Chronicles of Charyl

Being a year older... >should not be a cause of despair because "i'm getting old", but a reason for gratitude because God has given me another year to live; >should not bring worry because i have to throw out an "expensive" treat but a time of rejoicing that there are people whom i can celebrate it with; >should not be a frustration because some people didn't care to greet but a chance to be thankful because there are those who did; >should not bring sadness because "i didn't receive any gifts" but a realization that the best gifts in life are those unseen, like love and thoughfulness from family and friends; >should not be a discouragement because of another year in this hard-pressed time but an opportunity to exercise faith in seeing something despite a blurry beyond; >should not bring accusation in remembering failures but a time to gain wisdom, to learn from them, and keep on again; >should not be a burden because of ex...

“ Takas Queen pala ako Lord?... hehehe… ” I blurted out when I realized how many times I have tried to escape God’s lessons for me, by making out excuses. Meanwhile, I thought those excuses were "valid", until He rebuked me. “Em, if you will continue to ask that you will be spared from all those heartaches and pains, you will miss out on the valuable things I will be teaching you along the process.” “ But Lord, can I still not ask You to spare me? ” “Of course you can, and it’s best that you will, but it doesn’t mean you will really not go through them.” “ But Lord, don’t You have pity for me? ” “Of course I do! It’s for that very reason in fact, that I want you to go through these hurts and pains because only in so doing can you come out strong. You can’t be strengthened if you won’t be exposed to them. Pity is such an understatement, but if you say so, then yes, I do have much, much pity for you. But I do love you.” “ Because Lord, I can’t bear the pain… I don’t like...

It is difficult to repeat a lesson to someone who’s been taught already. For one, the pride of unlearning is a great hindrance. Then there’s also the subtle implication that the learner is not wise enough to carry out a one-word instruction. And the most hurting of all is when the relearning appears to be a failure on the part of the learner. But isn’t life a university, and an unending education? So long as you live, there’s so much you have to learn and can learn. And well, yes, the hardest part of learning is when you get hurt as you learn, but it is also the time when the lesson is greatly valued. In the end, the learner realizes that though the learning process may be unpleasant, what matters most is the lesson gleaned. I’ve been a learner. I still am, and still will be. :)

Change! Change! Challenge! Moving in to a new place to stay was kind of exciting for me - first because of the new scene, then because of the new things to do, and because of the refreshment it brings. I've been staying with my aunt's family for most of my years in the city, since I was a student, and now that I'm working. And so when they transferred to their newly-built house, I was naturally invited in (yeah, shamefully, for my part, i admit.). But when I finally settled in the room of my cousin, (because the room that Auntie prepared for me wasn't finished yet) things then start to sink in to me: Things have changed! And it was at that point that fear suddenly took hold of my heart. I questioned my direction. Surely, I said to myself, I won't be living with them for the rest of my life, so, where am I really going? What would I do with my life when it would be time for me to move myself? Can I still go back to where I came from? And where would I be sta...

“Yes, I own up to my faults, disobediences and limitations. Yes, I am not perfect. Yes, I did all those embarrassing and shameful stuff! :'( ” But guess what Em, God still loves you. It’s not in what you have done or not done, but it’s in what He did for you on the cross, on the basis of the cross, that His love for you is still the same. And you yourself might fluctuate one at a time, but He never will. Know this, believe this, and trust this: God will never change. And that is to glory of His name.