BidVertiser

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Happy Birthday Ysabella!

To my cute and pretty niece, Ysabella, who always has a special place in my heart, Happy 1st birthday! I hope I'm there to celebrate the one year of happiness and blessings we have all experienced since you came into our lives. May you grow to be a God-fearing, family-loving and good person. Enjoy your party!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Sunday Blues

It's Sunday once again. And this day marks my 31st Sunday without going to church. This is why I couldn't help wishing for a more lenient and open city where freedom from all religions is practiced and allowed. But I know it's highly impossible for this country had existed for decades already, and they kept their system as it is from the start, and consistently too.

Sunday in Riyadh is just like any other weekdays. They have a different calendar here with regards to the working and rest schedules. Thursdays and Fridays are considered to be weekends as analogous to the Saturdays and Sundays of most Christian countries. That's the reason why these two days are considered to be family days. Singles, or more particularly, males without families are not allowed to enter the malls. In these days also, malls are crowded with families as well as single ladies. Most offices and clinics here are also close every Friday.

Every Sunday I can't avoid feeling lonely because I really miss going to church and being blessed by hearing some good news from the minister's sermon. I know that I can always worship God anytime and anywhere, but worshiping as a part of the congregation is much better.

Likewise, much to my dismay, I have eaten dinner all alone just awhile ago. After waiting for my husband all day, now I don't have someone to chat with. Hubby is sound asleep from his long and tiring day, and I don't have a heart to wake him up to dine with me.

Actually, this is my usual Sunday and I'm quite used to it. I just have to remind myself everytime I feel blue that this is a strange country and I just have to bear with them and their culture in order to sanely survive my stay. 

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

To Do or Not To Do

I just read an article today about a guy who had just stepped in the most important crossroads of his life. He just gotten a girl pregnant. The sad thing is that she is not his official girlfriend. Naturally, the guy is confused. Does he have to marry her even if he's not truly in loved with her? or will he just support the baby without marrying its mother? If he choose the second option, he thinks he just have saved the three of them from a lifetime but loveless commitment. So, I guess he's now off for the latter option.

These have bothered me a lot. So what must be done? At least, what's the right way? I believe, it's the right thing to marry the girl and give the baby a name and complete family. But, the biggest dilemma is what if the marriage will not work? What if marrying each other is the last thing that should be done? Is love a skill that can be developed? Or can it be learned? Why did the physical relationship that has lead to conception of the child happen anyway?

As for me, if the couple is not really sure of their feelings, they should not marry. If they have committed a mistake by involving to a physical relationship and betraying the guy's girlfriend, they have left with no choice but to bear the consequences of their actions. But marrying each other for the sake of the baby and no other else is definitely not the answer. Marriage is a lifetime commitment. It means when two individuals commit with each other and make it known to the world, there's no turning back. Even, if annulment and divorce are allowed by man, their union is irrevocable in God's presence. If they can be sure that they can give their baby and their future home the love that they deserve, then, they should marry. But if they are uncertain, then, they should refrain from having a loveless home. All they must do is to give the baby the support and the love it needs even with their separate lives.

Its just so sad that it happened. However, it isn't the end of the world for the two of them. Their future definitely lies on the intelligent decision that they will coming up today. I just wish they will choose what's best for all of them.    

Saturday, March 6, 2010

A Mother's Love

I just spent my afternoon yesterday watching a drama anthology thru The Filipino Channel . For Filipinos, it is popularly known as "Maalaala Mo Kaya" or MMK. It is a very well known program that features real life stories of people from all walks of life and has been on air for more than a decade.

Actually, the episode which was entitled "Regalo" (or Gift in English) was already aired in the past but I only had the chance of seeing it yesterday. The story was mainly focused on  the mother's effort and struggle to train and guide her child with cerebral palsy. I was really touched by the story for it mainly features the unfailing love of parents, particularly of a mother despite of all the discouraging circumstances. The child's condition which had caused her physical disability didn't discourage the mother to stop on dreaming and struggling to give her child a normal life. For me, the story as a whole, have justified the greatness of motherhood.  

Our Mother's love is indeed lasting and unconditional. It often exceeds other kinds of love for it originated from the oneness of a mother and her child in her own womb. It is the kind that sacrifices and even gives all that it has. Others may not even understand it at all, but it is often appreciated by those who have actual experiences. And as for me, I always find it amazing. Our Mothers actually deserve the highest regards among all other professions that have existed.