MY PAINTING --- MY FAMILY

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This took several sittings before I got what I wanted from it. A good friend remarked ... "Wow! Isang upuan lang... painting na agad." (A painting in just one sitting. Wow!)

Well, that's not how it happens. Painting like any other effort or project takes time. Further, when inspiration comes it can also disappear into thin air without the slightest notice. Just like that. So sometimes it stays there on the table untouched until you're ready to take up the brush again. This can happen a few times more.

I work with inspiration; I don't paint for painting's sake. The result may not be a Van Gogh or a Picasso (from my tiny untrained hands) but certainly it will be one which would make my heart happy. I think that matters. :-)
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Allow me a few thoughts about this (watercolor) painting.
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That body of water there represents my family. Calm and serene waters. Of course it can be rough and unruly at times in rain and in storm. But that passes soon enough and goes back to its tranquil state. That place of peace is bounded by a mountain range, huge rock formations, and lush trees.These three things represent the three essential parts of our family life..... faith, love, courage.
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FAITH (the mountain range)
---- in a God whose great love makes all things possible.

LOVE (the lush evergreen trees/forest)
---- which lends all things its freshness, happiness, harmony, joy.

COURAGE (strong rock formations)
---- which keeps together the hope and belief that everything has its reason for being but that which faith and love can always conquer.
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God bless you, friends. Have a lovely and blessed weekend

AT WHATEVER YOUR AGE ALWAYS BE KIND

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My daughter and I were walking out to the main street to get a ride to the mall, on an errand... when two ladies hurriedly walked past us. One looking in her twenties and the other apparently thrice her age. Overheard this.....

Young girl: "Bilis-bilisan nyo naman, nay. Ang kupad-kupad nyong maglakad!" (Walk faster, will yuh, mom? You're so slow!"

Old lady: "Eto nga, anak, mabilis na nga." "Doing my best."

Although the younger one showed such insensitivity to her aging mother, let's withhold judgement there because we do not know their stories. Or maybe they really have to hurry to catch up on something important. But I did form an unpleasant impression of that young girl in my mind. I was seething with anger, in fact.

But it made me think.....

On other occasions have I heard of similar words by the young. Sometimes even said in banter to and with their friends. Words such as......

"Para kang matanda; ang kulit-kulit mo ah!" (You're so annoying, like an old person!"

"Ang malilimutin mo naman. Para kang tanda." (You're so forgetful, just like an oldie!"

"Ano ba! Balat-sibuyas.. para kang lola." (Overly sensitive bloke! Just like granny."

"Ano ba! Dali mong matapilok. Tanda mo na ba!?" (Missed your step again! Are you that old!?)

That sounds so mean, harsh, and inconsiderate, even if it be true... or it be a joke. Sure older people can be ofttimes forgetful, repetitively annoying, and buckle down easily in their steps. But that is just the natural course of age and aging. We all know that. It's as normal as eating pizza pie. So why be mean about it just because in their company you would have to slow down or unwillingly rethink the usual things you would be doing in your own 'young' time, space, and world.

Let's nudge your memory a bit, young lady.....

Do you remember when your mom would patiently guide you through your first baby steps?  Or those long sleepless nights she spends by your bedside when you were sick?  Or those times when she listens attentively and patiently to your rambling mumbling incoherent stories?  Or those times when you stumbled and fell but she was quicker at catching you... every time?

This I have learned...... Life is not all about you. When you're done growing up (the time when everything is indeed about you), then it becomes time to think of others, too. Even care for them, serve, shield or protect, encourage or inspire them, maybe teach them too. In fact, if you have learned your lessons well you do all of those things alongside growing up.

Most importantly, at whatever your age --- always... "Be kind."

God bless you with everything good.

