.For I believe that "What God had joined together, let no man put asunder." Matthew 19:6
Little that I know, that things happen for the best reasons.The lessons I learned from it is that: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?
To those young Christian men and women who are dating non-believers, save yourself from a lot of heartaches, and time-consuming legal custody fights and money by committing to the above scripture.
I used to think that I could convert my ex-husband to become a Christian. I prayed without ceasing till finally, he did accept Christ as his personal Savior and Lord before marrying her third wife. That only tells us that there is no prayer that God does not answer. It may take several years before your prayers come to pass, but he does answer prayers on His perfect timing. "His Word will never return Void..."
I came out stronger as a person, single mother, and as a believer through the years. You must put your faith on His promises which are only yes and Amen. I no longer ask God why things happen. Instead, I ask Him what shall I do now with this situation, Lord?
Also in Zechariah 4:6 says: The word of the Lord unto Zechariah, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, Not by might, nor by power, but my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
Good Night
God Bless
Day 25 of the "My 500 Word Writing Challenge" which we would be writing about travel experience or road trip with family or friends.
This might be a challenge for me to expound or share for the reason that I never did any extensive traveling and road trips like how they do it here in America, just pack their bags and go.
For that matter, I would not write it on a physical travel/trip point of view, but rather the spiritual short and long trips to a blessed life.
Each day is a journey of travel for me. I have to decide to make better choices on every single occasion, petty or big.It's more like taking a path that would render me peace and causes me to humble myself. That's hard, really hard. With all the distractions surrounding us, it slowly obliterates the hope, the faith that we have. We can only go so far with our patience and understanding, but these two qualities also can run us down if we keep on hitting hurdles without a few breaks.
My actual travel starts when I get up in the morning. Five in the morning is when I encounter my life travels. I believe in getting on my knees and thank God for I'm alive and well; for his covering, protection, grace, mercy, and blessings over my life and my sons and my entire family. After that, I know I'll be okay knowing God is with me...
I know that I will be teaching with mindfulness and with integrity that my commitment to serve do not rely on what is going on this planet Earth. If you even engage yourself in conversations not worthy to explore because of their content, you begin to compromise your journey to truthfulness.
It's a walk of faith...
We have the God that loves us so much. The only travel that we should be thinking and be doing is the one with Him.
One thing remains--His love never fails us!
Good Night
God Bless
Today marks day 24 of the My 500 Words Challenge. It was highly suggested we cut the fluff in our writing. Get rid the use of the words, "that and very." Using them very often don't carry the muscle in your writing. They just tend to cover or hide the nuances in one's writing. I agree with that because I do overuse these words for the sake of lengthening the sentence. I hate to admit but I'm guilty of using these words for words' sake.
I have read in the writers' arsenal of using verbs in the active voice which is all happening in the present tense. It might be easier to grasp the concept, easier to read and doesn't give us various connotations. It would be a clear-cut simple sentence.
However, it doesn't mean that the use of adjectives and adverbs are not as potentially good as action verbs. For me, it depends on what your style of writing is. And subjecting your authenticity to formal rules on grammar which is too many if you ask me, is not my cutting edge.
I still refresh myself with studies on clarity, grammar, punctuation and meahanics of achieving good sentences but there are times I don't adhere to using them so concrete. And I don't think you need to change the tone of your delivery with what kind of audience you're targeting to please.
The old adage, "Be yourself" to me is my mantra not only in writing but in all forms of communication. It's a walk of life.
Looking at this entry, I may have successfully refrained from using "very and that" in this case. That means ... anybody can do it.
Before I sign out for tonight, let me reiterate the most valuable tool I use in my writing is the Bible.
No book of poetry or narratives can compare the succinctness and the freedom the HolyBible holds. It is for me where all these famous writers, novelits, authors, artists and editors have derived their art/passion. They're just unwilling to admit it. When you read Genesis to Revelation for the first time you will be overwhelmed with so much curiosity but after severdal reads of it, you'll find it to be a gift of Love. For you heart be transformed in awe...
Good Night
God Bless
If I were to write a fiction of a love story, I'm going straight to the conclusion where it usually depicts a man and a woman got together after decades of separation surviving seasons of time.It would indicate that those moments in time where you held each other's heart suspended for the time being but deserve second chances to love that has always been there no matter what time and space has brought you together again.
