God's Coffee

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A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. 
 
Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some 
expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee. 
 
When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: 
 
"If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. 
 
Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. 
 
What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups. 
 
Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of Life we live. 
 
Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us." 
 
God brews the coffee, not the cups.......... Enjoy your coffee!  
 
"The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything." 
 
 
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

Author unknown

Life is a gift

LIVING LIGHTLY

"Tsk tsk my electricity bill increased this month."

"Hmmp! My water consumption increased, too."

"Ouch! My ulcer attacks again."

"Hey, turn the TV off. There's nothing good in the news. It's the same PNOY attacked."

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The common scenario in Filipino households. Never ending WORRIES over the ever increasing price in commodities, utilities and other daily expenses while salary is stagnant and no hope to get increase. There's nothing new and if one will just think of it in everyday of their busy lives, they will never enjoy living.

One fine Sunday, I happened to attend an Eagle's Connection activity hosted by the Alumni officers. In the course of the discussion, we were asked to listen and to share our life experiences which I did sincerely. A day after, I received a FB message from one of fellow alumni, she said, "Mabait ka ate, sana ako bumait na tsaka ang warm mong kausap." (You are kind sis. I hope me too become kind. and you are warm talking to.) I was touched by her message. It's just an almost two hour non-voice/voice conversation with her. Which means we've just spent some minutes in sharing and listening then most of our time were spent smiling to each other (The usual scenario for first time meet-ups) Yet, she was able to perceive me as such. I was glad leaving such impression by the way. 

However, I also asked myself. Why despite of my real life situations I decided and chose to live lightly: 

1. If you must know, I have a rheumatic heart disease. The 2D echo showed that for a normal opening of 3mm, mine is just 0.92mm (way back year 2011, today, I didn't know yet and I chose not to follow-up. Knowing will just speed up my death.) If only for myself, this disease won't matter but having 2 kids whom I loved so much and who depend on me, it's a different story. 

2. Last 2012, not recovering yet from depression of knowing my sickness, my father died, then year after, my mother followed. Both due to sickness. I missed them. Very much. The thought of having parents even if seeing them once a year is far different than seeing them no more in flesh. My regret is trusting their belief of "Kung hindi ukol, hindi bubukol."(If not meant to be, it will never be.) I didn't try hard enough to encourage my father to bring him in the urban hospital because of his fear of travelling far. And I let my mother do her usual activity in the province despite of her old age which caused her sudden death due to high blood pressure. 

3. We're not well-off. Hubby and I are working on a regular employment and expecting 15/30 payroll. Then working hard on a freelance online projects. If we stop working, then, we will also stop eating and no more buying of daily needs then no more extra penny to satisfy some wants. Life it is.

The question now is WHY SHOULD I NOT LIVE LIGHTLY?

First, I have two kids who are the reasons of my smiles from the morning I wake up then sending me off to work with their numbers of kisses on my face plus their flying kisses  and hugs till I come home and giving me kisses again. Telling me their stories for the day, filling my ear with their cute voices of the songs they learned, praying with me and giving me their hugs and kisses before going to sleep. 

Second, I have a partner in life who is always behind me. Who backs me up in my decisions and give 100% support in my active participation in Alumni works. I am blessed indeed. Added to it, is having an understanding mother-in-law. 

Third, I have friends, real friends. We may be living miles away from each other, but the concern and love for each other never ends. 

Fourth, I have an alumni family. My #solid99ers family. The family I've gained from our Home away from Home, The Sisters of Mary School. It's a unique family where love exists even if we're born from different parents, raised from various ethnicities, grew from far away places in Luzon. We're siblings in Christ, united by our Venerable Fr. Al and taken cared of by our Mother Sisters who till now, their love and care never ceased. 

Lastly, I am working in an environment where the Center is Christ. I have a very kind, understanding and supportive boss who in my entire 7 years of service to the company, never reprimanded me. He listens to my voice, consider my suggestions and never criticized me for my failure or job undone. 

To sum it all, I can live lightly because:

• I see things positively. Yes, I am human, too. There are times I also freak out, cry and show my disappointment over matters that are not favorable but I don't sit into it that much. I find solutions over problems, work closely into it till it is solved. I am not fun of blaming but I see to it that lessons are learned.

• I live in the present time. As much as possible, I worry less about tomorrow. God is with me along the way and He never disappoint me. He show me the reasons for the whys and the answers to my never ending questions. I TRUST Him. From the morning I wake up till the time I sleep, I TRUST Him. Talking to God in every minute will do much than talking to your neighbor about the lives of other people. Talk to Him when you ride in a tricycle or in a jeep or in bus or even when you drive your own car. One time, my kids and I rode in a jeep. My younger daughter noticed a photo of the Driving Jesus displayed near the steering wheel. She asked me, "Mama, why Jesus is driving?" I told her, it means He is with us while travelling. So after we rode off the jeep and took a van, she told me, "Mama, Jesus is with us now, right?" Let us not forget, Jesus never leave us wherever we go, don't forget to greet Him on your next ride. To make sense, let Jesus be your Driver in your journey to life and you'll never go astray. 

