EVERYTHING HAS ITS TIME AND SEASON --- AND REASON, TOO

 

 

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Woke up to a nice cool breezy morning. So I decided to go out to the patio and get me more of that nice cool breeze.. before Mr. Sun (now seen peeking behind the mountains) takes it away.. Saraaap!
 
That's when two teenagers came by apparently on their way to school. Wearing fresh uniforms, backpacks on their backs, and cellphones in their hands (but of course!). Engaging themselves in light banter as they neared the front of my house. Snippets of their chat flew in my direction quite easily as they drew nearer.

Teenager 1: "Hahahah.... si lola kanina o sinabihan akong magdasal lagi bago umalis ng bahay. Kahit daw anong gawin ko, lagi daw samahan ng dasal.. Kulit talaga eh! Hahahah..." --- (Grandma this morning told me to pray before leaving the house. That I should always accompany my activities with prayer. Amusingly pesky I should say... hahahah)

Teenager 2: "Hayaan mo na, matanda na eh! Ganun din nanay ko. Wala na atang ginawa kundi magdasal ng magdasal... magsimba ng magsimba. Ano pa ba ang gagawin nila kung matanda na. " --- (Let it be, she's old. She's like my mom. She does nothing but pray and pray..... go to church at the slightest reason or none at all. So what else can they do at their age!?!)
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The boys were long gone but their conversation seemed to have stuck to my brain. Because it really made me think.
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"So what else can they do at their age!?!" exclaimed the young boy.
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One thing the boys should try to understand..... life has its seasons. There's a time for everything in life. The time of childhood... of growing up... of youth... of studying... of working... of pursuing dreams.. of courtship... of marriage.. of babies.. of raising children.... of growing old... of sickness... of living... of dying.
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When you're young you do anything you want. Nothing can stop you. You are strong, smart, creative, brilliant, with resources at easy reach and surrounded by people. You do great things with who you are and what you have.
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Then one day you realize candles are getting more and more plenty and lit on your birthday cake. Then somebody (like these two boys) calls you 'old'.
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Sad. 

You try to look back to the past for assurance of your own importance and worth which you notice seems to be bit-by-bit diminished with or by every encounter with people, circumstances, and by time.
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But wait.......... there is also this big fact of life which is and has been a great comfort to us all (admittedly or not) --- it tells us that when the emotional, intellectual, and the physical areas of our small lives drain away..... the spiritual stands strong as one great pillar of courage which not even Samson can destroy with his puny human effort and strength! The spiritual is a life giver and a life saver. Somebody up there loves us so much He made it so.
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Everything has its time and season. (and reason, too, if I may add). Live it as required of you. Make it serve a grand or grander purpose ---- wherever you are, at whatever season you may be. This is all by God's design.
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Take care, friends. Live life one wonderful and precious moment at a time. God bless you all!

HAVE YOU TRULY FULFILLED YOUR MAIN PURPOSE IN LIFE

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'Twas the time of day when time seemed to stand still. Some people may try taking a nap to ease the sluggish hours away through sleep. Others watch something on TV. Still others would raid the cupboard for a huge snack to munch on. I wouldn't hesitate to do any one or the other but this time I decided to cruise down the internet, not sure what to look for, but just coast along hoping that I hit the jackpot of catching a worthy item to read or learn from.
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And this caught my eye......... an excerpt from Pastor Jason's blog post. (a blog I stumbled upon). To quote:
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"Fulfill God’s Purpose for You in Your Generation: ---- I love what the New Testament says of King David, “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep.” (Acts 13:36) .
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What part of God’s purposes are you called to fulfill in this generation?
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God made you like no one else, to do something no one else can do. Never underestimate the importance of your life. If you were unnecessary, you would not have been born. Discover and fulfill God’s purpose for your life, and your legacy will be fulfilled!"
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Unquote.
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That is a good question, isn't it? Have you ever thought about that?
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Allow me to share my thoughts.

