Love in Capsules

Previously, we talked about 'hardwiring.' It's just fascinating to see and listen how hardwiring takes place and saves relationships every day.



I had a very enlightening conversation with my mentor in marriage counseling 13 years ago. He said, "There were couples who would come for 'separation' session and would walk out the door as lovers again." What they did was asking each other questions like, "So, since you decided to part ways anyway, may I just ask how you came to start to like each other in the first place...?" Then, the story of the 'love-at-first sight would slowly unfold, then the first date... and the happy memories together..."

Relationships that last are those that have a lot to tell and a lot to remember. They have love in capsules: preserved, fresh and alive. Remember how your mother would glow when asked how she and your father met?

This is the secret Jesus has been telling us. Christianity has been here for centuries because we remember, because Jesus commanded us to remember..." Do this in memory of me..." ~ Luke 22:19
Love is all about remembering. The more good memories we create with the ones we love, the more love in capsules we have... fresh, preserved and alive...

 

Father,
Thank You for the memories
Of love preserved in our hearts.
Make us not forget how much You love us,
And how Jesus died for us.
Amen…

photo: piccy | by john b. bejo

You’re Not a Goat

When I read this letter, I knew I need to share it here…
It's simple and sweet one…

You know, I saw a movie about St. Anthony.
He was already between the other Franciscans, working hard everyday, digging the ground...
But somehow, they found he was an excellent preacher and they forced him to do it.
He didn't want, he didn't want to stay on the tribune in front of the others for he was too humble and he just wanted to do humble things...

Then one of the brothers, a simple and ignorant one, told him:
"I'm a goat and my Lord wants me to praise Him as I am. And the best I can do is to praise Him as a goat.
But you are not a goat, you are a nightingale.
And you can't be a goat.
And God wants you to praise Him as you are, as a nightingale. And you SHOULD praise him like that."

 

Father,
Yes, You want us to shine more
And proclaim Your goodness through our lives.
Thank You for reminding us
Who we really are.
In Jesus’ Name.
Amen.

photo: blsciblogs.baruch.cuny | john b. bejo

Life Still Has A Meaning

 
 
If there is a future there is time for mending-
Time to see your troubles coming to an ending.


Life is never hopeless however great your sorrow-
If you're looking forward to a new tomorrow.

If there is time for wishing then there is time for hoping-
When through doubt and darkness you are blindly groping.


Though the heart be heavy and hurt you may be feeling-
If there is time for praying there is time for healing.


So if through your window there is a new day breaking-
Thank God for the promise, though mind and soul be aching,

If with harvest over there is grain enough for gleaning-
There is a new tomorrow and life still has meaning.
 

Text: Author ~ Unknown | photo: googled

The Zen of Simplicity

1.   If It ain't broke, don't fix it.
2.   If you turned it on, turn it off.
3.   If you broke it, fix it.
4.   If you can't fix it, call for help.
5.   If somebody speaks, listen.
6.   If you're are hurt, forgive.
7.   If you hurt somebody, apologize.
8.   If it's not yours, it's not yours.
9.   If you say, 'I love you,' mean it.
10. If somebody leaves you, let go...




 

Father,
Thank You for making life simple.
Forgive us if we made it more complex.
Bring us back to the simplicity of Your love,
In Jesus’ Name.
Amen.

photo: googled | by  john b. bejo

Hardwired

 
Hardwired relationships are difficult to break, if not impossible. Hardwired relationships are best born out in two ways: first, in happy and memorable moments; second,  in difficult and even in death defying situations.
Hardwiring happens when two people spend HONEST time together for a longer period of time.

I say honest.

Our relationship's nerve endings are open for connection only when we're honest to ourselves. Fear, pretentions and inhibitions close these circuits which makes the other nerve ending impossible to connect.  It's like handshaking with a clenched fist.


Some young people fell into a dangerous trap: after some times of dating, they engaged right away in sex. The result is, these people are forced to connect because of sex: a treacherous sense of connection.  They thought sex would make their relationship stronger. But no, sex is the result of hardwired relationships, not the other way around. I've seen several relationships like these fell into pieces.

Hardwiring thrives best in
-dating
-spending time with friends and family of each party
-solving problems
-traveling
-taking care of each other during sickness
-constant communication
-fighting against the world
-praying together... nothing beats this.

A hardwired relationship is resistant to emotional fluctuations.
A hardwired relationship is resistant to storms.
A hardwired relationship is resistant to voltage failure due to distance.
A hardwired relationship is resistant to rust...
No, not even death could split it apart...

This is the secret of long engagement...


 

Father,
Thank You for binding us together
Through the love and sacrifice of Your Son
We may spend more time and effort
To make our bonds stronger,
In Jesus’ Name.
Amen.

photo: henrygrey @ flickr | by john b. bejo

Friday the 13th Conspiracy

Years back, I was so intrigued to know that some buildings, if not most, omitted the 13th floor. Obviously, friggatriskaidekaphobia (The fear of Friday the 13th) is the most elaborate, universal and neurotic of all the superstitions.

It's creeping spookiness goes all the way from the mind of the miserable people up to the wealthiest in the society, from slums to Hollywood to the stock market.

There's a long list of theories on the origin of this superstition. Some said it's of Norse, or Numerology, or Italian, or The Canterbury Tales, or the Bible. But the most important thing to note here is the fact that it shakes our faith.