A TRIBUTE TO OUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS

---- A pet dog loves you for whoever you are... whatever the color of your skin... the race you belong to... whoever you pray to. It don't matter if you are blind... crippled... deaf... mute... single, married, divorced, or betrayed, brilliant or intellectually challenged.  It won't matter if you feed him steaks or food scraps. Your anger or ugly mood won't stop him from loving you. He follows you everywhere you go, content and happy in your company. He won't leave you not even for the slightest reason or whatever his mood is. He is happy when you're happy; sits close beside you when you're lonely and blue. He protects you and your home from strangers, rushing to your aid at the slightest sign of threat. He has no issues with whether you are rich or poor..... a high and mighty king or a lowly street-sweeper.  He doesn't care a hoot if you are the CEO or the janitor of the company. Those things mean nothing to him. All he knows is that he loves you --- and that's forever!!
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If humans could do those things, too....... Imagine how good and wonderful this crazy world of ours could and would be!!
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Meet Maxi, my adorable companion (shown in picture). I love her, too .....and that's forever, too. And in case you would wonder, more canines and felines have made our home their home, too. Ain't that just crazy?!?!
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Enjoy a great weekend up ahead, folks. God bless you!!

OUR PATHS CROSS WITH OTHERS

 

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My thoughts today. Found nothing else as beautifully encapsulated as this one.  It's all there beautifully expressed like none other.

My prayer that God pour out upon you blessings far more than your heart can hold.

LIFE CANNOT BE LIFE WITHOUT PEOPLE IN IT

I was on my way down the hill at the tail-end of my morning walk when this silver-haired gentleman-foreigner heading my way from the opposite direction on seeing me slowed down and greeted me with a huge friendly smile and a question... "How many times do you go round the neighborhood?" I replied "Twice, most times." To this he smiled even more and said.. "Good for you!" And walked past me still wearing his big wide smile..
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Apparently he too was doing his usual morning routine. And so were other Filipino residents of the neighborhood at that early hour. But one thing looks quite clear to me.... Filipinos are shy .. in fact, just too shy to jump on an opportunity to make friends or simply share the good vibes of the moment. I remember Mom said this long ago....... "The art of giving and receiving does not come naturally to many. But it can be learned. Start with loving yourself, life and everything in it."
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Life without people would be similar to one landscape of meadows, mountains, rivers, forests running endlessly beyond the horizon and even farther. Magnificent but somehow incomplete.
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People, on the other hand, bring into life those thousand-and-one things which make it come pulsatingly alive. Challenges... perceptions... insights.... excitement... adventure... joy and happiness... creativity... productivity... emotional diversity... development... growth, etc. Add to the same pot the worrisome and wearying disputes... arguments... sorrows... questions... destruction.... conflicts... negativity... and other things more which make you want to bang your head on the wall. These things happen between man and man interacting and colliding in a manner they alone best know how.
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Life cannot be life without people in it.
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Wishing for you and your family God's blessings beyond measure.

THREE FAVORITE THINGS --- AND SOMETHING MORE

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When the muses are quiet and no inspiration pushes the pen or laptop keys.... or when some days are lonely... or when saddled with cares and woes... or when days are even boring... I turn to three favorite things. One, I go out to the garage and have a nice chat with my three dogs -- Lucky, Buddy, and the new addition Scruffy. (There's a fourth one Maxie but she prefers napping on the couch in the living room.) Or.... two, I get myself a cup of yummy ice cream (if there happens to be one inside the freezer), sit on the couch and watch my favorite show on TV. If nada on the ice cream thing, a peanut butter sandwich takes its place with a glass of iced tea... and eyes still glued on the TV screen. Or..... three, my daughter and I go out to the mall to watch a good movie or have our favorite frappe at Starbucks. 

