Change

Yesterday, I ride the bus again with the “sour driver” after the last incident. I get in the bus and said “good morning!” and biting her tongue she said “good morning.” When I get out of the bus I said “thank you” and with her mouth close she said “your welcome.” Today, I ride the bus again with her and do the same, when I get out of the bus she at least open her mouth to says “you welcome,” that is a progress.

I have been so busy with school, no time for me or for anything, even when I went for a mini vacation to Tybee Island this past weekend; I was doing homework and study! I guess that are sacrifices that I need to make to be able to reach my dreams and change the course of my life.  With so many readings, I learn something different of what I have heard from everybody.  Must people think, especially older people that they cannot change, and is not true.  The truth is that people can change not matter the age. People generally do not decide be more patient or be more organized out of the blue, they decide to change because they are going through pain, suffering, grief, rejection, and many other feelings.

There are good changes like wanting know and feel closer to God and bad changes like decide not to believe in God anymore. It is in each and every one of us decide if we need to change, decide what change we want to make, and learn how to get to that point. Change is a process full of hope, if we don’t have hope we will never change. Also, is a process that takes time and effort from us to make happened. Have you realize what would you like to change in yourself or in your life?

1 Timothy 4:8-11

 While physical training has some value, training in holy living is useful for everything. It has promise for this life now and the life to come. This saying is reliable and deserves complete acceptance. We work and struggle for this: “Our hope is set on the living God, who is the savior of all people, especially those who believe.” Command these things. Teach them.

Big Hug,
MRM

Visit

Yesterday, I visit a friend that recently lost her fiancé in a motorcycle accident. As I was driving there I start thinking, what I can tell her? I definitely cannot say, “I know what are going through” because is not true, that never happened to me. I could say, “I am sorry” but that will be sound like empty. I keep thinking what I can tell her to try to make her feel better, without smash up her feelings more than I guess already are.  As I arrive to her house, I was even afraid to hug her too hard (she was in the accident too). As we sat and talk, I can see her emptiness from her lost, but also I can see a lot of love. She has so much love to give. I see strength and hope in her. I am guessing she is a very strong woman and even she told me, God do not give us things that we cannot handle, and she is right. Just be there with her helps her a lot, but what she doesn’t know is that being there with her help me a lot too!

We sometimes try to find pretty words to tell other people, but the real thing is that there some occasions that with our presence, words are not necessary. I believe that things always happened for a good reason, no matter how difficult or hard to understand can be the situation, there is always a good reason, even if is a lesson that we need to learn. I believe God have big plans for each of us, but if we don’t give Him time (something very hard for me), we do not give the chance to God to work on us, and sometime we made wrong decision that backward that big plans from God. The best thing is that God make one day after the other, so if today I did something wrong or make a wrong choice, there is always a tomorrow to fix it and start all over again.

I pray for my friend that God may keep giving her strength and hope in her life, so she can keep living in His faith and taking care of her precious kids that need her so much.

Psalm 39:7

⁷ And now, Lord, what do I wait for and expect? My hope and expectation are in You.


Big Hug,
MRM

Your Life

The other day, I was taking my kids to school in the morning. In front of us was a car and in front of that car there was a school bus. The school bus makes a stop in an entrance street to pick up kids. In that entrance there were a car that was dropping off kids to get up in the bus. When the school bus left, the car that drops off kids was waiting for someone give pass so she can entrance to the road. There was a long line of car since we all were waiting for the kids to get in the school bus. The car in front of me passes. I stop and give her pass. My youngest son says “hey! Why you let her pass mami?” I tell him that if I were she I would like someone let me pass. Then he replies, “but the car in the front don’t let her pass why you let her pass?” I explain my son that not because the car in the front do not let her pass means that I should not let her pass. I repeat to him. You should treat other as you like others treat you. If you would like someone give you pass you have to give pass.