We all fantasize the idea of finding closure to that first love that didn't work or last forever. You want to feel vindicated so in your heart you create your own myth of timeline. Why do you think social media especially Facebook has opened up "cans of worms" to secrecy, that revival of that once dying or fading embers of the past are now carried with hope to reconcile and it is undeniable for all of us to easily fall for trappings, temptations, and illusions of love.
Women are intrinsically ardent about declaring their emotions in multiple pages and in waiting.You will be surprised to know that they hold cherished moments forever in their hearts.It is very remarkable how that love transcends beyond space and time.So any unresolved issue of that will resurface. But understand that too, that no greater love than requited love.
Just in hindsight, that all of these are proponents of my fictionalized ending of my epiphany manuscript.
When I watch a movie in the theater or watch Prime Netflix in the comfort of my own living space, I pay extra attention to what has not been said and the body language of the characters for which they portray and they frustrate me because some of the events/plots that happened don't sometimes make a connection to the very ending of the story. I want a clear-cut ending in my mind even it's established as a fiction.
I would love for the last image of the story to be with no form of dialogue or conversation... Just looking up together to the firmament of God's creation of stars in the sky; too close that you can hear each other's heartbeat, and having the same grandiosity of such majestic hands.
Why did I pick the evening to be the reigning moment of my ending and the setting is on an isolated beach?
When I was a child growing up in the barrio with not too far away beautiful beaches and bodies of water like rivers and creeks. That was a plus having an atmosphere of wonders. Maybe many of my childhood friends didn't view it as I did but to me, it has always been more than what my eyes can see but what my heart can grasp...feel!
The feel of your feet when they're buried in the sand as I walk with you is ingenious. That is like discovering yourself for the first time with someone you share your discernment on everything.
There will be no need of caption for that imagery.
I love so much the serenity of devotion, of selfless love!
Good Night.
God Bless.
What are your deepest fears, concerns, worries?
Is it cancer, or any debilitating disease that may inhabit your body? Is it homelessness, depravity, crime & murder in the nation, Christians getting persecuted or death itself?
All of us have legitimate fears and that's normal. What makes our fears unwarranted is when we begin to let fears subdue us, control us up to a point that our everyday life and moments are ruined by becoming irrational about these fears.
My kind of fears may not be on the top of your list.
I fear dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Although that doesn't run in my family line, that would make me shiver thinking about it. Nobody would wish to have one's memories erased and not remember anything. That really is to me the definition of tragedy when everything that you worked for, stand for and love and cared for becomes null and void?
I fear that I can't use my legs or feet to go for a Nature walk and my faculties no longer serve me well. I am a very visual as well as an auditory, feely soul. No words can suffice or articulate how I feel if don't see, feel and hear people and things.That's why I love to hear the sound of music, the birds chirping, the babies' cooing, and tall trees swinging their stature. Oh my God, so many things still to engulf in awe...mystical things.
I fear for waiting long...longer and the longest for my two sons to accept the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord. Every parent/s especially a mother's love for her children only wishes one thing--that they will be serving the Lord faithfully.There is no greater creed and joy other than watching your children give their life to Jesus.
When that happens that would be my greatest legacy here on earth.
My greatest fear, however, God forbid that I no longer fear the admonition and the Word of God.
Where my heart, soul, and mind now, that fear is just a figment of my imagination. It shouldn't even cross my mind because I know the Lord, love the Lord and have a personal relationship with him. Life here on earth even though we're just passing through is not a life worth living for without the grace of God...
I know that you will agree with me that most of the times our fears are just that--fears that most likely won't happen. We just wasted our energy pampering our fears, feeding them with what we see around us instead of giving and surrendering all our fears to God.
In the book of 2Timothy 1:7 tells us that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
If and when fears start gripping your peace and joy, close your eyes and say a prayer..."God, I need your Grace and Mercy Today. Help me dethrone this fear that is not from you." Thank You, Lord, Amen.
I love what it tells us in the book of Psalm 23:4 "Even though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."
That's God's promise and what a promise!
Our eternal address is Heaven!
Good Night...
God Bless
