YOUR LIFE IS NOT ABOUT YOU

I was struck when I learned this from Neale Donald Walsch in one of his Youtube videos. I believe it’s a hard truth.

As much as I want to believe that my life is meant for me, I would still go back to this truth until I wholly accepted it.

I know that it will be hard to implement in my day to day life but I see hope for it as I know a lot of people who are successful in sacrificing their life to others.

And the best example of it is when our God, the Father sacrificed His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ in order to save us from our sins.

Now, I would like to share about my mother as she is fit for this truth.

Growing up, I am fully aware of the sacrifices of my mother. She is a testament to what life should be lived. She never gets tired of loving us. She never gets tired of cooking for us and preparing our food.

She never gets tired of waking up early in the morning just to make sure the moment we wake up all our needs for school are ready and prepared. She never gets tired of praying for us, for reminding us to finish our studies as she herself never had the chance to finish so.

My mother is always there to take care of us when we are sick and weak. She always makes sure we are strong and well. My mother is always there during our recognition days in school.

She’s always ready to assist us every time we need help. She makes sure we will arrive home safe and sound.

Even now that we already finished our studies, she still never gets bored of listening to our stories and experiences. She always patiently waits for the days we come home.

She still accompanies us in the airport to make sure we are safe and we are not late of our flight. She still misses our time together, the laughter we shared every time we’re together.

These are only some of the things my mother did and is doing for me and for our family. There are still a lot of things she did and continuously doing.

I am very sure she will still continue doing these things because she loves what she is doing. Because she knows these are the reasons why she lives. She knows that her life is not about her.

Because she knows her purpose and that will only matter and for the Lord’s plan for her.

Thank you Ma for all that you’ve done, you’re doing and for all the things you still need to do. Thanks for showing me an example of what life should be.

Thanks for making my life easier, for making me understand life better.

My friend, if you are reading until here, I want to thank you. I hope you learn something on this quick reflection about my mother and our life as a whole.

Help me pray that if not all, most of us will realize that we have a responsibility to others and that we are created by God not to serve ourselves but be of service to others.

It will be difficult at first but once we seek the help of the Lord and we consistently do our part, the journey will be worthwhile.

God bless you, my friend!

 

 

Happy Birthday To My Teacher Sister

Happy 23rd birthday sis!

“No life’s worth more than any other, no sister worth less than any brother.” – Michael Franti

Yes indeed. You are as worthy as any other even our own family members. We are born equal, no more no less. Sis Leah, I and we as a family would just want you to know that we are so blessed having you. Our family wouldn’t be complete and happy without you around.

You bring joy and laughter every time you’re with us and you know that I suppose. You are the kind of lady that enjoys life by just laughing out problems and setbacks you met in your journey. And I’m so proud of what you’ve become.

Before moving on, let me go back to our childhood years. Since you are next to me, we had a couple of experiences together though our age gap is almost 4 years. I still remember the time when we were on our way to school in which we needed to cross a river through a bridge made of bamboo just for us to arrive school safe. That time we’re accompanied by our father and since you’re still in your very young age, I think you’re in Day Care that time, our father made sure that you crossed the bridge unharmed yet in a blink of an eye an accident happened.

You fell from the bridge when you’re about to take your last step to safely cross the bridge.

And we were so nervous that time to the point that we almost couldn’t even make a single step just to check if you’re alright. And thanks be to God you were safe and just had a few skin scratches.

From that time on, I considered it a turning point that I had to make sure it won’t happen again. So the journey continued. You became a consistent honor student in your elementary years and graduated as Valedictorian.

Time has passed so fast and you’re in your high school years. You became active in school in both academic and extra-curricular activities. I am so happy that some of the things I didn’t do in high school, you’re the one who did it. At least I felt satisfied with that. And then you finished high school and ready for college.

You enrolled Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education major in English. I didn’t know if that’s really your choice but I and we as a family supported your decision. It seemed that you’re so happy and contented with your studies and we felt the same too.

Until I knew that you had your first boyfriend.

Honestly, I’m a bit afraid at first because I thought it’s still early for you to be in a relationship and I’m worried it would affect your studies. But I chose to trust you and looked at the brighter side of things. You never failed us since we found out that it didn’t work out and you’re ready for your practice teaching at the same time working on your group thesis.

We’re so happy and proud seeing you wearing your teacher’s uniform after overcoming a lot of challenges and disappointments along the way.

Finally, the time had come for you to walk down the red carpet with our parents by your side. It was one of the happy moments for you as an individual and for us as a family. Welcome to your Graduation Day Sis. As much as I wanted to attend that time, my situation then never allowed me to. But I am crying for joy and happiness for what you’ve accomplished so far. It will never be stolen from you. It will be yours forever.

Since you wanted to become a professional teacher, of course, you need to be one. We supported you to review for the upcoming Licensure Examination for Teachers in Manila. It was never easy and will never be but you were able to finish it. You met new friends and explored new places.

And the most awaited day had come. You found yourself answering questions that would change your life forever. We constantly and fervently praying for your success and indeed God never failed us.

After more than a month of waiting for the results, finally, YOU MADE IT. You passed the board examination. Welcome to the professional and real world. Hugs and kisses and congratulations to our Registered Teacher!

Without much time of waiting you got your first job. I knew it was never easy for you but we were so proud of you. You liked the job but your colleagues were otherwise. Yet still, you tried and tried and pushed yourself to the best version of you. And it happened.

However, amidst all of these successes were some challenges.