Some people think that whatever other people do is what they should do.  Other people think; why I should do “X” or “Y” thing if other people do not do it? Another bunch of people think, I will not do “X” or “Y” thing because other people said “X” or “Y” thing but do the opposite of what they said. Lets put to this tongue twister some examples. The first example, if I see my co-workers that take longer time for lunch and nobody said anything to them, I can do it too. The second example, I do not help my neighbor because they said that this is a nice community where we care about everybody, but in here nobody helps each other. The third example, why I should go to church if the people that go to church still doing bad thing when they get out of church, even the pastors!

We go through life checking other people business. We like to imitate what they have or do. We should no live or judge other people actions, we should just check all the time what we do and what we don’t. We should judge good and bad actions that we do. Our relationship with God is unique, why I have to check what my neighbor is doing?  When we are checking other people lives, we are loosing our life trying to live someone else life. We have to stop looking at others and start looking at us. What good I have done today? What bad thing I did today that needs to be fixed?

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

⁹ You don’t need us to write about loving your brothers and sisters because God has already taught you to love each other. ¹⁰ In fact, you are doing loving deeds for all the brothers and sisters throughout Macedonia. Now we encourage you, brothers and sisters, to do so even more. ¹¹ Aim to live quietly, mind your own business, and earn your own living, just as I told you. ¹² That way you’ll behave appropriately toward outsiders, and you won’t be in need.

Big Hug,

MRM

Love...

^“ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40). I will not get tired of repeating this. Jesus let us this two commandments for a reason, and I believe that reason is to help us to avoid commit so many injustices, be mean with other people, avoid confrontations, avoid be mad at others, etc, etc. Why for some people is so hard to love other people? Why is so hard to be nice and kind with others? I am 100% sure that if every single people of this planet apply this two commandments in their life, there will be less social problems, less family problems, less evil things around us.

This entire introduction has a reason of course. I ride public transportation almost every morning. My bus gets out at 7:00 am sharp. Yesterday, I stop at the supermarket to buy couple of things and take out my wallet. When I get home I put my wallet on the table so I can see it and take it in the morning. The morning came and even that I saw the wallet I can swear I took it but looks like I don’t. Well when I get on the bus my card was short for one dollar. I tell the driver that I forgot my wallet and ask her if I can pay the dollar next week. First she noodle her head and make the noise like saying “no way” then she tell me just go and sit, really mad like I was owning her a lot of money. As I was walking to my sit she accelerate the bus really hard, and I could say that was on purpose, but I won’t. When I arrive to my bus stop she tells me to swipe me card again, I said sure but I was not thinking malicious like she was. She want that I swipe the card so I will charge three dollars again, so I paid six dollars for one way when for seven I can have the round trip. I tell her, that she just make me use my trip for the afternoon and she just make a gesture that like saying “I don’t care.” The funny thing is that on Monday I paid seven dollar for just one way because I did not use the trip back and give them three extra dollars.

This lady is the same one with I took the bus every morning. She is the kind of person that hate her job and just work because need money. At least that is what she reflects.  She doesn’t said good morning if you don’t say it first. She don’t say have a good day or anything that can represent kindness. I know that I mistaken when I forget my wallet but was for just one dollar. I did not try to ride for free. After getting out of the bus, walking to my job I was thinking “what a way to start the day, I will not ride the bus again” but then I realize that I need to keep riding the bus even that I don’t like her. Then I think instead of act like her in the mornings, I will have my happiest face every morning for her and from time to time will bring some candy for her to see if that add some sweetness in her life.

Matthew 5:43-48

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Big Hug,

MRM

More From Yesterday...

Yesterday, I was writing about commitment, and I stay thinking (really?) about the topic. I start wondering what can help me to be more committing to the things that I want? Things like, do more exercises, eat more healthy, spend more time with my kids, be more organize at home, have better relationship with family and friends, and the most important thing, how I can feel closer to God? As I was reading one of the responds of yesterday blog that said, “Now a commitment is something you avoid” this is true we conscious or unconscious avoid commitment to all cost. Why? Because require sacrifices and time from us, two things that I know, we do not like to give or do. “We don't want to be stuck going to services all the time, or having to follow all the rules. We don't want to commit to God. We'll take him when we need him, or when things are going good” I bet anything that this statement can be applied to the 99% of people, Christian believes or not believers.

