Pwede bang lumayo ng ilang buwan?
Malayo sa nakaka-stress na kapaligiran,
Magmuni-muni sa mga kahapong nagdaan.
Kailan nga ba makakamtan ang kapayapaan,
Kung ang mundo’y puno ng kasawarian?
Mga salitang binibitawan, may bahid ng kasamaan.
Ilang pangakong buong pusong pinanghawakan;
Mga mithing umaantig sa buong pamayanan,
Ngunit sa huli, pansariling interes ang hangad.
Kailan nga ba makakamit ang katotohanan?
Kailan nga ba matatapos ang kasamaan?
Nang sa gayon, tunay na kabutihan ang maghaharian.
Minsan nais kong magsumbong nang buong tapang,
Upang mailabas ang damdaming matagal nang kinikimkim,
Mapawi ang bigat at maging magaan ang aking damdamin.
I always wonder why most people who are deprived of profession, honor, and fame tend to be more courteous, humble, and act with humility, compared to those who are educated, privileged, and famous, who often appear more egoistic and less down to earth. Please take note, not all of them.
Iykyk those people who are not that rich financially are more happy, simple and open-minded unlike educated people (not all) don't like to accept opinion from others and lives in distress even if they have that huge amount of money.
Upon realizing these things it has come to my senses Jesus lived and ate with the sinners-people living in low rank society.
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” -Luke 5:31 NIV
Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” -Mark 2:17 NIV
As I go with the waves in life, even if I have everything, I will never forget to look back at where I came from.
I have flaws in life.
I battle with my own flesh; it's up to you how you view me as a person.
You can correct me, and I accept it. You talk, I listen.
But please take note that I have my limits too; I am not always kind and patient with you.
Respect begets respect. If you're rude to others unethically, I won't waste my time on you.
If you play with fire, then I will offer you a barbecue with marshmallows. I will shut my mouth, forgive, but never forget you.
What would you do if you encounter the ones who hurt and betrayed you from the past?
Can the phrases "past is past" and "forgive but not forget" be applied?If we apply Christian values, we can see Jesus as a symbol of forgiveness and the redemption of sins committed by humanity.
As stated in the Bible, the book of Matthew 6:14-15 says, "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." We are taught by Holy Scripture to love God, love others, and love your neighbor as you love yourself (Matthew 22:39).
If Jesus can forgive, so can we.
However, how can we truly forgive if we don't want to see that person again? Even Jesus's closest ally betrayed him, but he still loved him. Jesus even accepted difficult people.
My friends, I hope we will follow Christ's example. Even if we find it difficult, there is no shame in following Jesus's teachings.
Just because you're struggling doesn't mean you should shut people out of your life. In fact, it is during those difficult times that angels (or "hulog ng langit") stand by you. However, you may find that the ones you thought were genuine were actually two-faced, seeking to take advantage of your kindness for their own gain.
Finding a genuine friend is rare. They are like diamonds, a true gem. Just as diamonds are formed from carbon, heat, and immense pressure, finding a true friend requires effort and perseverance. You may have to dig through difficult times and sift through many acquaintances to find that one precious person.
Ultimately, it is up to us to decide what we value in a friendship: quality over quantity or quantity over quality.
If you've read this, I pray you will find the diamond in your life.
We have a lot of thoughts in our heads, and we find it hard to stop.
( Disclaimer: This is my observation,point of view from what I've experienced.)
In the past two weeks of teaching, I have observed many behavioral changes in my students. A few students may often show withdrawal, and I'm quite bothered by it.I admit they have these kinds of vices ( smoking,tardiness,absent) and I don't want my students to depend on such things just to calm their nerves when they are unfocused. However, others are listening and actively participating in my class. As much as I want to ignore and forget about it, I can't restrain myself from overthinking. It's like a volcano that is disturbed from its sleep.
As a person who is conscious and open-minded about everything, there may be times I question whether my teaching methods are effective. In fact, I need to strategize daily to create a fun and conducive learning environment where everyone is free to express their feelings driven by love,respect,commitment, and courage.
At this juncture, I haven't shared my teaching experience struggles to my close co-teachers or even my family. I'm searching for intervention and seeking guidance on how to address this with my students. I often notice that during class discussions, some student (not all) leave the room and return with a different demeanor. They seem sleepy, wear sunglasses in the classroom after going outside, and their moods change frequently. Those student find it hard to communicate and have difficulty with eye contact.
In fact, given the opportunity to teach would be a greatest milestone to impart my knowledge despite the intellectual and cultural differences.
Consequently, thank you, Jesus, for giving me the courage to ask for advice and address my concern regarding my teaching journey —My parents, whose lives were dedicated to teaching and molding young individuals for many years, have taught me a lot of things: to love, enjoy, be compassionate, and learn what you teach. I felt immense joy and relief when they shared some tips and strategies for handling students' classroom management. After the conversation I had with my parents, I realized that when you cannot handle things alone, someone out there is willing to genuinely listen, support, and journey with you. Openness is a must - it creates a room for growth and improvement.
Others may find us rude, narcissists, and loners, but they don't know how fragile and beautiful our hearts are.
