On Working and Giving

Today's proverbs talked about working in order to provide for our own needs and the needs of others who depend on us. But this should not be the end of our purpose for labor. We should also be able to share and give to the needy and the weak who needs our support and help. We must not forget to give our tithes on top of everything else.
--> work and labor
----> faithfully give our tithes
------> support self and family
----------** save for rainy days, manage money well by not spending more than I earn
--------> give to others
----------** time, money, friendship, service

Dear Lord, help me to be your instrument of good deeds and blessings.

On Being Racially Discriminated

It dawned on me today that the major root of my classroom management problem is that because I was being treated with racial discrimination. This morning I was trying hard to get my students attention to no avail, but when my black co-teacher spoke to my class they all went really quiet. She didn’t even have to yell at them. When she said ‘I want you to stop talking’, the kids listened. When I said the same thing students ignored me. They always have something to say to me no matter how much I asked them to pay attention and be quiet.

I remember hearing a student long ago making a comment, ‘she can’t teach black kids’. At that time I ignored that comment, now it’s getting clear. Maybe he’s right. I can’t teach black kids. I can’t, unless they let me.

Students would make an issue over my pronunciation. Today a student never stopped laughing no matter how I try to ignore her. When I asked her to keep focused she kept on ignoring me and treated me like trash.

Coming from a different culture, I have the mistake of always assuming that students will show respect. That's why I get really very hurt when it doesn't happen. In my kind of teaching environment one has to struggle everyday to be heard, be seen, or if you're lucky, be respected.

Today's Reflections

"So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God's hands, but no man knows whether love or hate awaits him." Ecclesiates 9:1
~ One can only try hard enough to be loved and accepted, but there's no guarantee, no matter how hard we try. This is one of the most painful experiences we can have. After doing what we think is right, after giving with all our heart, doing the best we can, trying hard enough everyday, after doing all these sometimes we'll still receive hate and indifference instead of love and acceptance. Students won't appreciate you. Friends will turn their backs on you. It's painful. But, God's comfort and His love far exceeds any heartbreaks. God is more than enough. He is above all. His love endures forever. He is a faithful sweet-loving friend. Sweeter than bestfriends, sweeter than boyfriend, sweetest of all. For when we look closer we'll realize that we do what we do, for Him. So whether or not others accept our acts of love and kindness, it's Him who we please and serve.

God's promise: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
Thank you, Lord.

Trust In The Lord

I hear this song over and over in my head. It's a song sang by the Kids Praise from one of my favorite albums:

Trust, trust in the Lord
And lean not on your own understanding
In all, all of your ways acknowledge Him
He makes your path straight...

Dear Lord may You always be the center of my life. Help me each day to put my whole trust in You. Amen.

Multi-tasking

How easily one is able to shift from doing one thing to another will determine his or her multi-tasking ability. Like chatting with someone while writing a blog, at the same time listening to a radio program, checking bank accountssss online, keeping track of ins and outs of $$ (or outs and outs), and that too, worrying about how to lose weight.

I'd say I'm an average multi-task person. Super multi-task people would be those who can do all these and more while half aspleep. Magnifico!

Costly Mistakes

Literally this means losing $$ because of making some stupid mistakes. Like home tv-shopping. The minute I put down the phone I regret ever buying the product. Anyway, we learn from experience and it's not always free.

People usually make mistakes when the focus and purpose is momentarily forgotten and attention is magically entranced by the seemingly attractive offers at hand. And when the magic is gone, one say "wait a minute, did I just say yes to that? I don't even need that!". Grrrrr...

Unpolished Jewels

'Students are jewels'. These are words spoken by one of the teachers I met recently. Up to now these words resound to my brain. I pondered and searched my heart. Slowly it sank into my head... gradually I convinced myself. Indeed they are. After all, each child is a precious gift from above endowed with much potential.

With this thought, let's consider our role. Our role as adults is to mold and polish such jewels so that they shine priceless as they grow. But what if we fail to rub-off their rough edges? What if when we are torn between 'protecting' some rights and correcting misbehavior we close our eyes and choose that which is less messy? When we let mischief go without correction and reprimand, we fail to do our role as refiners of these unpolished jewels.

Some may say 'we cannot play God'. But I did not suggest that we make them perfect. I only want to call on parents, educators, school administrators, and loving and caring adults to enforce corrective and disciplinary measures when necessary to mold our children to become equally caring and respectful member of the human race. Let's discipline them in such a way that we bring out the best in them. Let's constantly help them to shed-off unacceptable behavior. For no amount of treasures can buy a man some dignity, honor and integrity. They are priceless qualities brought about by proper discipline.

"Diamonds that have poor to extremely poor polish are less brilliant." anonymous

Lumang Diary

December 6, 2004
Nagpunta kami ng pamilya ko sa Real, Quezon noong Linggo ng gabi, November 29, 2004. (Tagaroon talaga kami. Lumipat lang kami dito sa QC noong 1984.) Doon na kami inabot ng dalawang bagyo, willie at yoyong. Hindi ko kayang ilarawan lahat ng naranasan namin doon. Kalunus-lunos ang naging kalagayan namin doon at ng mga naiwan pa roon hanggang ngayon.
Noong Lunes ng maghapon ay malakas na ulan ang dala ng bagyong willie. Bumaha sa buong bayan ng Real, Infanta at General Nakar. Nasira ang apat na tulay, daan-daang bahay ang lumubog sa baha, giniba ng troso at baha at maraming buhay ang nawala.

Sa loob ng limang araw na inilagi ko doon ay pangkaraniwang tanawin ang maya'tmayang binibitbit na bangkay sa plasa. May 27 na guho sa kabundukan ng Siera Madre bago makarating sa bayan namin.

Libo-libong troso ang nakalutang sa dagat pasipiko ngayon na siyang inanod kasabay ng tubig,putik, bato na mula sa bundok. Parang bangungot! Akala ko ay hindi na titigil ang galit ng Diyos at ng kalikasan.

Kapag nahawan na ang mga guho at putik ay babalik ako doon upang mag-volunteer. Sa ngayon ay limitado ang kayang gawin ng isang babaeng volunteer. Maraming paghuhukay, paghahawan at paghahakot ang kailangang gawin upang makaabot ang relief goods sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo.

Nakauwi lang kami noong Biyernes dahil na-airlift kami. Narescue kami ng isa sa mga presedential choppers.

Ang mga illegal loggers ay mga kriminal! Dapat silang masilya elektrika.