#MommaDiaries | HE ISN'T FINISHED WITH ME YET

Sharing with you snippets from my Notes app on the phone. I tend to type down my thoughts when I don't have enough time to blog. RL had exams the past week, and this Momma's hands have been tied with a ton of things to do. And there are tough days, as most of you would know. But then, there are also good ones. This was from one of those bad turned good days. Yesterday, I was once again reminded that God is in charge regardless of our circumstances. Whenever there are days He seems absent and quiet, I have learned that trying times exist because He wants to show you He is God. So be thankful for the bumps, He's got you covered.



AUGUST 4

So this morning, yaya told me A had lost her wallet. The wallet had P3,000+ as she was supposed to pay her club fees last week (but couldn't because of time constraints and the long queue).

My initial reaction was true to yaya's threat to A right before she left for school: "Nako, hanapin mo yan, magagalit mommy mo!"

I was angry, and frustrated. I actually typed angry words as I started composing a message to A on Messenger. Then I stopped. Caught myself and prayed. I have been praying for a change in my relationship with A (we've hit snags through the years, and aren't exactly friendliest of friends - teenagers!). This morning, God reminded me of His unconditional love and never-ending grace. So I took back my words, and instead typed "...I pray God helps you find your wallet intact. I love you."

That was at 11 AM, and A replied to let me know she has searched everywhere to no avail.

Money can be replaced, but a child lost to anger is a child lost forever. I struggled to hold my tongue, as I prayed for God to lead me so my words come out right.

This evening, as I walked in the house, A tells me she found her wallet at the Lost and Found over lunch (even though she had gone to check all Lost and Found nooks earlier this morning). "But when I messaged you, you said you already checked!", I quipped.

She did. But after lunch, for some reason, she decided to check again. And there it was.

So yes, I know this was a Mommy lesson, in as much as it was a responsibility reminder for A. I know that the Lord is fixing my heart, and I am thankful He isn't done with me. Because, man, I know I have so much more to learn.

Makes you realize that we also have to be thankful when problems come our way. Our initial reactions are human reactions. I pray I learn to turn to God first when trials come. I pray I will always react with grace at first instance.


PS. Dear cheekeegirl, sorry! Had to redo this post as something wasn't right. Didn't realize your comment didn't go through as it was on the previous one. So, publishing it here nalang. ;)

"OMG! I am touched with this experience you had. It's like me. That I need to watch my words and actions on certain situations. Thank you for sharing." - cheekeegirl

#MommaDiaries | WWJD?

RL has been learning about Jesus in his Christian Living class in school. The past two weeks, we've been reading his lessons over and over again. The kids are learning about how Jesus is God's greatest gift to us, and how we can be children of God by following Jesus' example. Today, RL got to apply this lesson. Momma ended up learning from it, too.

I took RL to the office because he was going to get picked up by his bus there today. A had a doctor's appointment so I didn't have time to drop RL off properly, as we were rushing to make it to the clinic on time. What I didn't know was that in the office, Lola B (who has been working for the family business for the past 30 or so years) saw RL and gave him a 500-Peso bill. She loves showering the grandchildren and great grandchildren with gifts, so this wasn't something unexpected. However, because I wasn't in the office, and neither was my dad, RL thought it would be wise to keep the money in his pant pocket.

RL has always been very careful about money.
He was really disappointed today.

Earlier this evening, when he got home from school, he was crying because he lost the money. He was saying he placed it in his bag, and when he got to class, it was no longer there. He couldn't have lost it, because he says he placed it in a small pocket inside a bigger zipped pocket where it would be impossible for it to accidentally fall out. Plus anyone who opens that pocket wouldn't see the bill. Besides, he never opens that part of his bag, because it isn't big enough to hold anything (well, except for a 500-Peso bill). I couldn't console him at first - he was feeling really bad about losing a gift. So I told him that it was just money, and that the person who took it probably needed it. Went on to explain that even if someone stole it, he needed to forgive whoever took the money. And that we should follow Jesus' example on being forgiving - even when people did things to hurt Him. Then we prayed. We asked the Lord to bless whoever took the money, but at the same time convict that person. And we asked God to take care of RL's loss, but also asked Him to teach RL to forgive. God knew exactly what happened and we don't. We didn't really see who took it, but He did. So we asked God to handle it. I then asked God to send his comfort and peace to overwhelm RL (so he'd stop crying).

After he calmed down, we assessed what had happened and how it happened. RL told us that when he was in the school bus, about halfway to school, he took out his handkerchief, and the bill fell to the floor. The bus lady saw him pick the money up from the floor and when he was about to put it back in his pant pocket, she goes "Put it in your bag! Put it in your bag!" And so he did. For all to see. There were only two other people in the bus - another first grader and his nanny. RL says his bag stayed next to him the whole time and no one else touched it. Except when the bus lady took it out of the bus when they got to school. It took a while for RL to get off since he sits inside and the other student and his nanny sit closer to the door. So when he got off, the bus lady handed him his bag, and he pulls it to the waiting area (a classroom) where he sits and waits for class. Bag stays next to him the whole time. Bag also stays next to him the whole time in the classroom. Again, no one touched it. After Music, which is the second subject for Tuesday, he decides to take a peek and finds the bill gone! He searches through his whole bag, but it is no longer there.