Why?
We value people with whom we spend our time. We think not only of ourselves but also of others. We don't want others to feel that they don't belong. However, there's a uniqueness in us that others find difficult to comprehend. It's similar to a smartphone battery - it starts fully charged; as it is used, it becomes low.(Charge- Unplugged- Re-charge)
Given the illustration of a phone battery, our interactions with others require a lot of energy and effort. We can easily get drained when we don't use our energy properly; that's why we sometimes lock ourselves in a room to recharge after a draining day. It seems you are having some 'me time' and are unbothered by what is happening.
Here's an excerpt from the articles I read coming from different experts who study in this field:
"We are not antisocial; rather, we are socially diverse. I cannot live without my family and close friends, yet I also crave solitude… I also have a number of other introvert tendencies, such as pondering before speaking, avoiding conflict, and concentrating easily," said Cain. (Cook, 2024)
A recent study at the University of Helsinki even found that people reported higher levels of fatigue two to three hours after socializing, whether they were introverts or extroverts.
This energy drain ties into our brain's wiring. Your brain has a built-in "stranger danger" detector called the amygdala. This part of your brain constantly assesses new people and situations for potential threats, triggering your fight, flight, or freeze response. That's why, even if you don't realize it, walking into a room full of strangers can make you feel socially anxious, regardless of whether you're usually outgoing or shy.
Beyond these immediate reactions, the amygdala also plays a crucial role in memory. Studies of patients like S.M. and B.P., who lack an amygdala due to lesions, reveal its importance in remembering emotional events. They struggled to recall details of emotional experiences compared to others. This suggests the amygdala helps our brains prioritize and store important emotional memories, indicating it has a dual function: it's involved in both feeling emotions and ensuring we remember the details of emotionally significant experiences. (Inman et al., 2023)
References:
Cook, G. (2024). The Power of Introverts: A manifesto for quiet brilliance. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-power-of-introverts/
Inman, C. S., Hollearn, M. K., Augustin, L., Campbell, J. M., Olson, K. L., & Wahlstrom, K. L. (2023). Discovering how the amygdala shapes human behavior: From lesion studies to Neuromodulation. Neuron, 111(24), 3906–3910. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2023.09.040
I always wonder why most people who are deprived of profession, honor, and fame tend to be more courteous, humble, and act with humility, compared to those who are educated, privileged, and famous, who often appear more egoistic and less down to earth. Please take note, not all of them.
Iykyk those people who are not that rich financially are more happy, simple and open-minded unlike educated people (not all) don't like to accept opinion from others and lives in distress even if they have that huge amount of money.
Upon realizing these things it has come to my senses Jesus lived and ate with the sinners-people living in low rank society.
Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” -Luke 5:31 NIV
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”-Mark 2:17 NIV
As I go with the waves in life, even if I have everything, I will never forget to look back at where I came from.
I have flaws in life.
I battle with my own flesh; it's up to you how you view me as a person.
You can correct me, and I accept it. You talk, I listen.
But please take note that I have my limits too; I am not always kind and patient with you.
Respect begets respect. If you're rude to others unethically, I won't waste my time on you.
If you play with fire, then I will offer you a barbecue with marshmallows. I will shut my mouth, forgive, but never forget you.
It was totally darker; a cold air shivers throughout my body. I’m catching my breath. I’m alone I don’t know where to go. The sound of the wind makes melody in the air; I cannot hear the sound of people in the street nor any cars on it. All I know that I am standing on a rocky, bumpy road where I cannot find street lights and I am totally lost in the middle of the night.
I hear the cry of my beings; I heard the beating of my heart and felt the existence of sweat throughout my body. In my thirstiness and hungriness I fell and kneel unto the ground. I was betrayed by my own tears and I don’t know how to stop it.
A long moment of peace and wilderness I was able to get up and continued my path. I boosted my self- esteem and eagerness to win my journey.
A girl walking on neither the dark road alone without map nor any compass on it shows no fear. In her mind, she will never surrender until she will reach her final destination.
Despite having no access to this old account, and even with my other account on a different platform. I am still grateful for the privilege of being able to express my unspoken thoughts.
I had a weird dream last night, and the funny thing was that I got to travel from another dimension and often saw my past, present, and future self.
It's like a movie with different scenarios, dialogues, places, and emotions. However, one thing I learned from my dream is that "Cherished every moment you have because you will never know how much time you have left. Every second and minute is precious; don't waste your time on foolish things."
In fact, you only live once, so make your life significant with a joyful heart.
Welcome to our imperfect, forgiving, and loving family, where we strive to love and live like Jesus.
Picture this someday:
Your hair will be silvered with age.
The vibrant days of youth will be a distant memory.
You might forget who we are.
Your legs may no longer be strong enough for walking or running.
The world's beauty might become a blur to your eyes.
You could need help hearing the music, even when I'm blasting tunes and dancing nearby.
Your voice and the way you communicate will transform.
Controlling your emotions might become a challenge – feel free to express yourself fully, with screams or tears. You will eventually find rest in the arms of Jesus.
Yet, as those years unfold: When your hair turns gray, I'll lovingly style and color it for you. If memory fades, we will pore over photos and videos, sparking recognition.
