WHILE I STILL CAN....

My loving Aunt as I remembered her before

I have an Aunt who was always kind and loving. She would always welcome us in their home and cook immediately for us to eat. She wouldn't allow us to leave their house without making sure our tummies were full. She was the wife of my Papa's brother and she became my Mama's best friend, too.

She always had so many stories to tell with her loud voice. She was also fond of making different kinds and sizes of beautiful flowers out of crepe papers and straws, very artistic indeed. She was very good at this. It always made her happy to give us a little something. She was very friendly and likable that whenever it was the feast day of Sto. Nino in their place, their house was always full of friends and relatives.

Last Thursday morning, my two sisters, my niece and I visited their house to see her and bring our Christmas gifts for them. I noticed something different with my Aunt. Her face was more wrinkled than months ago when I last saw her. Her hairs were whiter. She looked thinner. She was weaker than before. She could not cook anymore. She was noticeably quiet and answered our questions briefly with a soft voice. She answered us like a shy little girl. She said with sadness that she couldn't make the crepe paper flowers for us anymore. Her memory was not good anymore. She even had a hard time recognizing us, at times even exchanging our names.

As I sat in front of her, I took a close look at her. I remembered how she was before and it pinched my heart a bit to see her like that. I couldn't see the light I saw before in her eyes, no laughter just smiles from time to time. She was not really herself anymore.

Oh, how time flew and yes she is older now, in her 70's in fact. And then I thought, "Someday....one day, I will be like her. I will get old. I will be weaker and I can only do less. But before that happens, Lord, use me while I still have my strength. Change me and make me more loving to You, to my family and to others while I still have a chance. With the time I still have, may I give glory to Your name and by Your grace, build a home for You in the hearts of people and bring You home to them....while I still can..."

In a few days, we will be welcoming another new year in our lives. May we put more meaning, more love, more joy, more peace and more God in each of the 365 days we will have.

As the clock turns to midnight on December 31 to welcome the 1st day of 2013, may the desire in our hearts to have God's Presence in our lives be inflamed enough that we can not deny it so we can strive to have more of Him in the whole year coming our way...and in the next years beyond it, if God will allow us still to breathe His breath...Let's live a fruitful life worthy of God.

May the peace and joy of Jesus be in your homes. A wonderful New Year for you and your families! God bless your homes! 

-luisadelacruz

 

GOD IS STILL THERE....

Wednesday morning, after breakfast, I sat in the terrace of the third floor unit of a duplex house in Talisay, Batangas. My family rented a unit for an overnight stay. As I sat there, I just enjoyed the view of Taal Volcano, with a few birds flying, a boat passing and the cool wind gently touching me. Taal Volcano was beautiful against the lake and the blue sky surrounding it.

In a while, there were drizzles of raindrops, then, the rain poured hard a bit. As I looked again at Taal Volcano, oh, I didn’t see it anymore because the fog covered it fully, but I know it was there. Where else would it go?

When the rain stopped and the fog was gone, the beautiful volcano was visible again.

There are times, God and His hand in our lives seem so visible. When this is so, we feel confident enough that we are not alone and we see the beauty of life. We are optimistic about our future. But when problems come and God seems quiet and distant, when He seems to disappear in the scene of our lives, that’s the moment when our problems are the fogs and rain that cover God from our sight.

But one thing we have to believe in…Like the Taal Volcano, God is still there. God will not go anywhere, He will never abandon us. Behind the fogs of life, God is still very much present, not seen by our naked eye, but seen by the eyes of our hearts. We’ve got to always remember that we can be secured in God and we have nothing to be afraid of. We may not see Him nor sense Him for a while but He is still there taking care of us and helping us to get through our troubles, wiping each tear that falls from our eyes and healing each pain that pierces our hearts. A moment will come these fogs and rain will soon be gone and once more, God will again be visible in our sight.

And with grateful hearts, we enjoy the gift of life and thank Him for it.

This is truth: God will always be there for you...

God bless your homes! 

-luisadelacruz

WHAT IS MISSING IN FAMILIES OF TODAY....

Last night, I was in a gathering. At the end of it, the people there were asked to group themselves with their families. Then, while the song “I will be here” was being played on the background, the husbands and wives were asked to recall what they loved about their spouses and to tell it to them, also to remember what they loved about their children and the same with the children to their parents and to tell it to each other.

At first, many felt awkward about it. Most did not know what to say. They were silently feeling uneasy. But after awhile, some found the words to say. Then they were asked to hold hands and hug each other. Again, most released their uneasiness through smiling. It seemed they had forgotten how to give a hug. Some kids wanted to keep their distance. But still, they were encouraged not to be shameful about it because they were families and this may be the chance given to them for such a long time of not doing this. Wow! They are families. They live together. They see each other every day, but they felt uneasy and awkward in hugging one another and they lost their words to communicate their love.

Towards the end, as the song was repeated, they were asked to embrace each other while swaying and singing the song together. At this moment, the distance were bridged, the wall collapsed, tears were shed.

As I watched them go through each step given to them, I realized the truth of what I discovered lately: the root problem of society today is the weak foundation among many families. What are missing today in families are open communication, intimacy and friendship, also praying together as a family. When it comes to matters of the hearts and emotions, members feel awkward in opening them up to each other. Hugging is not part of their expression of love. In fact, each member finds it hard to express their love to one another that it creates a gap or a distance between them.

But seeing them at the end, embracing and swaying together while singing the song, with tears flowing and melting the barriers…that was a very touching and wonderful moment. What a beautiful sight!