And...... Oh by the way, also squeezed in-between those three are the one-and-a-thousand details of things we usually do around the house. Plus.... the different roles a mother plays to her children regardless of their age. Plus.... the things done for 'me-time'... listen to music, paint, read a good book, sew a bag from an old pair of jeans, call up a friend, sort through old files for some hidden 'gold' to feed the writing, etc.
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Now I almost forgot this. After listing down the I, Me, My, Mine of being human and was set to move to the next thing to write ---- I remembered this >> Plus..... this precious life nurturing-connection.... Being still to acknowledge God's presence in my life. The wonders of His Magnificent God-ship. Those should be etched in the heart for nobody would last a day or a second without Him. All that we are -- our brilliance, intellect, talents, wealth, beauty, successes, achievements, acquisitions, titles, positions, or greatness -- everything comes from His goodness, love, compassion, and mercy. Gifts from His divine heart. The magnificent I AM. Thus if I have the 'me-time'.... this one's called the 'HIS-time'.
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Now why am I telling you this? Because I have learned something very important which I'd like to share with you. It is this........
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"Look only to the good. Look only to what you have, to what God has given you. Do not let your eyes come to rest upon any other thing but the blessings and peace of Christ. Do not fix your gaze upon the negatives, upon the past or the future. Remember, your life is hid with me. By now you know that I can be trusted and that I have all your affairs in My hands. Not one thing escapes My attention." --- God 

 
(Yes, those lines are from the book 'Good Morning... God')
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Nice, aye? Give it a try. You might like it, too. Furthermore you will soon discover that trusting God gives you more time to be you.. with your life... with your gifts.... with your God.
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God bless you!

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY

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“It's so easy, To think about Love, To Talk about Love, To wish for Love, But it's not always easy, To recognize Love, Even when we hold it.... In our hands.” – Jaka
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There now does that hit you at some point in your life? Fact is, we can't (possibly) know everything there is to know about love although we pretend to or believe we do. The love we say we know is that which we see acted out on the big screen by our favorite Hollywood movie stars. It's the one we enjoy most watching because we know its beginning and its end... and everything in-between that.
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But who would disagree to this observation that when it comes it comes wrapped up in coy surprises and unpredictability. You know, the kilig factor (the thrill). The stolen looks (yung pailalim na tingiin), the shy smile (na sabay ayos ng buhok), the thrill of surprises (kunwari di alam pero expected naman), the rehearsed poses and semi-poses (pa pogi points) and the itzy-bitzy charming nuances and early steps of attraction.
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We have all 'Been there-done that'.... O di bah? It's as normal as pizza pie, red roses, starlight and moonbeams, lollipops and ice cream cones. It brought the tingling to our hearts and the spring to our steps... and emptied our wallets and purses dry.
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But how about the one that got away? That one who you didn't know loved you ... or the one who you finally realized you love until too late for that person's no longer there. You begin asking yourself -- 'why didn't I see it?' ... 'how could I have missed it?' ... 'what happened?'.
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I know a friend who said this to that...... "Life's Tragedy is that we get old to soon and wise too late." (Benjamin Franklin) .. Although I thought it was the wrong quote hahah...
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I think what she was trying to say is............... when you love someone, say it ----- when someone loves you, see it.
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Have a great day, friends. Blessings are there just for you.

P.S.  Thanks to Mr. Quote Man for the lovely quote.

ONE LOVE THROUGH THE YEARS

This beautiful song is usually played in weddings, anniversaries, and other special days carved out with love by earthly lives.

This song is my special song for the only love of my life. Thank you, GOD, for being there through the good and bad and everything in-between with your magnificent love and care.................. through the years and forevermore.

MY ONLY LOVE THROUGH THE YEARS

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This beautiful song is usually played in weddings, anniversaries, and other special days carved out with love by earthly lives.



This song is my special song for the only love of my life.
Thank you, GOD, for being there through the good and bad and everything in-between with your magnificent love and care.................. through the years and forevermore.



NOTE:
Had to repost this because the link in this one faltered frequently.
Thank you for bearing with me. I just had to have this song here... it's a special one for me.

WHAT YOU DO WITH PAIN RATHER THAN WHAT IT DOES TO YOU IS FAR MORE ESSENTIAL

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An online friend once remarked in jest.... 'You smile to the world like you never knew pain. What a good life you must have.'
That's farthest from the truth; simply absurd. But if you don't mind I will consider that as a compliment though. You don't get to hear something like that everyday! So thank you, just the same.

As it's been said 'everybody has a story and is a story', right? I'm not different because I also have my story.

