Time and Love

Feeling a little low, with so much to do and attending do much demands from being a wife, being a mother to two beautiful girls, being a household manager, being a friend, being a counselor, I feel a little tired and no much time given. This feeling resulted to my a little bit confused and down. I asked God – “if this is my purpose then why I feel low?” or probably I should not ask that (I can be stupid at times J). Well as I am feeling this, I came across this story, that somehow uplift my seemingly sinking spirit. The story goes like this…

Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all of the others, including Love. One day it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink, so all constructed boats had left. Except for Love.

Love was the only one who stayed. Love wanted to hold out until the last possible moment.

When the island had almost sunk, Love decided to ask for help.

Richness was passing by Love in a grand boat. Love said,
"Richness, can you take me with you?"
Richness answered, "No, I can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here for you."

Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel. "Vanity, please help me!"
"I can't help you, Love. You are all wet and might damage my boat," Vanity answered.

Sadness was close by so Love asked, "Sadness, let me go with you."
"Oh . . . Love, I am so sad that I need to be by myself!"

Happiness passed by Love, too, but she was so happy that she did not even hear when Love called her.

Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come, Love, I will take you." It was an elder. So blessed and overjoyed, Love even forgot to ask the elder where they were going. When they arrived at dry land, the elder went her own way. Realizing how much was owed to the elder, Love asked Knowledge, another elder, "Who Helped me?"
"It was Time," Knowledge answered.
"Time?" asked Love. "But why did Time help me?"
Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how valuable Love is."

The story touched me in so many ways, there are times I feel I had not love at all. Being a temperamental myself, more on my system is anger and quick rising temper that if you are the subject better stay away for I would lash you with my stabbing tongue. It is really difficult to deal/tame down this feeling, growing up in a hot tempered clan most probably I am influenced by this too. However, due to my exposure to different kind of people not to mention my profession also, how this being a hot angry in slightest provocation lessen a bit. Presently, I am reading a book on The Dance of Anger by Harriet Goldhor Lerner, PhD. It talks about knowing the reason or the feelings behind the anger and dealing with it.

This being temperamental most of the time told me that probably I have not loved at all for after all who would be capable of being angry and love at the same time? :-)

Time? Huh… wasted? Used in a wrong priority? I don’t know. Probably. I am in the prime of my life now, what have I done with the time God has given me? Maybe, when I die now and I’ll be ask by God, what have you done with the times I had given you? I might be flabbergasted and stunned with all the color draining in my face searching in the deepest recesses in my mind for answer and I could not find one.

Can it be possible that I use my remaining time here on earth to love and love and create more love and spread love? Probably… so help me God.

ECHO..

I came across this beautiful story few days ago when I desperately search for something to motivate my students. Working as a counselor is never been easy, and sometimes you really run out of responses to follow thru students’ aches and pains. Admit it simply listening sometimes not applicable to everybody, so you really have to talk. And talking requires skills to bring your students to understand views that you want them to appreciate. As I search for something to spark them with, I ended myself to a site that leads me this story about ECHO. The timing is perfect since my students seemingly needs something to inspire them with. Now here goes the story:
"A son and his father were walking on the mountains.Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"Curious, he yells: "Who are you?"He receives the answer: "Who are you?"And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!"The voice answers: "I admire you!"Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!"He receives the answer: "Coward!"He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?"The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention."Again the man screams: "You are a champion!"The voice answers: "You are a champion!"The boy is surprised, but does not understand.Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE.It gives you back everything you say or do.Our life is simply a reflection of our actions.If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart.If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence.This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life;Life will give you back everything you have given to it."
YOUR LIFE IS NOT A COINCIDENCE. IT'S A REFLECTION OF YOU!"-- Unknown Author
Indeed!

THE LORD'S PRAYER

The prayer and GOD - in response.

"Our Father Who Art In Heaven.

Yes?

Don't interrupt me, i am praying.

But -- you called ME!

Called you?No, I didn't call you. I am praying..Our Father who art in Heaven.

There -- you did it again!

Did what?

Called ME.You said,"Our Father who art in Heaven"Well, here I am...What's on your mind?

But I didn't mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day.I always say the Lord's Prayer.It makes me feel good,kind of like fulfilling a duty.

Well, all right.Go on.

Okay, Hallowed be thy name.

Hold it right there.What do you mean by that?

By what?By "Hallowed be thy name"?It means, it means...good grief,I don't know what it means.How in the world should I know?It's just a part of the prayer.By the way, what does it mean?

It means honored, holy, wonderful.