A family is a gift from God. Hopefully, the families of today and of the future will realize the value of praying together, open communication, intimacy and friendship. Family bonding is truly important especially when the kids are growing and the husbands and wives are becoming indifferent with each other. May God reign in the homes of today and may families grow in love together.
-luisadelacruz

MY BIRTHDAY WISH….

When I was little, I came to know birthdays. My Mama would always cook something special to celebrate our birthdays. It would always be just for our family, occasionally, with invited guests and relatives. As I was the youngest, my three sisters would always give me gifts, anything from simple to something big. But my Mama would always remind me: “It is the thought that counts not really the monetary value of the gift.”

Many birthdays had passed in my life and all through them I always had wishes. I always had something to ask from God as a gift. Some were granted, some were not given as I want but in another package. Yap, I even had broken dreams and frustrations.

Along my journey in life, God had taught me that challenges in life would always be there, one after the other, some just like scattered rain showers, some like heavy storms. The only shield I can have is my faith in Him and His love for me that at the end of each rain showers or storms, I will be always okay. Everything will be fine because He will make sure I will be safe. May be at times, I will have some wounds and scars but He will always be there to heal them, give me rest and strengthen me.

He also opened my eyes to the value of simple and little things. Though I still fail to recognize them at times, but I’m learning. There are many daily miracles and blessings that He gives me. I didn’t recognize them before because my eyes were so set on big things and big dreams that I got blinded by them. I also ignored them because I was so busy with doing what I want in my life.

I now realize, each day is a gift. Each time I open my eyes in the morning is a gift. Each time I breath air is a miracle. The fact that I can see, hear, touch, walk, move…and more…is a precious gift from God. Having my family is a treasure. God lending me my parents to love me and bring me up to who I am now is truly a big blessing. My siblings, my brothers-in-law, my nephew and niece are a joy. My relatives and friends are His gifts, too.

Having the opportunity to have an education, to share God to others, to eat more than three times a day, to have a home and a TV, a computer…everything is all because of God’s grace.

I am grateful that God would even think beforehand of creating me in the womb of my Mama. I was born with nothing and yet He provides me with what I need. He clothes me, feeds me and helps me grow. I am awed by the fact, that He loves me so.

This year, in my birthday, I searched my heart for the biggest gift that I wish to have. Oh, yes, I still found petty desires there, but I didn’t sense my heart leap in the thought of them. I dug deeply, further and further, until I found something that brought tears to my eyes…my birthday wish above all the others:

I simply desire to make God smile…and with this wish is that I may always allow Him to increase in me and to others as I decrease. 

Just the thought that I do good for God and make Him smile allow little tears to escape my eyes and my heart to leap in joy. It’s not easy to be unselfish and not to take credits for each accomplishment. It’s very challenging to sincerely and truthfully point to God and not to self. I still have so much to learn in life. It will take my lifetime to be transformed. I will still falter and fail God. There will be times that I will still offend Him. I may be in the half-time of my life or may be less. I don’t know. I cannot change the world. But for the rest of my life, I can do something in my little world in accordance to God’s desires. And for the rest of my birthdays, I deeply desire that this will always be my wish above all else. I may even forget this from time to time, but by God’s grace, I believe He will make me remember and He will grant it…and one day, when it is time…may He be there to welcome me in His arms…with a beautiful smile on His face…That will be such a great joy!

Everything is a gift from God…each day is His miracle…We truly have such an awesome and wonderful God who never fails to take care of us and put up with our tantrums…who never fails to show His love for us in spite of our demands…He deserves much more love than what we give Him…He will love us no matter what…

-luisadelacruz

BUSYNESS...SATAN'S STRATEGY!

Busyness is Satan’s strategy to take away your personal time with

• Your family and loved ones 
• Your very self 
• And God

It is easy to discern to choose between good and bad. It is hard if between good and good. 

If you have a family, then be a father or mother first to your children and be a husband or wife to your spouse…Children, be a son or daughter first to your parents…

Charity begins at home. 

As you help the poor by giving them love, money, time…take a look at your own home. Your family may also need your charity. 

Have a Clear sight!

luisadelacruz

FAMILY TIMES...

A young boy joins singing contests. Why?

He says his father is working abroad. They used to play and spend time together. He treasures much those moments.

In the young boy’s mind, he wants to help the family financially so his father will work here and they will be together again…

Like the boy, how much do we want to give up just to be close to Jesus? 

How much effort do we want to give just to be with Him? 

Our attachment to this world can be blinding, but true riches is in the hands of God not in this world. 

Have a Winning Life!

-luisadelacruz

PLEASE LISTEN TO ME...

Have you ever thought why your own family or closest friends, at times, do not listen to you or do not believe in what you say while others believe you, even if you are right?

Some possible reasons are, they know:

• Your weaknesses, they had formed an image of you in their mind based on this, they listen more to others than you
• They can argue with what you’re saying and impose their own thoughts if yours are opposite theirs
• That if they do, you will not leave them or totally reject them anyway
• They are so used to you

Rejection is painful, listening is fruitful.

-luisadelacruz

SECONDS COUNT...

Tik! Tak! Tik! Tak! 

Have you ever wondered what happens in every corner of the world in each tick of the clock? 

As I reflect on Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, I thought of these:

How many are dying in 1 tick?

How many are crying in pain or so hungry?

How many are feeling angry?

How many are smiling or hugging their loved ones?

How many are praying and loving God?

How many are….?

Many things happen at one single tick of the clock. I can not do much for the world, but I can do something of value every tick of the clock…I won’t be here forever…

Have a Radiant Life!

 -luisadelacruz