I believe ...Man does not think about that at all.... well, not until he is old or older. Let's be honest with ourselves, when we were young all that really mattered to us was making it big in this life i.e. a good position in a well-paying job..... a bright career and profession..... a great marriage..... a big house, flashy cars and all the trappings of wealth..... being popular in the social world..... being famous..... receiving dozens of titles or recognition..... making a name for ourselves..... fulfilling our goals and dreams, and etc. It was all and everything about  "I" .. "Me" .. "My" .. and .. "Mine".
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And we all get to have it in different measure, package, and level or degree. True. And we're happy. Satisfied. Sated. Content.
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Then Father Time begins ticking loudly. So loud that it bothers even our sleep. Father Time seems to be in so much a hurry, we now notice. We're growing older.
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Then all that is left for us now are just memories. And........
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this question............. "Have you truly fulfilled your main purpose in life?" To some this question may come early and then to others quite late. But definitely there must or should be an answer to the question.
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Because it matters. By God's design.
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Blessings to you and yours, dear friends. God bless you.

WHEN OLD MAKES GOOD ITS TIME TO LEARN WELL

 

With the sun shining warm and bright, puttering in my tiny pot garden on the patio was not a task at all particularly when a tiny cool breeze started blowing my way. I was in the middle of trimming dried-up branches in one pot when a neighbor living just across the street strode down casually to the side of the patio facing the street and happily extended an invitation to her birthday party on Sunday which she’d rather call her Thanksgiving Party. She further added that she’s so grateful to be 75 and healthy. Indeed Amen to that!

50, 60, 75 or beyond ... it is that time in life when everybody regards you derisively, condescendingly, patronizingly, sarcastically, mockingly, irreverently......‘old’. It just means one thing to them --- old.

Allow me to say something.....

Never mind the aching bones, the weak joints, the failing eyesight or hearing, the pills nestling permanently in one’s bag, and the memory lapses. All that and more is just the natural physical journey of the human body. We know and understand that. But there is something special in being old.

It’s special.......

...To have better learned to consider a fellow being as an equal and loved by the same God. To see him not only through human eyes but through the eyes of God and thus understand that he goes through the same struggles, burdens, misery or pain as everybody else. Then without further ado quickly shoot off a prayer to the heavens creating a grace-filled path leading back to that person. It’s special because you have understood well. For not many learn.

...To have better learned to act kindly and patiently towards the young whose brazen and foolhardy behaviour often get on your nerves. And instead seek to help, enlighten, uncover their potential, unobtrusively train them into the way that they should go, as designed by a good God. It’s special because you have learned to understand the young as they should be understood. For not many understand.

...To have better learned to accept life with both the good and the bad in it, to have understood that both are requisites for growth. It’s special because you have learned to move in step with the music of life’s universal dance and essentially to God’s design for your life. For not many try.

...To have better learned to be friends with the sun, moon, stars, trees, seas, rivers, oceans, and the animals of land-sea-air, all the seasons and its changes and that you have a part in its preservation and continuance. It is special because you have understood your role as a steward of God’s work. For not many will.

...To have better learned to separate the wheat from the chaff, to recognize those of true value amidst those which only serve no good thing but waste.  It is special because you have gained the ability to peel off unnecessary layers or masks which hide truth where truth could have been the better choice. For not many do.

...To have better learned that everything in life passes through heaven’s doors. Joy, sorrow, misery, success, failure, laughter, tears, and fear --- all can find its solution – hope – inspiration – comfort and consolation when it is passed through faithful prayer. It’s special because you have understood very well that nothing is or will be without GOD. For not many learn and learn well.

So there.....Old is special because old made good its time to learn and learn well. Although God isn’t finished yet but with the way it looks now the work is closer to done. And that’s a very good thing if heavenly perfection is the goal. 

So then here’s for a ‘Happy Birthday’ to anyone who may be celebrating a birthday today or in the days ahead before the year ends.  Don’t count the years in numbers but in how much and how well you have learned.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT, MY FRIEND

(An aunt thinks this is a long post so have shortened it. But its entirety is posted in another blog. Thank you.)

BUT ..... what we can take pride in and on is that our minds have retained its power -- never has grown stale nor weak. Unlike our bodies which changes with time. In fact, our minds have grown to such stature that it now defines us as individuals in our own right. I believe younger minds have bowed down to wisdom.

