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.

HAPPINESS WHEN SHARED BECOMES THE BLESSING IT WAS MEANT TO BE

This is beautiful and means more than a thousand words can say............

"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle,
and the life of the candle will not be shortened.
Happiness never decreases by being shared."
----- Siddhartha Guatama Buddha

Life ain't easy, we all know that. Some of us have it even more so difficult than the rest. Joy and happiness in this situation or condition may seem as elusive as the distant horizon. It easily wearies the mind, body, and soul.

But when you have been blessed with the gift of joy and happiness in your own tiny world, hasten to share it out to those who may have need of it. Perhaps a smile... a warm thought... a kind word... a helpful gesture... a prayer... or maybe just a simple hug. It may perhaps seem little and insignificant ... but to the person you are giving it to ---- it's the whole world.

Joy and happiness is contagious. All it takes is to light up the spark and sooner than you think that tiny spark bursts into a huge flame quickly warming those hearts and souls around you and everyone it reaches with its light.

Give of that gift freely. Share it. You won't lack in it by passing it around. In fact, it doubles up in huge measure and becomes the blessing it was meant to be. For them..... and for you.

Hope you all are having a blessed weekend. Blessings!


(My thanks to a good friend who sent the nice quote to me in email today.)

FIND - KNOW - EMBRACE YOUR CALLING

"I've come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that's as unique as a fingerprint - and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you." --- -- Oprah Winfrey

So what is your calling? Have you ever stopped to figure that out? Honestly, sometimes you don't get to know it early in life. Some discover it in midstream when they have something else going for them. Sometimes it comes to you later in life. Much later. But then again who can tell why it is so? Why God so chooses at what time you should or shouldn't? The goal is still the same.

The essential thing to this is that you perform what it is that is being asked of you. That is after you have found out what it is of course. That is the challenge and task HE has set out for you to do. And pronto.

No, it's not to be another Oprah Winfrey or a Helen Keller or a John F. Kennedy or other highly esteemed personality who have made their indelible mark on us and on the world. But why not also cos if it is .. that's something fantastic on a grander scale.

But usually it is in being what you do best with what life and God has given you. As you are. God may want you to be a ...... good mother, leader, priest, father, son or daughter, friend, student or teacher, employee or social worker, nurse or care giver, businessman, pilot, NGO, street sweeper, etc. But this also means that you give it your best shot. If you are a street sweeper, be the kind that does an excellent job of sweeping the streets that people will enjoy walking by your street and admire the work of the hands that did it!

It is in knowing that what you have is not there for keeping. Not really or totally. It is meant for something much bigger than you. I've said this before I know. And you will always hear it from me. Because by nature we always tend to forget. We forget a lot of things we should be remembering............... birthdays, anniversaries, grandparents, good old friends, appointments, favors, and more stuff which give meaning purpose and reason to our lives. We forget to be kind, friendly, compassionate, sympathetic, generous, helping, understanding, tolerant, human and humane, non-judgmental, forgiving, trusting where trust so inspires, believing in a greater good, savoring the simple pleasures of life and living. Like we also always forget to thank HIM for HIS blessings then and now and forthcoming yet. We forget.

So then let's try find our calling. Know our calling. Embrace it. Make it our gift back to God.
Blessings to you all, in Christ.