By Rev. Fr. Joel G. Delos Reyes
They say that life is like a notebook. Two pages were already written by God. The first page is about our birth and the last is about our death. The pages in-between are empty and reserved for us to write. Each page corresponds to every moment that passes on. Scribble in each page as it were, our grateful thoughts for God’s care for us, lifting us up when we fall, and continues to sustain us with his grace and mercy. Let’s count our blessing not the things we are missing.
Write your good thoughts about people regardless of stature, belief, race or color, for each is God’s child. Wishing someone good health, safety for travelers, and success to one’s endeavors. Note down positive thoughts, fair judgement over someone’s error, and forgiveness for hurts and offenses.
Jot down too your words of encouragement, good counsel, and be stingy with criticism and negativity but generous with praises and recognition. You may not realize it, but perhaps someone was awakened from religious lethargy because of your principle in the midst of immoral promiscuity and skepticism on the sacrosanct entities. Your trust in God much have inspired someone striving to keep the faith or struggling to survive in the midst of life’s adversity.
Actions speak louder than words, so they say. Our tongue has no bones but it is strong enough to break a person down. Our behavior reflects what’s inside our heart and mind, and describes who we are in the process. We are the author of the in-between pages of our Life’s Notebook, and our readers are people we meet night and day everywhere. Our good manners build up good relationship, if bad a wall of division and apathy exists. We should realize that every person we meet is just like us, with failures and feelings needing love and understanding.
Therefore, let us always highlight every word and deed in the pages of our Life’s Notebook, so that everyone can find direction and light in times of confusion and darkness. Take note too, that what we scribbled in the in-between pages of our Life’s Notebook, are the only ones people will read in their search for truth and meaning on life. We are God’s proxy to wipe out tears with kind words, heal wounds with compassion, mend brokenness with mercy and hurts with forgiveness. There’s an anecdote about God telling us to love everyone even the hypocrites, liars, selfish, proud, greedy and cheaters now for he will sort them out later in the last page.
Someone said that we should be thankful for the bad things in life for they opened your eyes to the good things you were not paying attention to before. Make friends who are deeper than drinking or hanging out, the ones you can have meaningful conversation, those you can cry or laugh with, the ones who believe in you despite your setbacks. Rule of thumb tells us to know our circle. Make sure that everybody is rowing and not drilling holes when you’re not looking. When you speak, do such that people will listen to you and if you listen, do such that people will find pleasure talking to you. Do something today that your future self will thank you for. Amen on that folks!!
St. Faustina wrote Jesus’ words; “ Do not fear, My child; but remain faithful only to My grace .” ( Diary 1166).
Pray the Divine Mercy prayer every 3 p.m. Daily recite the Holy Rosary and Chaplet of Mercy for peace in the our families and throughout the world.
