Stop and Smell the Roses!

This morning, I could hardly get up! I was so sleepy, just like yesterday. I actually had 2 cups of coffee yesterday morning because my eyelids were literally dropping. Carlos from the caffeteria (nice man by the way) even asked me if John, my boss, is back because I got 2 cups (yes, he asked it in French... Il ne parler pas francais). I said no, I'm just sleepy (in English of course). It couldn't be jetlag. I've been here for almost two weeks and I know I didn't experience it.

Anyway, the first thing I saw this morning on Facebook is KZ's prayer. It struck me that I've been sleepy for days because I've been non-stop since I got here! I would come in the office before 8 AM, leave the office at 6-630 PM, go to the mall, walk around or just read a book until 11-12 MN. I guess I'm just not used to having the sun at 930 PM but mainly because for me, having the sun means I still have time to do things. I, for one thing, haven't stopped shopping and looking for autumn and winter clothes since I got here not because I don't have anything interesting to do but because I feel like I don't have enough! My mind is constantly running, worrying about my apartment. As I often say to my colleagues whenever they ask how am I settling in: “I’m not sure, I feel like my life in Geneva hasn’t started yet because I haven’t found an apartment yet”.

So when I read KZ's prayer this morning, I was reminded that yeah, things work pretty fast when you are in your mid-late 20s because you are constantly chasing after the expectations you have listed down for yourself. In my case, I know why I've been running around lately: I've been insisting on meeting the deadlines I set for myself like get an apartment that is less than CHF1,000 in at least 3 weeks upon my arrival, have my autumn and winter wardrobe ready by the end of summer, etc. Don't get me wrong, planning is necessary but stressing out is not! In the end, who brought me in Geneva? God’s plan, His time! So if things are not working the way I planned it to be, then I need to stop, and as they said, and smell the roses. Proverbs 19:21:

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

Anyway, here’s Kz’s beautiful prayer this morning and I hope this inspires you as well no matter what your age is and whatever is making you feel like you are constantly running to meet the expectations you have set for yourself. (Thanks Kz!)

Dear Lord, when I get ahead of You and try to fix myself, slow me down. Help me wait on You with great expectancy, as I look for the harvest in many areas of my life. I'm 25 soon, Lord. I know life goes by quickly, so please slow me down and help me enjoy, more than what this life offers, You especially :)me enjoy, more than what this life offers, You especially :)

Size Doesn't Matter

Matthew 6:33-34 is such a powerful verse. It is one of the bible verses that put me where I am today. When things get tough, I just hang on to this verse. It’s not as easy as it sounds though. I mean, for a control freak like me, this is a tough one. I used to worry a lot (actually even until now I still worry on things) so I end up stressing out my self and controlling everyone. But that’s not what this is all about. My testimony is that how big verse such as this applies to our smallest problem.

I’m not into jewelry. I have one set of jewelry that I have been using since I was in my first year in highschool – a pair of earrings, a ring and a necklace. For fourteen years I’ve been wearing them almost everyday.

The other day, I left the office at exactly 4:30 PM because I told my mom that I’m bringing dinner. I made a take out at Reyes Barbeque near our office (which took me around 30 minutes), ran to the shuttle terminal, got in a shuttle immediately, slept the whole trip and by 7:30 PM I was home. We had dinner immediately, watched American Idol while having dinner, cleaned the dinner table and then watched Glee. After watching Glee, I took a shower and went to my mom’s room (where Doodle is also staying) to say goodnight. While talking to Doodle (yes, we talk to our puppy), I suddenly realized that my earring on my left ear was missing! I checked my other ear hoping that it’s not there so that it will be more likely that I took them off but it was there. So clearly, the other pair of my earrings was missing!

I looked around the house but I somehow knew that its not here. I was pissed already but at the same time I didn’t want to show my mom and sister that I was so frustrated. Finally, I gave up the idea that I’d still be able to find it. So I went to my room and read my bible. I was thinking of praying about it but I thought “oh don’t be silly! It’s just a little thing to pray for… pray for something that makes more sense”. Before I went to sleep, Val called to check out on me and I told him I’m sad about my lost earring. He told me not to worry because God knows how important it is to me so just pray. Before I slept, I whispered “God please if it is not too much for you, can I have my earring back”.

When I woke up the following day, I was still feeling down. I just told my mom that it’s fine, I’ll just ask Holli to make a copy and I was like “gosh! How much will this cost me?”. It wasn’t a happy morning for me so I thought I’ll just drown myself in caffeine and I’ll be giddy and all. When I got to my messy table, lo and behold! My earring was there and I couldn’t believe it! Our janitress told me she saw it under my chair and she placed it on my table. She also told me “buti nalang ma’am hindi araw ng pag va-vaccum ngayon kung hindi nawala na siguro yan”.

Basically, I learned here that I trust God in my huge problems but I often forget Him or think that I’m just bothering Him when it comes to petty problems. This shows that there are no small or big problems when it comes to God. There’s no size requirement for problems before we can lift it up to him. And that’s how much he loves us! He sent his son to die for us to be saved… shame on me for even thinking that he will not care for the little things that I care like my earring.