GENTLE BREEZE

By NELLY FAVIS VILLAFUERTE           

One Christian writer once said, “You have no control over when you are born or when you die.  What you have control is the dash in between.  That’s your life.”  We should thank our Lord God that He has gifted us with life and a future filled with awesome opportunities and possibilities.

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            Our Lord God used our parents to give us life.  To bring us into existence.  Whether we believe it or not; whether we like it or not, our earliest concept and consciousness of our Lord God are influenced and molded by our father-mother-family relationship.  Except in some cases, families are the formidable emotional fortresses in times of stress and distress. 

No wonder, people of different races echo the same sentiment when they say, “Honor thy father and mother that thy days may be long.”  When we honor our father and mother, we too are bringing honor to ourselves.  Because we belong to the same lineage.  But more than that – we build our stockage of self-respect and self-esteem.  In this world, it is those who abound with self-esteem and positive self-regard who give profusely part of themselves to help others – as encouragers, comforters, and givers. 

We should treasure our families’ memories and relationships.  Not only the good memories but even the painful memories that should have been forgotten long ago.  Otherwise, bitterness, hatred, and vindictiveness will consume us up to the grave.  The Holy Bible is very clear and emphatic in its message of forgiveness.  In Romans 12:19, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord.”

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            The trouble with many of us, especially the young, is that we take our gift of life for granted.  Because of the profound reality that “life is so daily.”  We have forgotten that life is really fun if we only give it a chance.  Enjoying each passing moment, realizing that life is a blend of laughter and tears.  And living each day as if it were our last day.  Yes, many of us get stressed out if life gets messy and unmanageable at times.  But then we have to remember that we are behind the wheel of our life.  As the saying goes, “Life itself can’t give you joy, unless you really will it.  Life gives you time and space; it’s up to you to fill it.”

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            Many of us love to philosophize about life.  But we forget that one thing is very certain in life – that it is filled with uncertainties.  This fear of uncertainty can depress us and have a crippling effect on our attitude towards life.  Others, however, turn to our Lord God for guidance and direction every day of our life.  Many of us read the Word of God every day to calm our nerves and have peace of mind.  To drive loneliness away from our life.  Even the famous and the rich people get lonely. 

Let me share with you some famous people who revealed their loneliness in life despite their fame and power:

            “Sometimes I think the only people who stay with me and really listen are people I hire and people I pay.” – Marilyn Monroe, the actress.

            “It seems my tragic destiny that in all the important moments of my life, I find myself alone.” – Benito Mussolini, the Italian political leader.

            “It is strange to be known so universally, and yet to be so lonely.” – Albert Einstein, the scientist.

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            Here’s a startling report by six researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in USA – that the Internet, the very touchstone of the new American capitalism, is actually bad for some people’s psychological well-being.  The researchers reported that based on their study, the more time the people surveyed spent at their keyboard, the more depressed and lonely they were at the end of the experiment.  The researchers’ conclusion: “The Internet seems to be associated with symptoms of social isolation such as depression and loneliness.  This is the paradox although the Internet is being used for social networking.”

            This matter of loneliness is a serious thing.  According to a report appearing in a Newsweek magazine some years ago, loneliness can speed one’s demise no matter how conscientiously one cares for his body.  Based on one study, people who manage a network of social support do best.  They go through life surrounded by a protective convoy of others.  In other words, people with few social contacts have greater risk of dying from heart disease.

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            Are you lonely?  Have you lost your excitement in life?  Don’t you enjoy living anymore?  Are you blaming your parents for the lack of quality of your life?  Turn to our Lord God.  Trust in Him.  Read the Word of God, the Holy Bible, and be reassured of His love, protection, and provision.  In the words of the Holy Bible, “Delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

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This column continues to give out copies of the Holy Bible for free to those who cannot afford to buy their own copies. If interested, please send your letter-request to Ms. Nelly Favis Villafuerte, 5233 Fahrenheit St., Palanan, Makati City. Kindly mention if it is the Tagalog, English, Cebuano, or Ilocano Bible that is preferred.

            Be joyful and forgiving! (Comments may be sent to Ms. Villafuerte’s email: [email protected].)