Sim and Shem Celebrates 3rd Wedding Anniversary!

God is pretty awesome! His grace is amazing! Such lines emanated from a heart that is overflowing with joy through a continually life-changing encounter with a very huge God…

Sim and I have victoriously won the race as we run the third year of our marriage. By God’s bountiful grace, we did it with flying colors! Simple and easy? Of course not! We felt like we came near the end of the rope in working out our marriage due to some circumstances beyond our control. Marriage is definitely not just about the “POSITIVES”. “NEGATIVES” if taken for granted will surely catapult every marriage to ruin. I will say it time and again, GOD IS SO GOOD! God gave us the apt discernment to get back to “Marriage 101” – and it works! Focus on God, marriage, and the spouse are the main elements in getting marriage back to its good old shape. Every marriage should chant, “habang tumatagal lalong tumitibay”, and not the other way around. Times and seasons may change but always go back to the things that truly count in life.

We continue to honor God in our marriage. He’s the main ingredient that spices up every husband-wife relationship. To my dearest husband Sim, “I love you so much!”


(written by Shemi - 6/10/09)

A MOTHER FOR ALL SEASONS

(This is a real-life poignant drama of a mother who only dreams and desires of giving the very best for her loved ones …)

Adelle has been a widow for more than two decades now and was blessed with three daughters and a son. He lost her husband abruptly when the eldest was twelve and the youngest was seven. The death of her husband brought about indelible and traumatic memory for her and for the children’s young and innocent minds. But as what we humans say after every storm in life, “the show must go on”…

Adelle struggled along the way and tried to make both ends meet. Everything that she and her husband invested on were all exhausted for the education of the children. Time came when she was forced to make a very tough decision as a mother. She left her children under the care of her in-laws and went to the bustling city to earn even a little amount of money from doing odd jobs. Malicious talks continually circulated from a particular group of people. She was pretty aware that such discrimination and biased judgments stemmed from days of old when she and her husband were united in marriage. She knew in her heart that the wound would never get healed because some people never came to a point of totally accepting and respecting her as a member of that family – the impaired relationship even got worst when her husband died.

“Hope springs eternal”, true enough, Adelle hoped and trusted her God to take control of all things. Time passed by so swiftly and she was still in awe to realize that all her four children have already graduated from college. She gave a well-deserved credit to God for making it possible for her children to earn their respective degrees. Consequently, all of them were able to land jobs and marry the persons they wanted to spend the rest of their lives with. Although her children have a family of their own already, her love, dedication, commitment, and responsibility as a mother have never ended. She continuously showers and pampers her five grandchildren with a motherly care and passes on the know-how in motherhood to her daughters.

She was able to revive old friendships when she reached her golden year. And one of the highlights of her life and the most significant encounter came when she met her God and surrendered everything to Him through a new-found faith in Jesus Christ. Her life gradually changed for the better. She continually endeavors to surpass all of life’s adversities.

And now, a new set-back is on her way. Some people deliberately disrespect her by saying derogatory remarks that pierce her heart to the core and tear her into pieces. Why? It’s because they wanted to take a precious thing away from her and the children. They wanted to put into oblivion even the one last legacy that will remind her entire household of her husband’s wonderful memories when he was still with them. Every nook and cranny of their humble house is a living testament that God put all things together to fulfill His perfect plan and purpose for her family. What ever happens, God is in full control … He is a God of Justice… A God of Love… A God who is All-Relevant and All-Trustworthy.

Adelle is far from being perfect and yet I’ve seen in her a person who is not afraid to give out love, a person who has the courage to confront the battle of life, and a person who tries her best to be a better servant to her Master. And lastly, I speak from the innermost chamber of my heart that, “SHE IS A MOTHER FOR ALL SEASONS”… I should always know because she's my mother and am a proud daughter!