So then let us adapt to these changes -- better for us if we do and better for our respective families who only want to do what is right for us out of great love and affection. Give them credit for such noble familial values. We ourselves, if you remember, have taught them that. Those are the very same things which will be passed on to their children. It will go down to many generations. A legacy -- Love of family. Let it not be said that we as parents have deprived our own children of such wonderful character and values... all because we so foolishly hang on to the illusion that we 'feel young' and want to be treated as so.

Who wants to grow old?! I don't. Does anyone? I don't relish the idea of being dependent, hopelessly tied to restrictions that come with age. I don't relish the idea of not being able to run in the vast fertile meadows that I love with the wind on my face chasing butterflies. I don't delight in looking at pills on my plate along with a delicious dish of my favorite morning breakfast. I weary at the thought of the aches and pains in my knees and bones after indulging in an exhilarating enjoyable activity. And to the vanities of women like me, I fear the wrinkles multiplying on my face each year. Most of all, I feel the loneliness of being alone by myself unable to participate in the hustle-and-bustle of the vibrant active life I see in others. (As a hindsight, we've been there-done that and enjoyed it too, haven't we? Lots of good memories there.)

BUT...

I write. And there in the writing I renew my strengths. I am eternally young. I soar unfettered by physical wings of flight but rather on wings of awe discovery learning wonderment and imagination. I am free from this physical body.. unrestrained unshackled unchained. Thoughts dance on print. It takes wings and touches the sky. It glides over wonderlands of magic. It unravels mysteries and reveals truths and carries songs soothing weary hearts. It reveals to me blessings known and unknown. It wraps my heart with love and thanksgiving as it takes me closer to the heart of God.

My dear friends, one has not to be defined by the physical changes of time on our bodies. No matter how uncomfortable it may seem. Rather one must seek to nurture preserve and grow that which shapes our person and character. We are defined by the power of our minds and the warmth of our hearts and the strength of our faith. It assures us of immortality by what we think, say, and do with it - by it - for it. Be that person and you will live forever in your children's hearts and on to generations following. Be that person and although it may not take away your aches and pains, fears and loneliness -- it will keep the door of happiness always open to you. And all you have to do is just to step right in each time.

Blessings to you and your family.

Have a lovely weekend.

THE BLESSINGS OF JUNE

Soon the month of June comes to its close, I would like to put in here one more post (or maybe two more) before we wrap up blog posts for the month and resume anew in July.

I consider June as one of my most memorable months this year. Of course for very obvious reasons that being my birthday month. But there's more. Amazingly from the very first day of June blessings started pouring in .... coming in different shapes, sizes, activities, people, and new learning. A bouquet of gorgeous flowers. Plus a couture cake Hm-mm..! My pretty new night light. A thoughtful and memorable greeting banner in the living room wall. A tote bag in the perfect size, shape, and color. And a huge luxurious treat from all three daughters with a sumptuous dinner prepared by them too,with my future-son-in-law. Bless friends who sent thoughtful text messages to my phone, lovely greetings on my facebook page, and beautiful e-cards online. And too, the blog has received wonderful insights perceptions and comments from friends and readers. So much learned from there and for which I sincerely thank everyone who visited and shared their beautiful thoughts. And for which I thank our wonderful God up there who pours out blessings in great measure.

Further.....

It helps to understand that everybody grows old and even more to be enlightened that growing old should not much involve the length and width of body but rather the height and might of your heart and mind. You are only as old (or young) as you feel and think. Learn to seek out worthy things in your every hour everyday, and with every person you meet or every experience. It's all there just waiting to be discovered. But for the untrained and uninformed eye those things will simply pass you by. Never take things for granted, no matter how minute or insignificant they may appear to you. Sometimes great things come wrapped in small ordinary packages. Accept differences; respect where it comes from. Learn to sit quietly and listen for the sound of life. Let it touch you and fill you with deep gratitude for this precious profound gift. Remember to say 'thank you' to the One above from Whom all good things come.

:-) Happy Birthday to all celebrating their milestones this month of June. Celebrate it! - No ifs or buts!! Be happy and stay happy! Be blessed -- and stay blessed!