Did not God create all the days of the week, and the moon to light the night and determine the weeks? Jesus was the 13th person at the table; and Friday was the day when Jesus saved the world? If there are people who should be afraid of Friday the 13th, they're those who stopped believing in the victory of Christ over death.

Friday the 13th is a victorious and blessed day for us Christians.

 

Father,
Thank You for this very day.
Bless and protect us, remind and awake us
To glorify You everyday
Which You have made for us,
In Jesus’ Name.
Amen.

photo: laydominicans. | by john b. bejo

A Grateful Day

Thank You, Lord.

Thank You for this beautiful day,
For the sun that keeps us warm
Warm enough to love and forgive,
To relish life and gladly live.

Thank You for the rain
That waters every living being,
Which soaks the earth
With Your presence and understanding.

Thank You for the people
Who kissed and embraced us
Who forgave and loved us
Who stayed and cried with us.

Bless the children
Who could laugh without guile.
Bless the parents
Who even in pain could smile.

Thank You, Lord.

 

 

photo: googled "| by john b. bejo

Life in RGB

There were times in our life that we wished everything would only be in ‘Black and White’. They were those days when we wished that choosing should have been simple; when we wished our partners would stay faithful and sexy forever; when we wished that our children would stay sweet, innocent and always at home.

But life, as we experience it, is not at all black and white. It's a combination of Red, Blue and Green (RGB) like your monitor's pixels. It is a mixture of red hot trials, blue moments and, green leaves and Go.

Black and white pictures are cool; but black and white people are strict, stiff and boring. Their phrases are filed with 'should', 'if only', 'my way or no way' and 'that's unacceptable.'
RGB people, on the other hand, are colorful. They aren’t afraid to commit mistakes. Trials excite them, blue moments inspire them, and life is green most of the time. Change does not intimidate them. For RGB people, change is an opportunity to morph into a more exciting color. They’re always in love.

For RGB people no color is dull. All colors are symbols of hope. Remember Noah after the Great Flood? Gen. 9:2-17. 

God created the world in full color so that everywhere we look, we see beauty and hope...

 

Father,
Thank You for making our lives
Colorful with the gifts of people around us.
We may add colors to their lives as well,
In Jesus’ Name.
Amen.

photo: wwworks @ flickr | by john b. bejo

Echo

"A son and his father were walking on the mountains.
Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
Curious, he yells: "Who are you?"
He receives the answer: "Who are you?"


And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!"
The voice answers: "I admire you!"
Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!"
He receives the answer: "Coward!"

He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?"
The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention."
Again the man screams: "You are a champion!"
The voice answers: "You are a champion!"


The boy is surprised, but does not understand.
Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE.
It gives you back everything you say or do.
Our life is simply a reflection of our actions.

If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart.
If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence.
This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life;
Life will give you back everything you have given to it."

YOUR LIFE IS NOT A COINCIDENCE. IT'S A REFLECTION OF YOU!"

 

Father,
Make us a true reflection of Your goodness,
May every encounter we have with our fellowmen
Be an encounter or Your Son,
Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Text:  Author Unknown via indianchild.com | photo: @ blog.al.com

Pets Are Not Allowed

Are you aware that smiling is a big privilege, exclusive only to human beings? Have you seen animals smiling? Animals don’t smile. That's why we're amused when we see a Photoshopped picture of animals like this:   -------- > > >



 

Ironically, when animals start showing their teeth
it would mean danger: they use it to display anxiety or warning. Humans are called risible beings because they are the only creatures capable of smiling.
It's indeed amazing what a smile can do.
Have you ever been in a place where you felt anxious because everybody’s a stranger; and then somebody smiled at you?  It breaks the ice of anxiety in all of us.

It's indeed more amazing to think that most romantic relationships started with a single smile. And can you think how many lives were saved simply because of an unexpected smile?

The best thing about smiling is it costs nothing, and when you give it to others, the universe smiles with you...

Just Smile

Father,
Thank You for the gift of smile.
Thank You for the people who smile at us,
And thank You as well for giving us more reasons to smile
In spite of the life’s hardships and trials.
In Jesus' Name.
Amen.

photo: googled | by john b. bejo

Rejection

(Audio book version here)
There is only one certain thing about being a hero: rejection. In fact, heroes have most rejections in life. That's what makes them thick, genuine and profound.

Nobody wants to be rejected. That's for sure. But why do we fear rejection so much?

My mother, brother and sister celebrated their birthday together, Dec. 19. It was a grand day for the family. Friends and relatives came. We're 7 in the family. Everybody received gifts, even my brothers and sister who were not celebrating their birthdays... except me. That's 25 years ago but the scene and the look in the eyes of the people during that day are still fresh in my mind.


It was the day when I decided I was different.
It was the day when I told myself, "I will not allow these people to hurt me anymore."
It was the day when I stopped begging for attention.
It was the day when  I began to stop being somebody else.

We fear rejection because we are afraid of change.
We fear rejection because we're afraid of being ejected from our comfort zone.
We fear rejection because we’re afraid to find out we’re different.

Remember your first major rejection: your mother had to eject you out into this world. Rejection is a precursor to a re-birth. It was painful not only for you, but more so for your mother.

Rejection is not about you, it's about the process of changing you. The world does not hate you. It's the universe, it’s forces and its creatures conniving in giving birth to a new you...
Believe me, it's nothing personal...

Father,
When we feel rejected
Remind us how Your Son
Was rejected in spite of His wonderful personality,
Remind us that what matters most
Is that You love us… unconditionally…
In Jesus’ Name.
Amen.

photo: Heroes | Audio book version Rejection