When walking is hard, we'll race you in your wheelchair, cheering you on.
Let my eyes describe the world to you when yours can no longer see clearly.
My ears are yours to borrow when you need to hear.
I will patiently discover new ways to connect and understand you, especially when emotions are high.
And as you transition to rest in Jesus, my prayers for your peace and happiness will follow you.
As I grow old, I realize they're not young anymore. Given this opportunity, while you are alive and breathing, able to read, hear, and write, all I can say is that I'm truly blessed to be part of your earthly family, which I call "HOME."
I had a dream.
I dreamed of having a husband at the age of 23 turning 24. Even though I was too young and an undergraduate, that man supported and kept loving me despite my flaws until I finished my degree and got a job. I don't know what scope of job it is.
Yet, I met him in a strange way. We have known each other since childhood, but I had forgotten about him. My parents, teachers, and some of my friends know him, except me.
We were so sweet like wine until I saw my closest friend who seemed sad and unhappy at my marriage. In my mind, maybe I was too young to get married or maybe he's not a Christian man or I did not talk about him or they were past lovers. I haven't interacted with her ever since I got married. I want to ask why but I had no opportunity.
Fast forward, after that phenomenon, the man whom I called "Bab" changed his treatment from a vocal person to a nonchalant one. I don't know why; despite the silent treatment, he still kept loving, caring, and understanding towards me. I have so many questions in my mind; nevertheless, the moment I wanted to ask for clarification, the scenario skips.
Consequently, years had passed, and we went through many storms in life. But Bab was always faithful, loving, understanding, and caring until I finally did some digging to sort things out that I had been holding onto for ages.Upon following him secretly, I saw my longtime crush who's attending the same event with him in church. I don't know if it's Men's Seminar or League of Musicians.
I felt immense joy witnessing the wonderful relationship my brother has, and seeing Bab happy made me realize that he is quite attractive compared to my previous crush. As happy as my heart is, I saw my cousins (Jade, Mon², & Joy) with Auntie Yan² attending the same event.
Honestly, it's difficult to rekindle the old flame; therefore, I went home and want to take a stroll. An idea buzzed in my mind. I want to read and get my old books. I think they're in our old house where no one lived. The funny thing I did was to climb until I reached the books.
Consequently, upon enjoying reading, I heard footsteps. It was him; he looked so worried and relieved when he saw me.My heart skips so fast, I burst into tears knowing I have the best husband I could have ever wished for. I expected him to express his frustration, but he simply looked at me, then at my stomach, and embraced me quietly.
Then I woke up from that dream, and it was like, 'Surprise! Reality is waiting!'.
Someone asked, 'Gaano mo ba kamahal ang PILIPINAS?'
Do I really love my own country?
I found myself speechless; my heart raced, leaving me breathless, and tears welled up in my eyes.
'Love can't be measured by money or time,' was the answer that formed in my mind. However, I feel a sense of guilt. Though I love my country, I've struggled to feel pride, especially given the current events—from the unrealistic beauty standards to the state of our political government.
Honestly, I aspire to find a job abroad but God's plan is superior to mine. This desire repeatedly challenges my own convictions- a test of faith, trust and obedience to God's calling.
Yet, I am a Filipino—it is my pride and honor to have been born in the Pearl of the Orient Seas.I have hope, and with continuous prayer, that someday our nation will flourish and remain steadfast despite the challenges it encounters from its adversaries.
Have you ever found yourself living out one of those "what ifs" that you thought was just a daydream?
Your wildest dreams might involve being with the right person, safe in their arms, or pursuing the career you want but can't achieve due to financial problems or lack of confidence.
What if the right person, who truly loves you, comes into your life, but you aren't ready for love?
Would you settle and go with the flow? Or what if you are ready to love, but the person has already fallen out of love and married someone else?
What if you crave butterflies but are too scared to chase them? Life is a risk. So pray, seek wisdom, and let the Lord guide your heart.
Between highs and lows, it was all about His greatness that covered the storms. Indeed, He's my REFUGE & my STRENGTH.
Hallelujah! You are worthy to be praised and adored!
Because the truth be told.
Hello,
I have been under medication for my Mental Health for Four years, and I Praise Jesus for being there with me.
God has been so good to me for having family, friends, and church to pray for my health and to cheer me up during my sad-gurl era.
It was a bittersweet event, yet I found a new home from our dear friend, who allowed us to stay during my weekly and monthly checkups. Since I have undergone different doctors in any field, their medicine prescriptions cost us many pennies.
There were times I want to give up my medication because I'm so sick of it. Injections here and everywhere, taking oral medicine and counseling. Still, it did not work. However, God is gracious and merciful. He provided me with an excellent doctor to look upon and make a diagnosis of my illness. Praise be to Jesus because my medicine's dosage reduces. Until now, I'm on the road to healing.
All I can say is that you must be patient and trust God, for He will never make us feel empty, thirsty, and tired.🙌
Allow me to share a beautiful verse from the scripture with you.
———
Philippians 4:4-7 ESV
[4] Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice. [5] Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; [6] do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
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