• Most of all, bring with you spirit of gratitude. A grateful heart is a happy heart. Whether over simple things or big things, learn how to say Thank you. When you start saying thank you, you realize, everything becomes reason to be grateful. 

~~~~~~~~~xoxo~~~~~~~~~

Feb 22, God's sign

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I was in a hurry. After a half-day in the office 8:30-12:00 work, I have a Freelancer Career Kick-Off to attend at 1pm. My officemate advised me to just take a Van routing FTI-SM Makati. Thanks to her idea. I don't have to experience the hassle of riding an overcrowded bus as well as climbing the stairs in the overpass. I always avoid such scenario because I will for sure have breathing difficulty or will be getting tired easily. My husband actually never let me go alone when traveling because of my rheumatic heart. He decided to accompany me in the event it so happened that my two nieces have their scheduled classes so no one to take care of our two daughters. I have no choice then but to go by myself.

Immediately after office, I went to the terminal to catch a van going to Makati. I was a little hesitant because there's only one passenger. We need to wait for another 10 passengers so the van can leave. Checking my wristwatch every now and then, I can tell, I'll be late in the event because no other passengers willing to wait and they were riding the bus instead. What to do then; to wait for more 10 passengers which will take another 30minutes perhaps, or to ride in the bus?  Confused, I talk to Jesus. “Lord, if there's even a single passenger to ride in this van at this moment, I'll take this ride and not the bus.” As soon as I've finished praying, there's a lady approaching the van. She talked to the driver.

Lady: “How many more passengers to wait so we can leave?”

Driver: “We need to wait even for 8 passengers.”

Lady: “Ok, I'll pay for 8 passengers.”

Wow! I exclaimed. You're so good Lord. You answered so fast. Thank you!

God's blessing didn't end with that. In the event, I wasn't lucky enough to be drawn in the raffle for t-shirt or with the Ipad Mini. I really like the shirt. A participant next to me was lucky. He has the shirt and he was kind. He gave me the shirt. It's another blessing sitting beside a very considerate man. He even accompanied me in the way to terminal since I wasn't so familiar with the place. I just realized that he was actually supposed to stay to meet a certain group of attendees after the event. He just didn't say no to me. I was a little bit shy upon knowing that. But, I just prayed for him. May he be blessed, too; because that day, he's a blessing to me.

God Answers

It's a regular thing for us the whole family:  me, my hubby, our 2 kids and our two nieces living with us, to prepare ourselves on Sunday mornings to attend a Holy Mass at St. Martin de Porres Church in Parañaque. It started just an ordinary Sunday. We proceeded in the near front since my older daughter liked sitting near the front so she could see the priest during the whole mass. I knelt down and started praying. I have a lots of things to thank and to ask for to God. I already have had the things I've prayed for way back then: a not so perfect but happy family, a fulfilling job, treasured friends (I've just had dinner with two of them last Friday night.), a healthy mind and many other blessings...However, I still have so much to pray for: healing for my rheumatic heart, for the healing of a high school batch who has leukemia, for the strength of a high school spiritual brother and friend as he walks the way of the Lord in pursuing priesthood, for the health of the whole family and many other things which I believe God knows even before I pray. As I fervently praying, a member of MBG approached our bench. She talked to my husband. She requested us to be part of offertory where our family will be the one to bring the bread and wine. Wow! Yes, it's a Wow for me. Why? It's a sign God heard me and He recognized my prayers. It's a Family Sunday Mass schedule and many families out there like us attending the same mass. It's His blessing. I believe in signs.

My belief in signs started when I was still in high school in The Sisters of Mary. It was 12:00pm and the morning class has ended. My dormitory was in Bldg 4 while my class was in Bldg 2. I was assigned as food server. As food server, my duty was to get the food from the food cart and prepare the dining hall so I have to hurry so my doormates won't be late and could eat on time. Unfortunately, it was raining hard. The sky was dark and the rain kept on pouring. To run under the rain was an option but I won't do that since I could get really wet and the worst, I might get sick. Getting sick was a no, no. I'll be confined in the clinic or in the isolation room and miss my class. I hate the idea. I was in section A and missing my lessons would matter a lot. What to do? I closed my eyes and started praying, "Jesus, love mo ako diba? Patigilin mo na ulan please? Mama Mary please? All of a sudden, the rain stopped! Wow! Thank You Jesus! Thank you Mama Mary! I exclaimed then ran. All of the other students also ran fast. But, I was sorry for the other students because as soon as I reached the lobby of the building, the rain started to pour again. (naughty)

Another remarkable experience was when we attended the church a month after giving birth to my older daughter. I prayed for God's blessing for my daughter and for my family. Just what like happened yesterday, my hubby and I were chosen to serve in offertory. I took it as a sign since there were lots of family attending the mass together and we were chosen then.
