Del Rosario: Jan. 1, 2018 – Dec. 31, 2019

DOES the title of this article look like a part of a tombstone of a two-year old child?

Well, “yes” and “no.”

The first half of it could be true, but the 2019 portion is still uncertain.

Neither the one year old child, nor any of us know if we will be around to see through the full year 2019; not even if one were young and in the pink of health.

What have we accomplished in 2018?

Albert Einstein once wrote, “Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.”

Things that can be counted relate to things material such as money, property, and anything that has monetary value. Ask any materially wealthy but wise person, and he will confirm that the best things in life are not measured by the luxuries one enjoys, like money, houses, cars, clothing, accessories, travel, etc.

He will say that things which count are those which hold importance – like family, friends, character development, spiritual growth, values treasured and lived, fulfillment of one’s life purposes, one’s reputation, good health, and other uncountable but valuable attributes, pursuits, experiences and relationships.

Did we use our time wisely in 2018?

Will we do better in 2019?

My dearest Michael, family and friends,

Another year has passed so quickly. Looking back, though I spent more time engrossed with things that could be counted, what has challenged me more and bothered me more were the things that could not be counted.

Are you facing a crisis? A challenge, or a major problem?

When God wants to change us, he starts by getting our attention. He could put us in a frustrating situation that is completely beyond our control.

We could be put in an uncomfortable situation that makes us feel frustrated, miserable or discontented. He disrupts. Then, when we feel helpless, we are motivated to let God do something in our lives.

Actually, this was what a spiritual advisor, Sister Becky of Puso ng Carmelo, told me recently. She said God was purifying me with my concerns. He was letting me realize that I was not in control of my life and of many things and situations I am faced with. My own efforts were not enough, nor were they fruitful. I needed God!

To complement her advices, let me share what Rick Warren says about changing ourselves.

1. Confess

For God to change us, we need to honestly face and admit our faults, sins, weakness and mistakes. Actually, God knows all our faults without us having to tell Him.

But confessing our sins is humbling. And for Catholics, it is much more so when we admit it to a priest, a fellow human being, in the sacrament of confession.

Seeking outside help, like seeing a spiritual counselor, is a humbling and enlightening experience. It gives us a new wholesome and healthy perspective. Often, God speaks thru them, and He gives us the resources to help us change for the better.

We either learn the lesson now, or we learn it in the future, the harder and painful way.

2. Commit

We should be committed to the appropriate course of action. It could be to persist and persevere, and not give up.

Or, in my case, to “Withdraw, let go, and let God.”

That is the commitment I need to work on.

Our attitudes, actions, fears and weaknesses and ways of responding to others, including family members, have taken years to develop, and sometimes God chooses to slowly remove them, layer by layer.

Have faith, Michael! There is hope.

Prov. 16:3 says, “Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will succeed”.

2. Cooperate

Willpower alone does not make permanent changes in our lives, as it is

attacking the outward circumstances. What makes the permanent changes is the internal motivation, and that is what God works on.

God often puts an obvious weakness in people whom he blesses, and often the weakness is some kind of physical or mental weakness.

Work with God. Bring Him in to provide positive change!

This 2019 Michael,

Pray! Listen! Confess! Commit! Cooperate!