Five decades

Last week I turned 51. I told my son EJ that the big celebration should not have been last year because this year means I passed my 50 years and that’s something. He corrected me. It was last year that I passed 50 years. “When we say first birthday, don’t we mean that the child already hurdled one year of his life?” he was quick to ask.

Yeah, right. I appeared stupid before my son (lol). And so, birthdays are celebrations not of the present or coming year but of the years that passed.

Still in my birthday mode, I share here some major learnings of my past five decades.

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DECADE 1

From a good life in Manila, we had to move to Cebu without a house and only a handful of relatives helping us. My parents had their own troubles and my siblings and I were scattered to fend for ourselves. Anger was in my heart and I vowed to show the world I could stand on my own and show  people who I could become without their help.

But the Lord corrected me:

Psalm 37:4—“Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.”

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DECADE 2

It was amazing that despite not having a father who would provide for us and with a mother who had to almost beg from her relatives to sustain our needs and later we have to separate from her so we could find other means to survive, we are all still alive today with good families, great children, solid employment and even houses on our own (we didn’t have any growing up!)

The Lord showed me the secret:

Proverbs 3:5-6—“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

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DECADE 3

My husband got sick and the endless trips to the hospital and medicines were sweeping away our little savings. I went to all kinds of doctors and healers for his cure.

I wanted to have a car to bring my husband to the doctors and take care of domestic chores without a house help. The company I was working with began terminating employees, so I have to build a house in case we would be blotted out from the premises of the company.

But being so focused on my plans, I was also opened myself to stress at home and in  the workplace. It  was eating me and I became hard on myself, my colleagues, and questioned God endlessly.

The Lord reminded me:

Proverbs 16:9—“We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.”

My plans were actually nothing without God’s grace making it happen. I got what I wanted despite our difficulties not because my plans were great but because God guided me.

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DECADE 4

At age 35, I became a widow. I lost my husband to cancer. My eldest child was still 10 yrs old, the second and third were 8 and 5 years old. Finances were drained  and every day was a struggle to raise my children with the right values and give them the best in life.

But the Lord assured me:

Philippians 4:6—“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

It was the secret formula to my survival—-surrendering to God all my fears, anxiety and struggles and keeping a thankful heart for these trials because they strengthened my faith in Him.

Proverbs 22:6- “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Even if we lived simply sans the luxuries I wanted to give my children, I made sure they were taught the one thing they will never lose in this world— fear of God and obedience to His commandments.

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DECADE 5

I am starting to live a life alone (but not lonely!). I am in another company that trusts me with its operations and my work time is not stressful. My three children have good jobs. Now I want to pay forward God’s goodness.

Ten percent of my salary and all other blessings go first to God. The more I gave, the more I received. And the more I received, I shared to others. Giving became a habit, even when not asked. And God continues to provide, even when I don’t ask. My children learned to tithe also—to give the first 10  percent of their blessings back to God. And they’re reaping God’s blessings: good employment, great health, happy environment.

The Lord taught me:

Proverbs 3:9- “Honor the LORD from your wealth; And from the first of all your produce.”

Luke 6:38- “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

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Last week, I entered the first week of my DECADE 6 and I’m enjoying the  peace and joy of life.  I just got my second course in college (Education) and passed the Licensure Exam for Teachers. I’m serving the Lord with the best of my time. So am I afraid to grow old alone?

The Lord made me smile on the eve of my birthday with this message:

Isaiah 54:5- “For your Maker is your husband—the LORD Almighty is his name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.”

Well, so be it. Who can beat God at my side?