Forgiveness

I learned a lot and still learning the deep meaning of forgiveness itself. I related it to letting go of anger, bitterness and the desire for revenge. But somehow, as a human, it's really damn hard to say; i forgive you and mean it... and that is why, I always tied my tongue in any controversial situations or I might end up regretting every single hurtful words and actions that come across upon that situations. I remembered for the past few years, I learned patience and forgiveness do come along together.
I know that forgiveness wasn't cut and dried, that there might be recriminations and barbed remarks for some time to come. But live is to short to be filled with hatred.


p/s: To my aunt,.. I love you, and still love you!!! Despite all the hurtful acts and words you've poured in my family... Deep down in my heart, i prayed that soon you'll be a better person... and we can share all the good things that happen in our life as one big family... Amen

Enduring Love

I remembered years ago, while I was enjoying sipping my cup of hot chocolate in one of my fave coffee shop, I saw an older couple - a man with a cane and a white-haired women, walking hand in hand. It was a beautiful reminder that while our culture glorifies youthful romance, true love has many stages during our journey through life. Paul's great essay in 1 Corinthians 13 celebrates the depth & tenacity of the love that carries us beyond self-interest & mere affection. ( Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoice in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.)

When our commitments are tested in the fires of life, no matter what difficulties we face, may God grant us a greater experience of His enduring love and the grace to demonstrate it each day.

Obligations

What do we really owe the people we love? Do we owe them labor we would not otherwise choose to commit to? After all, if they truly loved us, would they honestly expect us to do something we didn't want to do? would the feel right, benefiting from those labors? would we feel better doing it if it had been our idea in the first place? If so, then who are we really doing it for? The good of the family ? Self- gratification? Maybe a little of both isn't so bad. But it would be much easier to figure out if guilt could be taken out of mix. Too often guilt blurs the line. Separating what does get done from what should be done...