stories and appreciation

and i pass on to you stories of a few of my fellow attendees at Lingkod ng Panginoon's Christian Life Program.

Nica's father died of cancer two years ago. he worked as a seaman, so she never got to see him much. until cancer made him stay home.

Anne worked 2 jobs to earn her Accountancy degree. she gave herself no other option but to finish college. that meant studying 5 days a week and working 7 days a week.

Rona finished 8th in her high school batch of more than 1000. on her graduation day, nobody came to see her. her mother was vacationing in Singapore.

Em-em's siblings are accomplished professionals. since she decided to become a teacher, her father has continuously been comparing her to them.

Au is a registered nurse but at the trying times her family is currently going thru, this has placed her in an inconvenient place. her father is suffering from a heart problem (was attacked 2 more times since the first two years ago), kidney problem, and just recently, he was diagnosed a diabetic. being the nurse in the family, on her landed the painful role of explaining to the rest of the family what is happening, which inevitably includes the difficult task of filtering the hard facts to save her mother and younger siblings from more pain.

Au is only 21, and her father is 45.

because of their stories, the natural high of these girls are remarkable. they dance like there's no tomorrow. they sing to God like He's right there in front of them. they smile like their mouths are at rest when they do. they share pain as stories you're never supposed to wallow in. my dreams are hooked on what the world has in store for me; theirs is on making the most of what life has given them or left them with. so humbling is their decision to carry on and happily so.

to my sisters and new friends, thank you.

~~~

im staying to keep me grounded.