But I don't do Facebook to tell my story. It has its own place and time. A public place such as this is definitely not that place and time.

Pain. Now that is among the most spoken of or written about word in every history. It's experienced by every living thing, two-legged or four-legged, on our planet. Pain comes in many ways, in different seasons or time, for a diversity of reasons or causes, and in different shapes, forms, or sizes. 

It holds tightly in its grip the whole range of human existence..... the emotions, intellect, spiritual, physical, social, and every interaction feasible to our existence. Am I saying where there is interaction there will be pain, too? Following the principle of cause and effect, I'm saying possibly yes. Pain is an effect (one of several others more) caused by something or someone or sometimes even by the self. 

What do we do with pain? As we see it in people around us or in our own lives we either react to it ...or respond to it... as in fight it or take flight far away from it. 

I have learned through the years that.....'Reacting' could maybe make us even more miserable as it's done with the absence of thought. 'Responding', in effect, could take us to a higher plane of understanding and growth. 'Fighting' it could achieve for us strength of character... while 'taking flight' makes us even weaker in mind, heart, and spirit. 

Pain simply sits alongside its buddies... hurt, sadness, loneliness, frustration, disappointment, bitterness, depression, resentment, discouragement, confusion, and its other members of the same negative pack. They may seem or mean to break you but it can't succeed when you don't let them. They can't hurt you when you won't give them consent to do so.

Therefore, It can be said that what you do with pain (and its friends) rather than what it does to you is that which matters most, in any language. You define you. Nobody else will or can do that for you. 'Life is what you make it', so said a wise person.

And I would like to add....
Let your heart smile through all of life. There's always some reason to smile.

Blessings from above to everybody!

TASKED TO BE BETTER AND BEST FOR SELF AND OTHERS

 

A friend shared this on his Fb timeline. I like it. Truth is, I like every post shared on his page. If it isn't about lovely pictures of the Pakistan landscape or some other place he so beautifully highlights, it would be words of wisdom such as this shown above. Wisdom which admittedly we often overlook, ignore, or scuff at because we think we know better. Do we really know better?

One other reason that I do fb is because it allows me tons of opportunities to learn. Particularly from people. People make for an interesting study. Myself included, if I were to learn seriously. Studying people gives you a glimpse of what life is all about. Life is all about people. It's actually people creating life, not life creating people.

People make up a huge kaleidoscope of color, emotions with its good and bad, vibrations, diversity, energy and the lack of it, opinions, insights, impressions, contradictions, biases and prejudices, preferences, choices and decisions, moods with its highs and lows, and certainly not the least experiences of both right and wrong.

Looking at everything one can easily say 'flawed'. Yes we all are flawed. Perhaps the reason why God left it at that is because He wants us to grow some more. This He shows us how to do by utilizing not only our brains and hearts but also our body parts. The bottom line is we are tasked to love one another and help create a better world.

And to do that we start with the self. That, my friends, is by God's design.

My God pour out His grace, light, peace, and love into your lives, families, and homes.

SMILE - AND GIVE IT TO THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE

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"If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don't be surly at home, then go out in the street and start grinning "Good morning" at total strangers."   --  Maya Angelou, writer


She's right, you know. The people you love dearly deserve the best of you. And you know what else, I'd put family at the top of that list called 'people you love'. Because win or lose, succeed or fail your family will be there with you.... for you.

EVERYONE IS BORN WITH A GUARDIAN ANGEL

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I chanced upon this music video and couldn't take my eyes and ears and heart off it. I thought what beautiful lines. This I want for my mother... my dearest Guardian Angel in life and beyond...  I am who I am today because she taught me well by the way she lived her life.  And to honor all the mothers in the world regardless of color, race, or creed. This too is meant most especially to those who suddenly find themselves taking on the dual role of being both mother-father to their children. As I am.

May the Blessed Mother in Heaven shine down upon you with love far more than your gentle hearts can hold. Be blessed, mothers. Stay blessed. Remember to pay it forward.

