#thejoycelife

[thejoycelife]

I used to think turning 30 meant you had everything figured out — a solid plan, a partner, a sense of direction. Instead, I arrived here with none of that, but with stories, lessons, and a quiet kind of peace. I spent so much of my life caring for others as the eldest daughter, the third parent, the stand-in grown-up when our mom worked abroad. I learned responsibility before I even learned who I was. Maybe that’s why love has always felt complicated for me. I chased it early to fill the gap my dad’s absence left, and when heartbreak and exhaustion came, I just stopped trying.

But even without the “milestones” the world loves to measure, my life hasn’t been still. I learned to play the ukulele during the pandemic, read books for fun, found joy in journaling, and even started drawing again. I found faith in the pages of a Bible I once thought was boring, and in the stillness, I realized I wasn’t behind. I was just growing at my own rhythm.

Thirty isn’t a deadline; it’s a checkpoint. A soft pause before another chapter begins. And honestly, I think I’m exactly where I need to be.

[thejoycelife]

a mother's day post (5.18.2025)

Dear Mama,

As your eldest daughter, I’ve had the privilege of watching you lead our family with strength, faith, and unconditional love. For the past years, you carried the weight of being both mother and father with quiet courage—raising me and my two younger brothers with wisdom and grace. Even before you remarried, you were already the anchor of our home: our constant, our comfort, our warrior in prayer.

If you look up your name in the dictionary, Grace means approval or favor. But in the biblical sense, it holds an even deeper meaning—God’s unmerited favor, kindness, and love extended to humanity. And that’s exactly who you are to us.

G – enerous: You always give your time and love to us and the people around you. R – eliable: We can count on you no matter what. A – ffectionate: Your care makes our home feel warm and safe. C – aring: You always think of others and put us first. E – ncouraging: You lift us up and believe in us every step of the way.

Mama, you are not only our mother—you are our mentor, our prayer warrior, and the living embodiment of the grace you were named after.

Happy mom’s day, egam ng bayan!

[thejoycelife]

1.11.2025

[My eulogy speech during my grandmother's funeral]

Magandang gabi po sa inyong lahat. Salamat po sa pagpunta at paghatid ng mga pakikiramay at simpatya sa aming pamilya. Sa mga hindi po nakakakilala sa akin, ako po si Joyce. Ang panganay na apo nila mame. Ang tatay ko po si Jun panganay na anak nila mame at dade.

The word hallelujah is a Hebrew phrase that appears in the Bible. It means "praise the Lord" Hallelujah is also one of mame’s last words. Buo niya itong binigkas, malakas at walang sinundang “ano” o “‘di maanuhan” Sumagot din siya ng malinaw na “oo” sa tanong ng isa sa kanyang mga kasama sa bible study group na “Masaya ka ba mame?” Umoo siya at pinanghahawakan ko na sa huling mga sandali ni mame… siya ay masaya. Siya ay payapa. Ilan sa mga magandang alaalang iniwan sa akin ni mame ay ang pagiging palangiti niya. Nakangiti siya palagi kapag dumarating ako. Mas abot tenga ang ngiti niya kapag kasama ko si Royce. Inaasar namin siya kapag nagkukwento siya tapos hindi niya maituloy tuloy yong sasabihin niya kasi puro “di maanuhan” or ”yong ano” Nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos na si mame ang una kong nabahagian ng gospel. Noong 2023, isang gabi yon at binigyan ako ng burden ng Holy Spirit na share-an ko ang lola ko. Kinabukasan ay binisita ko siya at kinausap tungkol kay Jesus. Doon ko rin nalaman na siya pala ako umaattend na ng bible study. Nakakagalak ng puso na sa huling mga taon ni mame dito sa mundo ay nakakarinig siya ng salita ng Diyos. Ang pagkakaalala ko dati, matapang si mame. Malakas ang loob niyang sitahin ang mga maiingay na nagiinuman o tambay dito sa Doña Paz. You can’t blame an old lady trying to get some sleep. May pagka-magagalitin din siya dati. Sa anong dahilan ay hindi ko alam. I don't want to hold that against her. She changed before dying at iyon ang mahalaga.

Nabasa ko sa isa sa mga paborito kong nobela, “Funerals are not for the dead, they’re for the living.” Nandito po ako ngayon sa harap ninyo para magsalita at alalahanin ang buhay ni mame. Hindi na po ako naniniwala na kasakasama natin si mame sa mga oras na ‘to. Wala na pong kaluluwa ang katawang nasa kabaong na ito. Its all flesh and bones. Nabubulok. Nasisira. Naiiwan. I’m saying these facts not to disrespect mame but to share truths na mahirap tanggapin nating mga tao. Sinabi po sa Bible, sa Hebrews 9:27-28 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” This means that every person is destined to die once, and after death, they will face judgment from God for their lives. lahat po tayo ay haharap sa ating Diyos, whether or not we chose to have a personal relationship with Him. This explains that Jesus died once to take on the sins of humanity. For those who trust in Him and eagerly wait for His return, He will come back again—not to deal with sin (since that’s already done at the cross)—but to bring salvation and eternal life to those who believe in Him, who endured until the end. These verses remind us of life’s inevitabilities: death, judgment, and Christ’s sacrifice for our sins. Believers can find hope in Jesus’ promise of salvation and His second coming.

My prayer for my whole family is to heal. To be restored. For us to be free from the bondage of pride, anger and resentment. I’m a mere imperfect human being, such as you. I can only do so much. But the Holy Spirit can do marvelous and impossible things that our human minds cannot comprehend. And that’s what I believe in.

It is written in Psalm 30‬:5 KJV‬‬ “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Grief and chaos may feel endless, but this verse points to the promise that pain is temporary in light of eternity. The morning brings new mercies and hope. It reminds us that God's timing is perfect, and though sorrow is real and valid, joy will return because God is faithful to heal and restore.

Lastly, ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭17-‭18‬ ‭KJV‬‬ “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Apostle Paul encourages us to focus on eternal truths rather than temporary pain. This perspective helps us endure because we know that our suffering is producing something far greater than we can imagine-an eternal glory that outweighs every hardship. By fixing our eyes on God's eternal promises, we can find hope and strength to persevere.

These verses show that even in the most chaotic and heartbreaking moments, God is present, offering strength, comfort, and joy. He calls us to trust Him, to bring our pain to Him in prayer, and to remember that His purposes and plans are greater than what we can see now. His joy and peace can renew us, even in grief, as we place our hope in Him and look forward to the eternal restoration He promises.

[thejoycelife]

“Don’t become the monster you’re trying to slay.” Heard this from Joyce Pring in one of her podcast episodes, and it hit deep. I was convicted.

Sometimes, in the heat of conflict or when we’re standing up for what’s right, it’s so easy to start sounding like the very thing we’re fighting against. We react. We clap back. We justify our bitterness, our pride, our harsh words—because we feel we’re on the “right side.”

But Jesus calls us to something different.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” —Romans 12:21

He didn’t fight darkness with more darkness. He brought light. He was the light.

And we’re called to do the same. As followers of Christ, we’re called to a different kind of strength—not one that mirrors the world’s darkness, but one that reflects Jesus’ light.

This doesn’t mean silence or passivity—it means choosing righteousness over revenge, truth over pride, love over hate.

Let’s not lose who we are in the battle. Let’s fight the right fight, with the right heart.

So no, I don’t want to lose who I am just to prove a point. I don’t want to win the battle and lose my character.

We can stand firm and stay soft. We can tell the truth and still lead with love. We can fight well—and still look like Jesus.