In getting a job, I also trusted signs. Before I work in Allegro Philippines as Sales & Mktg. Assistant, I also requested for a sign. My 3 years work experience was in BPO so the chance of being hired as a Sales staff was little since I didn't have any experience on that field. Fortunately, I was considered. Visiting their plant for the interview, I requested for God sign if I should accept the job. During lunch time, I ate with the HR supervisor. In the canteen, I saw a rosary on her hand out of her pocket. I took it as a sign. I accepted the job. I loved my work there. I've learned so much and I gave my effort so much too. However, it's just far from my place. I have to take 3 tricycle rides before I reach the office. So, when an opportunity knocked near the house (walking distance) I left Allegro. By the way, only the HR, the President and few employees we're Roman Catholic in Allegro, the rest they were Iglesia ni Kristo. Religion didn't matter anyway. I love them. It's just that it's too far that even when the VP and the President urged me not to leave, I'd say sorry but No.

I considered a sign also before I started in my present work. During my interview, a sales staff was playing You are my Hiding Place and other religious songs on here PC, so I grabbed the job. Till now, I'm working here and I love being here. My boss is awesomely kind and considerate, my officemates too. For sure, there'll be no other work like it here. 

Dear Lord, Take me Out of the Dark

A REBLOG...

It was April 2011 when I learned I have severe mitral stenosis or commonly known as Rheumatic heart disease. According to the doctor, it is due to untreated Rheumatic fever related with Tonsilitis during my younger age. I don't know how it happened and now, I don't know how to handle it.

My 1/4- my passes for ballooning

My PHC White Card

Everytime I think about of my heart disease, tears filling my eyes. Not because I'm worrying much but because I know deep in my heart, God is healing me. I will undergo 2D echo again on Monday 8/29 to check the status of my heart and to help the doctor decide what medical procedure is appropriate in my case. Hence, I asked God to be my doctor. My faith and my trust never ceases, in His Mercy and power, HE will heal me.That's why I have nothing to say but THANK YOU LORD! I just wanna thank you LORD.Thanks to my ASMSI fellow. Thanks for your prayers! Thanks to my E-Wha Family for your overwhelming support and understanding! God bless us All!It was the same scenario 4 months ago. I was sitting in front of my computer with teary eyes. I was trying to appear normal but I can't stop the liquid flowing out from my eyes. It was the time when I finally learned the status of my heart which according to the doctor, I have severe mitral stenosis. I didn't know what this medical term meant but if I'll base on the explanation of the 2d echo technician and of the cardiologist who read the result, it was something I must be fearing of. Fear not for myself but for my very still young, 2 daughters. It was almost 2 weeks before I overcome that fear. Thanks to my officemates and thanks to MR Shin, my boss, who never failed to remind me of the goodness of the Lord. Mr Shin once said only God who knows your body. How it will function. Therefore, only God can heal it. Thanks to his powerful words. It enlightened me. 

JESUS, MY HEALER through His Ways

It's still fresh in my mind how my boss consoled me during the saddest realization of my cross. He said, "God made you, so He can only heal you".

I believe it so.
God knows every flesh, every vein, every beat of my heart, every cell of my body. That belief was strengthened more when I attended what I call, "A Healing Seminar", in Don Bosco Kalentong. For me, it's a healing seminar since I've heard many testimonies on how the patients were healed from mostly very hard to cure diseases such as Stage 4 Cancer, Kidney Stones, Heart Problems, Goiters, Cysts, Tumors and many other diseases. A Catholic Priest, who is also a Chemist, who doesn't want to be famous and only want to help others through his discovery, shared his knowledge about the power of Sea Salt & Water and of his banana enzyme. He said, "We are created to live long so take good care of your body and don't take away any part of it because God has purpose for it". His words are right as well as the vital information he shared with us.

It's been a week since I've started taking a glass of water with 3 drops of enzyme (given for free), 30 minutes before every meal. I can say, I can feel the health effect. Before, I suffered so much from GERD (acid reflux)  adding so much pain aside from the fatigue and easy tiredness I am experiencing due to my Rheumatic Heart Disease.  Miraculously, now, I can do my normal work without feeling tired and fatigue. And just today, I find out, the blurry eyes are also healed. I can now read the schedule on the white board 4 meters away from my table CLEARLY, yes clearly without the use of my eyeglasses! Last March, I've bought a pair of eyeglasses to ease me with my blurry eyes. Now, I'm not needing them anymore and my headache is also gone.

It's Gods way of telling me that the idea is right. He created me and so through His gift of nature, I can also be healed. 'm more confident now.

To those who are suffering like me, and want to know more about it, just message me. The priest shared his knowledge for free and 'm willing to tell you about him for free also. WHAT WE NEED? virtue of PATIENT. Just like the other patients do.