OPEN YOUR HEART AND FEED YOUR SOUL

The question of the day  'What's on your mind?'

It is this ---- THE HEART RULES. And this highlighted quote and the others on the list (all by Goethe) speak my heart. Which of these speak to you? Take it; live it; make it your own.
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My favorite:
"All truly wise thoughts have been thought already thousands of times; but to make them truly ours, we must think them over again honestly, till they take root in our personal experience."  -- Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

1) “A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.”

2) “You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.”

3) “It is not doing the thing we like to do, but liking the thing we have to do, that makes life blessed.”

4) “You can’t, if you can’t feel it, if it never
Rises from the soul, and sways
The heart of every single hearer,
With deepest power, in simple ways.

You’ll sit forever, gluing things together,
Cooking up a stew from other’s scraps,
Blowing on a miserable fire,
Made from your heap of dying ash.

Let apes and children praise your art,
If their admiration’s to your taste,
But you’ll never speak from heart to heart,
Unless it rises up from your heart’s space.”
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Blessings to you and more for the weekend up ahead.

LOVE IS ALSO LETTING GO

I have always thought that when you love someone, there shouldn't be any if's or but's to it. No holding back. No conditions. You just give it your all. This could take you to the ends of the world or to making a fool of yourself for the _nth time or turn your world crazily upside down and around or simply said -- just feeling so in love and don't care a hoot if all hell breaks lose.. You simply love. And that is beautiful, truly!

But as all things in life go through change, so will a relationship. Layers get peeled off sooner or later and sometimes we don't like what we see or discover. Or maybe the other person is growing at a much faster clip and tips the scale over to that person's favor. Dissatisfaction and resentment sets in. Many reasons bring change to a person and to life. Change which upset the balance or rattle comfort zones. And this puts pressure on the relationship. Can love cope or handle that? Sometimes yes, sometimes not.

So then If the moment should come for hard decisions which would end up in an empty nest so to speak, then perhaps it is best to learn to let go. You can't keep someone or something which isn't yours anymore, or doesn't want to be. Maybe not so much losing her heart cause love must still be there .. but a loss brought about by a mind that has grown by leaps and bounds harder to rein in or catch. Letting go would make transition easier from having to not having. Further, it is just right to free a person to seek his or her own truth or grow where asked to grow or change when the heart so dictates truthfully. Certainly it will be very sad and would crumble your world, but if your loss would mean a loved one's gain ... then letting go might be deemed heroic too and would point to a beautiful heart which knows how to love and love so well. Don't you think?

TO COMPLETE OR COMPLEMENT ANOTHER

Was reading this book sometime back (Insignificant one, by a not yet famous writer who could be one day. Who can tell.) and one line struck me, spoken by one female character 'I love you because you complete me.' Nice huh? Aww so romantic..

But I don't buy that. What if something happened and the relationship went pfft and the fella went off to Alaska or to the moon or ran off with another girl... then what does that make of you? That makes you incomplete? Meaning you can no longer function as a normal human being without him? That you become less than whole because a part of you is with the other? Oh okay, maybe I'm taking that quite literally but kidding aside am just stressing a point. Because I think that's not a good line to use.. even if it were simply meant to tickle a lovestruck heart, yours or the other's.

Have you ever thought about this... that You can't let or allow anyone to define you or your life for whatever reason, not even for love. Dependence on another is okay to a certain extent maybe but certainly not when it takes away a part of you or even just a teeny weeny bit of you, or so you romantically think.

Complete may not be the right word here. Because complete may indeed fill up a void but it's not necessarily by or with love. Rather try using the word complement. Complement does not take away; rather it adds itself to another in such a loving understanding magnanimous manner, capacity and intent.

Someone said this, to quote.....

"Never say that someone completes you. We have to feel whole even when we are by ourselves, for needing a person is not love but dependency. Wanting a person to become a part of your life is the best reason for having them. So rather than search for the someone who will complete you, wait for the person that will complement your completeness." Unquote.

