It's a New Life

https://www.facebook.com/mvpuno/videos/10206591852649216/

Ave Maria :-) 

Hello 2016.... it never fails and never changes...each New Year.. am always reminded I'll turn a year older - the 5th of January ..and then as tho' the vital reminders never end... it's also so near the Feast of Epiphany of our Lord. 

I guess for both and all 3 events ..the New Year..a birthday.. the Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ we celebrate the Gift of Life -- and not just life but indeed a New Life -- hmm more on that later my loves...

Who doesn't love a birthday... we'll come across souls who say ..."Nah..,  I wanna keep my birthday quiet and simple... a friend  confesses she always has her blues on her birthday -- mag -imo-imo siya for whatever reason - turn  melancholic and all...
 

Another guy says : "Basta ayoko mag celebrate ng birthday ko... nakita mo naba ako mag celebrate ng birthday ko" ? he asks

..and in a tone you won't dare  to ask anymore, init ng ulo nya eh... hehehe. 

But let's face it.. majority of mortals would like to at least have some semblance of happiness on their birthday...let's see... diba  you'd appreciate any of the following , pa check na lang in your mind :

1) well-wishers.... the more the merrier..and hey you couldn't care less whether it's thru internet... celfon call..text messages...kartero ( wow, mail man bringing a birthday card , that seems so 1950's.. hindi na talaga uso ano?)

2) birthday gift -- ok let's start with the material kind - kesehodang panyolito na may burda ng inital  ng pangalan mo....orrrr  eat your heart out--a brand new shiny cool car in your garage ---- o  kaya a trip to a sosi tourist destination? - is that great or what???

3) birthday gift - spiritual type -- some kind souls really offer prayers for us...even a sacrifice fully united to our Lord to obtain graces the celebrant would need --- naku if you find a friend of this type wag mona pakawalan -- kasi this type of friend will cover your back in prayer --- their contribution to our life is so priceless -- others may think --
But what did they actually give ?? Ikaw naman o... ...what is of real worth.. lasting and eternal value is invisible to the eye ...di ba po?

4)mega or cutie birthday party/celebration -- an elegant dinner date ---- book a videoke place-- some go to the bar and drink to their heart's content .. eat drink and be merry for today ... is err your birthday pala hahaha.

5) Some naman actually prefer sharing their blessings like Liza Soberano - this young actress who did away with typical artista trimmings and chose instead to celebrate her birthday at chosen orphanages -what a thoughtful , generous girl. 

But what's with a birthday? why should it be so all important for us -- not so much in terms of the noise and merriment we'll be tempted to make.. but more so .. in how it marks our undeniable spot in the Plan of God --and in this thing called l-i-f-e?

If we will just treat our birthday as growing a year older... booking that nice resto and inviting chosen circle of friends or family --- and waiting ..hoping we do get the gifts we want... or that greeting from someone we cherish --- well .. we might end up not having a Very Happy Birthday... because birthdays are much , much bigger than that... if you dont get what you wished for ...hmmm you'll be tempted  to think huhuhu "It wasn't so happy after all..."

Wish I was a philosopher so that I could write a treatise on this but am just a 58 yr old regular mom/ tita/ wife/lola/sister... citizen of the Republika ng Pilipinas.... so I'll just have to share how my birthday affects me. 

Reaching this age which is a feat in itself considering how many seem to have shorter and shorter life spans... and becoz nga my birthmonth falls within the Christmas season --- I can't help finding the connection to the birth of the Christchild to my own forgettable birth... This last Christmas season.. ewan koba.. many times when I look at the belens in the church so beautifully displayed and lit up --- I couldn't help but be flooded by unspeakable joy and gratitude... because the birth of Jesus has given meaning and a destiny for my own birth and yours too -- and every human being 

for that matter.

Our birthdays then becomes special because He came to be born for us ... to obtain for us that Better, Ultimate Deal in Life .. ( and He didn't even wait to see if we'd appreciate this gift or not, basta ibinigay Niya na sa atin nang lubusan)  My life and yours  will have purpose and beauty because of this God who humbled Himself for our sake ---- 

in Tagalog there's a beautiful word: Pinagka abalahan Niya tayo---an outright translation in English would make it sound trite -- that God got so busy fixin up our life --- it's better put this way: HE JUST GOT SO CONCERNED FOR US..SoBRANG INVOLVED SIYA SA ATING MAGIGING KALAGAYAN....HE DIDNT STOP TILL JESUS COULD RESOLVE THINGS for us, ALLELUIA!  Imagine how  God  Almighty Holy and Eternal could  be so focused for us minions.. hehehe  

At my 5th birthday yes, yes decades ago hahaha..my parents so very kindly decided to throw the typical children's birthday party for me ..with a birthday cake , children to play with.. a nice pretty dress and huge balloons... but one of my dear cousins hahaha got just a bit too excited and bit my cheek  too strongly - I bawled /that spelled the end of the party hahaha disaster siya - -- well that party didn't go too well did it?

It was also my first lesson on pondering the meaning of one's birth. Is it the cake..? the gifts... the guests? As we grow older ..we think:
" Ay baka it's the endless labors"  
..others  naman depending on their life experiences will say:" it was the laughter..it was the tears.... and then the fine lines and health issues that come with it " 
... for indeed what is a birthday?

So ipinanganak tayo... what then..ano na? and little by little and esp if we seek the answers we find our true purpose in life which is to be united to our Creator God both in this life and in the next.. Is that not the most awesome thing that can happen to us? We could be united to a powerful president..the richest tycoon  on earth.. a strongman who can kill others with his mere breath... or fully united to a cause or principle ( laban, laban )-- but I wonder if any of those can equal the meaning and fullness of being united to God , to His Will..to His purposes for us in this life... Perhaps this union at times can result in being united too with His sufferings but in the end it all tallies... we are Victors because we recieve no less than His Life.. God's life flowing in us thru His Son Jesus Christ. Oh my gosh... that's a divine rush

..... with each passing year... I marvel more and more  at our God-given gifts.. just take a look at your set of friends or immediate family -- then think of each one's unique skills/talents. area of giftedness... virtues... character traits ... the good ones ha ... put them altogether and you sort of get an idea of Who our God is : Totally Awesome and Totally Complete and Utmost Perfection .

And we can walk away happy and blissful, singing a song in our heart everyday...  because He put a bit of Himself in us and expects us to put these gifts to bless other people and help as many make it back to His bosom. IF Gods gifts were colors then we each have our own unique palette - and really there is no cause for envy ... God knows what to give to each one of us...diskarte Niya na iyon.

 

Have a Happy New Year.. have a Happy birthday.. drawing joy from the Epiphany of our Lord Jesus.. this is 2016 then : a New Life ! Happy New  Life always and in Christ... Be with us Lord each and every moment of this new year.... God bless you all.... te mye
last carol for this season just click the blue link

Ma. Victoria G. Puno | Facebook

				Ma. Victoria G. Puno | Facebook oh my just a few more days tapos na Christmas season.. may it be that the Lord remains in the manger of our hearts.. from the Living Word Music Ministry...
				View on www.facebook.com	Preview by Yahoo

https://www.facebook.com/mvpuno/videos/10206591852649216/