I and we thought these successes would stay longer but life had a different story to tell. One day you resigned from your job and chose to find a teaching job in Bohol which I and we supported due to the big risks when you’re employed in Manila.

During this time you went home together with your ex-boyfriend who then became your husband. You were both so happy because you’re in a long distance relationship. And we are happy too.

I thought it would again stay longer but one day we found out that you both made a really big mistake. Our world was torn apart and we just couldn’t believe what happened after all. Honestly, we are so disappointed and I, myself, am depressed for over a week.

But we chose to lower our pride and accepted the reality; the reality that you’re not anymore my little sister.  You’re now a mother of an adorable and beautiful baby girl and a wife of your thoughtful and responsible husband.

“The natural state of motherhood is unselfishness. When you become a mother you are no longer the center of your own universe. You relinquish that position to your children.” – Jessica Lange

I always believe that all things happen for a reason or some reasons. You becoming a mother at an early age was a mistake for me but it will never be a mistake for God. I can only think of shallow reasons but only Him can give you the deep reasons within.

The life we as family and I as your big brother has dreamed of you was not realized but we believe that God has prepared the best version of your life moving forward.

And indeed as of now, I can see it already and I am so excited for the years ahead. I can’t dispute the power and plans of the Lord for your life and your new and young family.

This is my prayer for you today in your birthday Sis Leah;

I pray that the Lord will continue to bless every area of your life. That He will equip you with all the things you need in order to raise your daughter healthy, strong and God-fearing for you to be an effective and responsible mother of her and to your husband. That you will continue to reach for the stars and never allow setbacks to stop you from achieving your dreams in life. Just remember that these dreams now will not be any more for you alone but for your family as well. Even now, I claim that you will still realize your dream and prayer to become a teacher in our place. Finally, I would like you to enjoy your birthday and even every day of your life and I and we as a family would want you to know that we are always here to support you and will forever be here to listen and help you in all ways possible.

We love you so much Sis and I, myself, love you beyond words! Let’s forgive and forget and concentrate on the things we have in common and invest our energies in our collective dreams and goals to the years to come.

HAPPY 23RD BIRTHDAY AGAIN TO YOU MY TEACHER SIS!

Loving you,

Kuya Lebert

 

 

Happy 25th Birthday: Blessed Having You

Happy 25th birthday my love!

I can’t wait to be with you again after 3 days of being away from you. Haha. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity to fetch you in the airport. Actually, I’m on my way now. I’m sorry I can’t tell myself not to miss you. I simply miss you and long for your presence.

I just hope you had a wonderful vacation in Singapore. I know that you’ve been dreaming of it for quite a long time and finally it came to a reality. You deserve it baby and I’m proud of you. At least somehow you feel refreshed and relaxed.

Today is your birthday and I can’t think of ways to make it special because by simply being with you every moment is special. But that’s what I feel and I suppose you feel the same way too. And how about what you feel? In order to be really sure of what you will feel, I will try my best to somehow make you feel special and loved.

And this is what I thought of and did, this blog.

This blog is all for you. Let me start in the beginning and how my life has changed the moment I first saw you. But this time I promise there will be no more long compliments and sweet words. I will be more straight and direct to the point.

More than 4 years ago when I chanced upon a beautiful soul during one of my travels, my life literally changed. I need to tweak some of my bad habits and strive to change for the better. I learned to value every special moment with you since we’re far from each other. I managed to change my priorities. I learned to sacrifice something for the benefit of someone. I learned the true meaning of love, kind of love that will last forever and not for the meantime.

For the past 4 years of our relationship, you taught me to be more patient and control my anger. You taught me to trust someone and be trusted at the same time. You helped me increase my self-confidence and the way I should treat myself. You taught me how to wear appropriately even my haircut. You always reminded me to be extra careful in my food choices and the value of regular exercise. You taught me to remove suspicions, minimize jealousy and just simply trust you. There are a lot of things I should be thankful for but I would like to stick with my promise not to say a lot of things since you know them already.

But above all, you taught me how to love and serve God more in all ways possible.

Thank you for all your hard works and efforts for us to love each other more and to strengthen our relationship beyond imagination. Thank you by the way for cooking the most delicious food on earth next to my mother’s of course. Haha. No offense, only happiness.

I’m so proud of you not only because you are beautiful and too much grrgrrr, haha but because you really love yourself and with that, it’s really easy for you to love others. You aren’t hard to love since you are simply worth loving.

You know that I’ve been constantly praying for the day that I will see you giving your life, serving the Lord and sharing your resources to every person you meet. I just can’t contain my happiness that this prayer was already answered a year ago when you decided to join the Singles for Christ (SFC). The bonus was that we started and finished together.

You just don’t know how happy and proud I am watching you in your service at the same time serving you alongside. Indeed, I am so blessed having you in my life. And since my prayer was already answered, I’m now starting a new prayer that I believe God will answer in due time. I cannot divulge the details now but for sure this is for our benefit.

For the meantime let’s just celebrate your birthday and enjoy the days, months or even years ahead. I’m always here for you, to support you, to stand by you, to serve God with you, to pray with you, to teach and remind you, to listen from you, to sacrifice for you, to make you happy and above all to be faithful and love you.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH BABYXIE!

God bless you more and I swear I’m more than blessed having you in my life. Let’s continue to strive for what is right and share the love of God to everyone. Keep up what you’ve started and I’m claiming for more success and travels in the future.

Happy birthday again baby!

Smile,

Lebert