So, this morning at work, I was making some coffee and one guy say hi to me, he said, “hi Michele, how are you today?” I just respond “I could be better if I was home doing nothing!” then hit me, why I said that? Instead, I could said, “Good! Thanks to God, even that I which be home doing nothing” You see the difference? If I can commit to include God in all of my responses, maybe I can start be more commit to Him, because will be easier. I will start getting use too the idea of His existence in my life, because I open the doors for Him to enter. God loves us so much, but also, He respect us very much, so if you do not give Him permission to be part of your life, He will not be part of your life, free will!

I believe, that commitment it is hard, but also, can give us a lot more than hard time. Could give happiness, healthier habits, better communication, stability, better mood, and many other positive feelings in our lives. Why you don’t give it a try? I am going to try it, because, I want to feel better, happier, and positive in every aspect of my life. Is not easy and will not change overnight, but I am sure that I will see the positives results soon if I just commit.

Romans 8:28

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.


Big Hug,
MRM

Commitment

Last night, in our meeting we were discussing commitment. What a big word! I think that is a word that scare to many people and a word that many do not know the real meaning. We commit to our works, because we get up everyday and go to work, most of the time without excuses. We commit to our hunger because, we eat everyday with out any excuses, and sometime we eat more than we should! We commit to our exhaustion because we go to sleep everyday. We commit to God because…

Commitment is equal to action and sacrifices. Have you ever think about what are yours commitments in life? Do you really commit to them? I can tell that I am not a person of commitments, but also, I know there is hope that I will get better on this if I really put myself in too. I believe that with lots and lots of prayers you and me can reach the goal of true commitment in our lifes.

Do we really commit to God? Or do we make excuses to not commit to Him? I can give you couple of examples of excuses to not commit to God; “I am too tired” “I do not believe God have time for me” “I am too busy” “God do not listen to me because I do not get what I want” “I do not like commitments” and so on, you can add to that list more of your favorites one too. If you think you fulfill with your commitment with God because you go to church every Sunday, I do not believes that is completely true. We can do more than that. God commit to us 7/24 no matter what is the reason, He will be there for you and for me, are we there for Him?

Romans 12:2

² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Big Hug,

MRM

Religion

This past week, I have been working in a project for my school about my roots (ancestors). It is so interesting learn so many new things from my culture, and is so amazing realize why I behave the way I do because of my “roots.” I went back in time when in my country Puerto Rico were only Indians (Tainos). I learn about their religion and they beliefs. Also, I learn about my half part of my roots from Dominican Republic, how many people back in time believe in “curanderas” healers to relief’s pains. They visit them often to find cure.

I start thinking about how religion has evolution with time. How the beliefs change according the era were people live. More than 500 years ago Indians used to belief that the sun, moon, the rain, and other nature things were gods. More than 100 years ago people beliefs in witch or healers to relief their pain or to find themselves.  What we belief today? Most of the people beliefs in God, Jesus Christ, but with continue human evolution some people belief have been changing like the scientology the new religion of the millennium.

What I am 100% sure is that I do not know anything about true religion, and that I belief in Jesus Christ as my savior, as other people belief in other saviors. No one has the absolute truth and everybody those. Yesterday at mass when the father were consecrating the body and blood of Christ he said something that every priest have been saying every time they consecrate the body and blood of Christ; “This is the mystery of faith” and yes that is a mystery. I think that every religion, faith or beliefs should have the same law or rule; lover each other and do not harm you neighbor. I believe that if everybody follows that rule the world will be a better place.

 Zechariah 7:9-10

"Thus speak the Lord of hosts, saying, ‘Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother. And oppress not the widow nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart."

Big Hug,
MRM