Hey, that makes sense.. I never thought about what 'hallowed' meant before.Thanks.Thy Kingdom come,Thy will be done,on earth as it is in Heaven.

Do you really mean that?

Sure, why not?

What are you doing about it?

Doing? Why, nothing, I guess.
I just think it would be kind of neat if you got
control, of everything down here like you have up
there. We're kinda in a mess down here you know.

Yes, I know;but, have I got control of you?

Well, I go to church..

That isn't what I asked you.What about your bad temper?You've really got a problem there, you know.And then there's the way you spend
your money -- all on yourself.And what about the kind of books you read?

Now hold on just a minute!Stop picking on me!I'm just as good as some of the rest
of those People at church!

Excuse ME..I thought you were prayingfor my will to be done..If that is to happen,it will have to start with the ones who are praying for it.Like you -- for example..

Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups.Now that you mention it,I could probably name some others.So could I.I haven't thought about it very much until now,but I really would like to cut out some of those things.I would like to, you know, be really free.

Good.Now we're getting somewhere.
We'll work together -- You and ME.I'm proud of You.

Look, Lord, if you don't mind,I need to finish up here.This is taking a lot longer than it usually does.Give us this day, our daily bread.

You need to cut out the bread..You're overweight as it is.

Hey, wait a minute! What is this?Here I was doing my religious duty,and all of a sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang-ups.

Praying is a dangerous thing.You just might get what you ask for..Remember, you called ME -- and here I am.It's too late to stop now.Keep praying. (pause . . )Well, go on.

I'm scared.

Scared? Of what?

I know what you'll say.

Try ME..

Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.

What about Ann?

See? I knew it!I knew you would bring her up!Why, Lord, she's told lies about me, spread stories.She never paid back the money she owes me.I've sworn to get even with her!

But -- your prayer --What about your prayer?

I didn't -- mean it..

Well, at least you're honest.But, it's quite a load carrying around all that
bitterness and resentment isn't it?

Yes, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even with her.Boy, have I got some plans for her.She'll wish she had never been born.

No, you won't feel any better.You'll feel worse.Revenge isn't sweet.You know how unhappy you are --Well, I can change that.You can? How?Forgive Ann.Then, I'll forgive you;And the hate and the sin,will be Ann's problem -- not yours.You will have settled the problemas far as you are concerned.

Oh, you know, you're right.You always are..And more than I want revenge,I want to be right with You . . (sigh).All right, all right . .I forgive her.

There now!Wonderful!How do you feel?Hmmmm. Well, not bad.Not bad at all!In fact, I feel pretty great!You know, I don't think I'll go to bed uptight tonight.I haven't been getting much rest, you know.Yeah, I know.But, you're not through with your prayer, are you?
Go on.Oh, all right.

And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil.

Good! Good! I'll do that.Just don't put yourself in a placewhere you can be tempted.

What do you mean by that?

You know what I mean.

Yeah. I know.

Okay.Go ahead. Finish your prayer.

For Thine is the kingdom,and the power,and the glory forever.Amen.

Do you know what would bring me glory?What would really make me happy?

No, but I'd like to know.I want to please you now.I've really made a mess of things.I want to truly follow you..I can see now how great that would be.So, tell me . . .How do I make you happy?

YOU just did".

Thanks Ma'am Tess for sharing this..

My OtHeR PasSioN - ImAgEs FroM mY GaRdEn

These are the plants that I nurtured at home. My other passion in life, tending to my little garden, I nurtured my plants like I nurtured my children and my relationship with friends and significant persons in my life.

See? They gave back their love to me. They make my home green and cool...

A Taste of Davao Festivities (August 2009)

Mr. Lonely!

This poetry speaks of a person who wants to be somebody, a person who wants more out of life; richness, fame etc. he as the capacity to do what an ordinary mortal cannot. However, once up there where he wants to be, he noticed people are drifting away from him, does not want to be with him and he feels lonely up there.

People looking up at him urge him to come down, it's exciting to be with people no matter what your differences are. It's beautiful being with the ordinary, it's exiting to be human, its more alive down here where we can hold to each other.

Humans as we are, we crave for more but we also need to be with one another, what can we do...?

The Greatest Counselor

I went to a private school in the province last week to administer tests on their students and I came across this beautifully made poster by a student. It is simply made, the materials are ordinary materials however the message struct me. As a counselor myself, sometimes i failed to thank This Greatest Counselor who is the source of everything I have right now. Jesus really, how oftentimes I forgot that.