When we talk about Jesus the first word that will come to our mind is “religion” where in fact it is not. We think that religion is important but the truth is that having a real relationship with Him is more important than that. It’s so amazing how God allowed us to live despite the fact that He knew that on some point of ourlives, we will turn away from Him.
God is so good that He let us have the freedom that we don’t even deserve to have. When it comes to having a real relationship with Him, God has given us the freedom to choose whether to reject or accept Him. But as for me, it’s so embarrassing to reject someone as good as Him. Accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior means having a full heart to serve Him and willingness to obey everything that He requires, from the article, the qualities of God, His identity, and all the things that He has done for our salvation it was mentioned. It was so ironic that the man who is sinless and do not deserve punishment was the One who sacrificed in order for us to live. We are all blessed to have a very loving God like Him. I am so astounded with this kind of love. Though He is just, holy, and righteous yet He humbled Himself in a form of human to reach out for us. As people that were made in God’s likeness, all those things should reflect in us but it is not so. I learned that everything has a reason and a purpose. Like what was mentioned in the article, God already knew that we will rebel against Him and yet He still loves us given the fact that we failed Him many times in our lives. This love is hard to grasp. It’s so amazing how God see things as they are and how astonishing God works for His purposes for us. I just realized that having a real relationship with God is enough for me to be contented with all the things in my life. Christ is enough but truth is, it is so impossible to have a real relationship with Him because He is perfect, He is holy and we are not, but thank God because He initiated the relationship first by sending His Son to bore the punishment that was really intended for us.
Jesus Christ is relevant not only today but forever for what He has done is the answer to all our problems. By reflecting on His finished work, we will have the encouragement to face every small, big, momentary and even that most insurmountable challenges that will come in our way. He humbled himself to understand just how hard it is to be man-a man living in this fallen world, so there is no way He can’t relate to us. Nothing is too hard for Him so all things are possible for those who recieved and believed in Him.
Our group was formed last year when we’re still in Grade 11. Now that we’re already in Grade 12, lots of conflict have arised. Well,misunderstandings are normal in a friendship. We became set apart. One member of the group separated herself from us. We didn’t confronted her so days passed by that we’re just acting normal with each other as if there’s no problem. We can approach one another but the closeness is not like before anymore. Until our retreat came. She shared something infront which really striked us so we decided to talk to her and have a mini open forum at night. So on the second night of our retreat, we grabbed the opportunity to be with her and have some time to talk. We first played games, shared some stories with our other classmates. After that, we gathered to room 118. It’s already late that time that’s why we started right away when we got inside the room. Then, we shared our thoughts, opened up the things that we don’t like with one another, apologized, and told everything that’s inside of us. She cried and cried while telling us her feelings that night but then thank God that we all ended up fine and released from everything. We forgave one another and resolved our conflicts well. We woke up together because we all slept in the same room. Then, the third day of our retreat came. We’re about to go home but we stopped first at SM San Pablo for us to take our lunch. Our group bonded through eating our lunch meals in McDo which is the fastfood restaurant where our group and the friendship was formed during our Grade 11 days. I felt glad seeing our group complete and as one again. I believe that our friend who separated herself from us is so happy as well because she doesn’t feel alone anymore and that everything is fine now. Friendship is always being tested and the bond, moments, and memories that we created together are the things which pushed us to fight still for the friendship and most especially for the person. If you’re having a conflict with your friends, resolve it right away. Don’t wait for the time that you’ll have a regret because you don’t fixed your issues with each other immediately. Think of the happy moments you guys created together, forgive one another, and begin again.
