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
