HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!

It's the most apt greeting for the new year because we all want to have some positivity when the new year enters.  I haven't done resolutions because I they simply don't get done, well - most of the time.  Hahaha!!

Last Sunday, I heard Mass with Kailee and it really touches my heart that she now comes with me.  It's a mababaw thing, but I really like that she comes with me.  It's a start, that's always what I have in mind.

The homily last Sunday was moving.  Well, I felt the sincerity of the priest and it I can't help but be drawn to what he was saying.  I think I understood what he felt.  The priest was narrating that 2019 was a very challenging year for him.  It was a year that he got a LOT of assignments from the Diocese of Cubao.  To be honest, I know that he recently got assigned to be the parish priest and so it was a mighty big role that he had to fill in.   The priest said that he had a LOT of questions on why he was given all those challenges by the Lord, but he just went on with it and served.

He then narrated that when he started out as a priest, he initiated an advocacy - and that was to help children with special needs.  The group started with 5 kids and it grew over the years.  This advocacy would help children with special needs, they would host some therapy for the children and so one.  As they years grew, the priest would see them less, but would always pray for them and be there when he is needed.  Now he tells us, that the group is serving about close to a hundred kids already.  I have friends with special needs kids - and I see them and feel their joys and heartaches.  I know too that these therapy sessions don't come cheap and so it's so heartwarming to know that there is a group  that is greatly helping the kids and parents as well.

Last Christmas, the group had a celebration and the priest was going to be there.  When he arrived he saw a swarm of kids run to him, when they reached up they were all smiles and so happy.  They were giving him huge hugs and saying their thanks.  The priest then was so overwhelmed with happiness.  It was then that he realized that all his worries and questions were answered.  That seeing these children saying thanks and hugging him was worth all the sacrifices that he has made.  It made everything worth while.

When I heard him say this, I got teary eyed.  I felt the sincerity and it really struck me.  I knew the feeling of being overwhelmed with things to do.  There are days that I just go through the motions without fully understanding what it is that I am doing.  I just go on because I needed to go on - I needed to be function, for myself and for others.  There are days that I feel so drained because I do so much but I don't feel appreciated for what I do.  I pray and question, but then I lift it all to the Lord because I know that I will be rewarded somehow.  And with the priest's story, I realized that someday, my sacrifices will all be worth it and I can't wait for that day to come.

Life is hard, because we get thrown out off course - but we need to be strong, have faith and try our darndest to stay on course.  I felt so happy for the priest, I really did!  And when he was giving his final blessing, I shed tears - tears of happiness because one day, I'll feel the same fulfillment he felt.  But right now, I just need to hold on and stay on course.

I have to tell you, my faith is one of the things that I hold on to.  It has greatly helped me deal with things going on in life.  I am thankful that I have a relationship with God.  It's not a perfect relationship, but it's my own little relationship with the Lord.  I just hope that I can share this relationship with my kids.  I want them to know God early on and have their relationship with the Lord.

Happy New Year everyone!