September 22, 2018, the special day of mine, also the day of our critiquing in Practical Research 2. Before this day came, I already encountered lots of disappointment which really made me feel down because my birthday is coming, I will be turning 18 but I can’t feel it yet. I don’t feel happy and excited. September 21, 2018, I cried and cried at night seeing the countdown of my friend. It made me realize that it’s already my day tomorrow. I woke up by maybe 7 or 8 am that day to review for our critiquing. Then, I saw my mother’s letter and gift to me the moment I woke up because it’s placed beside me. I read the letter and cried, thanking the Lord for still making me feel my day through those stuffs I received from my mother. I thanked my mom and hugged her. Then, our critiquing went well. It was successfully done. I went to Lucena after to celebrate my day with my bestfriend. We just ate and bought some foods. The day passed as if it’s not my special day. Our retreat passed by as well. September 28, 2018, the day that I didn’t expected anything special to happen was actually the day that everything seemed so memorable for me. My friends and family surprised me with a post birthday celebration when I got home after class. I really got amazed because in the previous days I didn’t sensed anything about this birthday surprise for me. The house was so dark when I came together with my two friends who already knew the surprise for me. The moment I enter inside our house, they showered me with lots of confetti and sang the happy birthday song. The design was so beautiful so I’m really really touched. I somehow had a bad feeling towards my sister on the actual day of my birthday because before she told me that I will have a celebration but it didn’t happened not knowing that it will just be late. With that, my displeasure turned into gratefulness to her. I am really thankful to her and to all who made that day great. Back to my story, we ate together and took pictures. Then, they prepared a birthday message for me one by one. When my bestfriend, sister, and mother’s turn came, they were crying while stating their message which really touched my heart. I felt so blessed with these people in my life. They were successful in making me happy and putting joy and gladness in my heart. I thank the Lord so much for such an answered prayer. I thank Him for making me experience this one of a kind celebration. Now, I can look back to my 18th birthday with pure happiness and remember how my friends and family love me through making that celebration possible. It may not be as extravagant as the other debutants experience on their celebration but for me it is more than that because of the happiness and love I felt that day. I am so much glad and I’m so grateful to my friends, my family, and God who made me feel so much special, valued, and loved. My tears turned into wonderful smiles. Thank you G!
Goals, dreams, aspirations, objectives, visions, ambitions, plans, targets. We all have these kind of stuffs in our lives and achieving these things will definitely lead us to success. Many people succeed because they worked hard in the best way they can. They conquered their fears, overcome those hardships they experienced,and faced the reality of life. Hardships are given for us to be determined on the things that we want to achieve. Success is only attainable if you’ll work hard for it. There are a lot of costs, a lot of things that you’ll experience all throughout the journey towards reaching it but I assure you it would be all worth it. A lot of people succeed because they are really focused on their goals. I admire all of them because of their hardwork and determination to reach wherever they are right now. People tend to give up when they’re experiencing hardships in their lives but if you’ll go through on overcoming it, you will be more dedicated on finishing the work you have started. But what does true success really mean?
The most awaited part of being a Grade 12 student is the three days retreat in Tagaytay wherein you can rest yourself from all the schoolworks, have fun without any worries, bond with the others, and make friends. September 24, 25, and 26 are the days intended for the retreat of our section, Grade 12 Simplicity. Before this day arrived, we were literally stressed with a lot of stuffs. Eventually, when the day finally came, we felt so excited. I am included in van number 4. We took some pictures in the morning while we’re still waiting for our other classmates to arrive. We also took pictures of us while we’re on our way, prayed, listened and sang together with the music, ate foods, and bonded. We first went to the Niña Maria Parish Church wherein we prayed and wrote our prayers on a piece of paper. Then, we finally went to the retreat house. The place was so beautiful and the surroundings are clean. We were oriented first by the staff about the rules. We went to our room after to fix our things and ate at the refectory area. The first day was good. On the second day, we had a lot of sharing. We read the letters written by our parents and shared realizations about that. My eyes are so tired that time because I keep on crying and crying and crying. After that, me and my friends gathered together to play games, share some stories before we sleep. We’re 6 and we all slept together in room 118 since our adviser allowed us because maybe she understands that it’s our last night, our last sleep in the place. Then the third day came which means that we’re already going home. That’s the sad part. We had the last session and sharing. Our section had a picture taking together with Father Anthony after the session and then ate at the refectory. Then, we went to the cemetery of the FMM Sisters. We offered prayers there and took some pictures once again. Right after, we bought souvenirs and prepared ourselves on going home. Thankfully, we all headed home safe. The retreat was fun. I really enjoyed it. The two sections combined as one were fine now, deep thoughts about different things were realized. I thank the Lord for a wonderful time with Him during those days. I believe He’s the reason why we did a retreat. Thank you God for letting us be near to You. Thank you for our retreat became a successful and memorable one.
Joyce Lacopia 