When I heard his retelling, I wanted to call the bus operator (a co-parent, who also happens to be a lawyer), and tell him about the incident. I also wanted to text the bus lady, but I decided to call KY first. After discussing the whole situation with her, and hearing my own advice to RL and our prayer in that retelling, I couldn't believe I reacted that way. We agreed that I should pray about it first, and that I shouldn't do anything just yet. Besides, we don't really know who took the money.

As I went back to tutoring RL, he tells me that he now feels better, because we had prayed for comfort.

RL: "Mom, why do we have to pray for those who hurt us? For the bad people?"
K: "Because they probably don't know that what they did was wrong."
RL: "But why?"
K: "I don't know..." 

I pause to think a bit, and my thoughts bring me to R and how much he has hurt us, and yet we choose to pray for him. Still.

K: "Because we can't do anything about it, and we can't control them, so we pray for them."
RL: "You know why, Mom? Because that's what Jesus would do. He prayed for those that hurt him. He loves them even if they sin."

Ok, so I learned something from the little boy.

Today, RL learned a good lesson on following Jesus' example. Momma learned that parenting actually is also about teaching yourself as much as it is about making sure your kids grow up to be good people.


"Train children to live the right way, and when they are old, they will not stray from it." Proverbs 22:6 (NCV)

Thank you, Lord, for today.

Sorry.

Sorry - Is it just too hard to say? I mean, what keeps you from saying it? Why is it that some people can't even say it? If there is one thing I would like to teach my kids, it is to apologize quick and sincerely.

I went with KY to S&R BGC (yes, again!) the other night, but only to grab a pack of those Mixed Dried Yellow and Green Mangoes for my cousin who was leaving for New York in a few days. And yes, also to get those packs of laundry detergent for my officemates. I decided to grab a few packs of gummies for the kids, too. So while at that bay, choosing our gummy packs, a lady decided to push her way behind me to reach for some tin cans of candy drops above me. She grabbed a few and accidentally dropped the whole box! On me. The cans fell and hit my left shoulder. All she said was "ay!" 

I was obviously hurt as I made a loud "ouch!". And yet, she didn't say anything. Not even an apology from her lips as I helped her pick up the cans. And mind you, she wasn't some uneducated-looking lady (okay, I don't want to judge here but..).

What's so wrong with saying sorry? What was keeping her from apologizing? Did she think that because it was an accident, that warrants an excuse? I mean, sure, accident or no accident, she caused the fall.

And so when KY checked if I was alright, I told her how the woman didn't even apologize. And I told her within earshot of that woman! And yet, all she did was look at me and walk away! It's sad how some people shy away from apologizing. I had the same problem with A, who probably took after R - a man who would rather fight for his lie than admit the truth. So I have made it a point to teach my kids that a simple apology sometimes fixes a lot of hurt. Plus it is free, it doesn't cost you a cent, and yet, it could mean the world to others.

Not exactly the same scenario, but yes, be quick to apologize. 

“An apology is the super glue of life. It can repair just about anything.” 
― Lynn Johnston

Exams!

It's finals week for my A, and I can already tell how stressful this week is going to be. But we're trying not to sweat it. Yesterday, we went on with our usual routine. One thing I've learned through the years is that you can't sweat the small stuff. Of course, education isn't small stuff, but I'd rather have a peaceful week than one riddled with the hee-haws.

There was a time when I'd really get stressed trying to get my daughter to breeze through reviews. I mean, I remember how stressed my mom used to get when it came to me and my brothers. But that's just it, I no longer want to sacrifice joy for anger and stress. I must admit that there were times in the past when I'd get furious because A doesn't seem interested in getting high grades. I mean, I always went for the gold growing up. I was an over-achiever. *facepalm*

But I realized that A loves school anyway, and she's really smart - although a tad lazy. She gets bored easily and would rather read and write. Come to think of it, she's so like me! Haha! Maybe I've been pushing her too hard...

So this week, we're taking it easy. Lord, extra grace, please? 

I couldn't find a strip with Wanda. But you get the picture. Credit: www.babyblues.com

Original Strip here.

...

our baby, at 4 months.

wish i could just stop time, sometimes. they grow up too fast!

one day, they'll all grow up to be adults. will they face the same darn problems you and i are facing right now? if so, will we be able to equip them with good values such that if life disappoints them, they will still face its challenges prepared and headstrong? or will they, like us, learn their lessons the hard, hard way?

i vow to teach them well. what about you?