SACRIFICE - THE TRUE EXPRESSION OF LOVE

"Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you're not really losing it. You're just passing it on to someone else." - Mitch Albom

I think he's right. One may give up something.. so that someone else could hold on to his. A mother leaves her comfort zone so that her children could keep theirs. A husband, father, son, brother goes to war so that his family and other families more will have peace. A young doctor turns his back to a lucrative job abroad to serve the sick poor in the far-flung areas of the islands. Sacrifice indeed is a part of life. The list is long and it's the same old story told many different ways everywhere.

Many say that we have a dearth of heroes in our times. I beg to disagree to that. We have plenty of heroes in our midst then and now and tomorrow yet. Silent - unspoken - unknown - unrecognized heroes. I believe that for as long as people know love and learn to love so well -- sacrifice will continue to be a relevant part of life. It's love's true and noble expression... and divine.

LOVE MAKES FORGIVING EASY

This question comes from a friend...

I read this line in a blog.Do you agree? It is like this.

We have been forgiven by God many times, for the mistakes that we made.

In the same way, we have to forgive others. That makes God smile.

Then all kinds of miracles can happen

Is it possible to forgive always?

As God's children, we are instructed to forgive in the same manner that God forgives us. But then it's easier said than done because we, bigger fools than we think ourselves to be, are more inclined to harbor hurt and pain longer than we should. We think too much pouring in reasons and excuses not to forgive. Funny but I don't understand where this comes from despite the repeated exhortations---- we're more inclined towards huge egos, so much pride, hate fear vindictiveness and suspicion. Such dark feelings will leave no room for love's light to thrive or flourish. Remember how often we've been told that 'we can't give what we don't have'.

I think my pet dog Maxie has a better understanding of forgiveness. Because no matter how i scold her for some mistake, she would always come to me and offer me the same love over and over again, regardless if i had hurt her or was deserving of it or not. If that isn't a show of forgiveness, what else is! I love my dog; even if she were naughty repeatedly i would love her still and too forgive her mischief each time. I learned that much from her. Oh but there is much that people can learn from animals. Things such as devotion - loyalty - unconditional love... Dogs can teach us a thing or two about that. Just as nature teaches us about the art of life and living. Teaching is not and never is the monopoly of human beings. Everything is a teacher or teaches ... to one who is eager to learn. All that is required is an open and welcoming mind.. and to see with the eyes in one's heart.

Yes, 'it is possible to forgive always'.... it springs from a heart that loves.

I guess that is how Jesus lived his life on earth.... loving people. Love makes forgiving easy. God's love is the greatest love of all. Tough act to follow for mere mortals like us... but nothing is stopping us from ever trying.

PERHAPS LOVE -- by John Denver

My hour of music. And none could be as pleasant as listening to the music of John Denver. This lovely song holds a special place in my heart....... beautiful soft gentle soothing melody, exquisite lyrics, and wonderfully sung by John Denver, singer-composer.

THE INDEPENDENCE OF SOLITUDE

The independence of solitude... ahhh that's a beautiful phrase and thought. And yes, it's perfectly sweet. Knowing where you are, knowing that things are temporary and will pass, knowing that people will come and go in anyone's life, and knowing that anything that happens will happen because they happen for a reason, including love. Everything has it own place time season and reason. (Ecclesiastes from the Book) -- All these are better understood in the presence of solitude.

Never deprive a man of his solitude. Because there he grows in self - with self. He learns well when left to his musings, reflections, and insights. There he is restored to his core and once again regains his balance and true perspectives. There he comes to terms with his inner demons and learns to sift through the grain to find his true gold. There he will argue with his God and who in turn will show him where he is right or wrong. There he sees himself without sham or masks and exposes his weaknesses as well as his strengths. There after all the battles fought he will finally come to a rebirth of self -- a renewed creative shining powerful version of his old self.

The independence of solitude confirms and affirms the independence of that person. Not only for his good but hopefully for the greater good of which we all must serve.

It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinions;

it is easy in solitude to live after your own;

but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd

keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Quote courtesy of a good friend. Thank you.