A New Year...A New Chapter...A New Life...

               When we were kids, I remember Mark, my baby brother, imitating almost everything I did.  When I displayed my drawings on our refrigerator, the following day you would see the same picture posted beside it drawn by him.  When I started painting and had my works included in our school’s exhibits, later on he excelled by winning poster making contests.  When I finally made my own signature, I saw him practicing his signature that looked almost the same as mine (he took out the “R” and replaced the signature with “M”).  I loved dancing and made it my hobby for quite some time and never thought he’d be able to outgrow his stiff moves...yet years later, he became a choreographer and turned out to be a very graceful dancer.  I learned to play two instruments and somehow discovered I could sing; but my brother can play more instruments and I consider him as one of the musical geniuses of this generation.  I took up commerce and he successfully made it as a CPA.  I dreamed of a lifetime spiritual partner...while he prayed for a lifetime partner and met his soul mate.  I planned of getting married and HE GOT MARRIED!

                Haha!  Don’t get me wrong here...I am actually the proudest sister on this universe.  My baby brother is now a man I believe God is so pleased to have made.  When he asked me two years ago if he could marry, I honestly didn’t know how to answer sincerely.  It made me cry whenever I thought of it ever since.  Because it meant letting go of my baby brother who is my best friend, my knight, and my favourite brother in the whole wide world (does that count? Hehe!)!  I would always tell people, I can let go of anybody except my brother.  However, seeing him grow to be a wonderful person who always does nothing but the best for God and always putting Him first than anybody else, I no longer have to play as a protective sister always worrying what will become of him in the future.  I have seen that Jesus resides in him and I trust that his future will be so bright.

                As he starts a new chapter of his life, I am hoping that more people will be inspired by his examples.  Discovering his state of life was not an easy choice for him as well.  Discerning for the right vocation, dealing with the ups and downs of relationships, facing the challenges in our family purified him all these years into becoming what he is right now.  The blessing that the Lord bestowed upon him recently is just amazing – Sacrament of Matrimony.  This sacrament will truly make him steps closer to God as he has a partner to be with on his journey. 

                To his wife, Aya, I praise God for making her part of our family.  She is one of the most genuine friends I have.  I am glad to have her as an official sister.  I can be at peace now knowing that somebody will be there to take good care of my brother and to support him in his ongoing mission of BRinging EVery Soul TO Christ the King.  May they be examples to all those who are discerning on their state of life and a model to those who are starting a family.

                To the newlyweds, congratulations!  My blessings and prayers will always be with you...I LOVE YOU.  Brev it up!

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Opposites Attract...Compatibility is Best...Does It Really Matter?

          Today, 4^th of November, is the 32^nd wedding anniversary of my parents.  And I am so proud and blessed to say that despite the numerous trials our family had and problems they encountered as a couple, they are still together.  Our relationship as a family isn’t perfect especially that of my parents as my dad and mom are very opposite in many ways...except for the looks (they’re both good looking...just look at their children! Hehe!)  They are one of the many examples of “opposite attracts.”  However, no matter how wearisome it must have been for them accepting their differences and countless shortcomings, SEPARATION WAS NEVER AN OPTION.  Their commitment to love and incessant forgiveness made them come this far.  More so, I believe that their love for God primarily which they found in marriage bonded them even more.

          I also know of a young couple who is so compatible that they play one of the best music you can hear in this generation – ate Agat and kuya Jojo – the Brevs’ voice supervisor and Music Director respectively.  It is always a joy to visit and see them work together at their own home.  They share the same interests and have same goals.  They work as a team while enjoying the company of their only daughter and lovable retriever golden retriever.  The best, however, is their good hearts and their dedication in offering their work for the Lord.  We are inspired and learn a lot from them.

          Opposites or not, does it really matter?  What matters most  is that for those who are deciding to take the vocation of a married life should always put a big weight on a relationship that will lead them to a deeper relationship with God—together.  It is also not enough that a partner is supportive of the other’s dream.  The dream should be SHARED between the two so they have the same direction in life...making them inseparable and having a deeper emotional why in achieving it.  Furthermore, the dream should lead them again to God.  And, it is only when God is the center and Head of the family will a marriage work for a lifetime. It has to be a spiritual family first and foremost.   I like what Robert Kiyosaki mentioned in his book, Rich Brother Rich Sister:

“Family number two is our spiritual family, the family that draws us with its call, the promise of acceptance, true understanding, and happiness.  It is a community in which we know the power of unconditional love and find that which we know, in our hearts, is missing from our life.

Our spiritual family is our true home, an environment where we can live the life we are born to live and gain the perspective and ability to accept and appreciate other thoughts and points of view.  There are many paths to finding your spiritual family:  marriage, education, religion, career, friends, teachers, and even crisis and despair.

Finding your spiritual family in marriage is finding your soul mate.  There is no more powerful union than two people who find each other to share another life together.  As we all know, divorce rates are high.  While there are many and varied reasons for divorce, one is loneliness – the loneliness and emptiness of being married to a person who is not your soul mate.  There is a big difference between loving your spouse or partner and loving a soul mate.

Many people search for—but few ever find—their second family, their spiritual family.”