Thursday, February 19, 2009

This thing called LOVE


What is this thing called LOVE? Some say it makes the world go round. Others say, it makes one blind. Oftentimes, we associate it with what is pleasing, "loveable." In this month of love, it is just apt to reflect on the true meaning of this four-letter-word. Here's an insightful reflection from Pastor Joey Bonifacio. Read on and spread the gospel of LOVE.




Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 


Here's are the 4 things that constitute love:

Love is being patient and kind. Whether we are dealing with a spouse, child, friend, associate or neighbor, to love someone is simply to be patient and kind to them.  

How do we know when we are not being patient or kind? When we envy. That's probably because we are impatient that God has blessed others more. When we boast. That's probably because we are impatient and unkind and wanting to prove ourselves better than others. You can figure the rest of this one out. It is impatience and unkindness that make us rude, self-seeking, angry and delighting in the shortcomings and failures of others.

For patience and kindness to be love it has to be done with rejoicing. A waiter, a boss, a lawyer, insurance agent, realtor, friend or spouse can all be patient and kind but the question is are they rejoicing as they do it or are they tolerating you because of what they can get in return.  

True love rejoices with the truth of anyone's limitations while continuing to be patient and kind. It rejoices in the midst of shortcomings, it rejoices where there are failures, disappointments and frustrations. It is able to smile and laugh as it faces the truth and insists on finding joy. This is who Jesus is.
 
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12: 2

Jesus died on the cross with patience and kindness. His patience and kindness is the same reason why He came. But the more important point is that He did it for the joy set before Him. The joy of seeing us enter in to eternal fellowship with Him and the Father. Patience and kindness done with joy is love.

Finally, it says it always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres. To love is to live in always. That simply means to be faithful no matter what.  

Love is patience, kindness, joy and faithfulness.  

Fact is it is not easy to love. While we were created to love, it can be challenge to love the unlovable always. The power to love comes from knowing God's love. Only when we realize and understand how patient, kind, joyful and faithful God has been toward us will we be able to love others the same way.

The good news is when we love we find fulfillment and completeness because love never fails.

Monday, February 09, 2009

Amore means love

Finally, I'm here in this place where my parents started their lives together as husband and wife. I have always wanted to visit Zamboanga because of my fascination over the love story of our parents. Mama and papa met in Negros during their high school days. I don't know how long they had been together, but apparently, the relationship displeased mama's family. They sent her on exile to this city, where mama lived with her relatives. 

Undaunted, papa went after her. Though Zamboanga was a strange place for him, papa went out in pursuit of his lady love. For one year, he went around Zamboanga looking for mama. It could be nothing less than true love that drove papa to brave an unkown land. He knew mama was brought to Zamboanga, but he didn't know exactly where. So on and on he went around and looked for her. Finally, one Sunday afternoon, his prayers were answered. He spotted my mother in Pasonanca park. He then ran away with her and refused to leave Zamboanga until they were able to convince mama's family to let them marry. 


Of course, they didn't exactly live happily ever after. There were hard times especially during the Martial Law years. But they loved each other so much. They were the happiest married couple I had ever seen. I almost never saw them quarrel. They remained ever sweet with each other even after almost 25 years together. (Unfortunately, mama died before their 25th anniversary.)  


When I was younger, I always wanted to have a marriage like theirs. Though not perfect, they were contented and happy. They braved the storms together, still standing up because they had a deep foundation -- their love for each other. Though I haven't really gone around the city, I can smell the sweet aroma of Zamboanga -- the sweet aroma of love

Friday, February 06, 2009

25 Random Notes about Me

  1. I dream of putting up my own travel agency cum coffee shop.
  2. I want to retire in Batanes someday and live like an Ivatan.
  3. I was almost vanished by my mother for "loving our neighbor" -- a seminarian.
  4. I used to bike to another town in high school.
  5. I almost fell from a 100-feet waterfalls.
  6. I'm afraid of heights and depths.
  7. I wanted to be a nun.
  8. I used to jump off a ship with my cousins. The sea was my playground.
  9. I love photography.
  10. I want to have a glimpse of Mt. Everest, even just a glimpse.
  11. I am praying to go to Israel.
  12. I either sleep or eat when I'm stressed.
  13. I can trade my husband for dark chocolates. Hahaha! (peace, dad!)
  14. I had a "love story" with Erap -- Inquirer headlines for his inagauration and ouster had my by-line in it.
  15. I am a full-blooded Negrense. Proud to be Bisaya!
  16. I don't believe in religion. It's all about personal relationship with Jesus.
  17. I am an advocate of hemophilia and other bleeding disorders.
  18. I don't like to travel by myself.
  19. I don't like spending on gadgets. Waste of money.
  20. I am friendly. I talk to strangers.
  21. I named all my kids after their grand/great grandparents.
  22. I drink at least five mugs of coffee a day. Can't live without it.
  23. I'm a sentimental fool. I keep old stuff.
  24. I seriously thought I was gonna have a heart attack while riding Disney's Space Mountain. Never prayed that hard I guess.
  25. I think typhoon-watching in Batanes is cool.