Re-union

I put at dash at the word "reunion" to emphasize how important this meeting was.

This afternoon I met with my old friend Ana. This meeting has been planned repeatedly and even got postponed when we lost confirmation when my cellphone signal went dead. So we reset the meeting after a month and finally we sat down over frapuccinos (coffee jelly for me :)). The rest of my family joined later and we had a fruitful exchange of updates that we hoped we had more time.

Ana was a classmate from Kindergarten to High School. We never got together in same barkada but occasionally went to the same sleep-overs with common friends. In high school I came to know the Lord and most of our fun times together were spent in youth camps and church events. After college we have gotten closer when we were already working in the same networking company. I even stood as a godmother to one of her daughters.

After some circumstances that separated us (busyness at work, mostly), we were content with only occasional updates.

What impacts me recently (meaning for the last 5 years)is getting good reports from her which speaks highly of her testimony. I am amazed at how God worked in her family and personal life. She is candid in sharing how much she and her husband learned from the challenges that they faced in business, in family testings. Her life story will make a great MMK episode or even a teleserye. Its core shows God's faithfulness and grace. It encourages us to have them urge us to pursue our love for the nations.

So I am excited every time we plan to meet and to hear updates from her. Of what the Lord is doing lately through them. She is passionate, bold and a natural leader. Her husband has a big heart! And together they face persecutions, more challenges and hopeful expectations for the future.

I am expectant of our next re-unions.

Enduring Birth Pains

Labor has begun. There is a combination of emotions for the parents-to be. The anticipation of the birth of their child is exciting. The first eye-to-eye contact with the baby is priceless.

I am teaching first-time parents to prepare for childbirth. My husband and I gave birth to our two children by Lamaze. He was very much involved in the labor and delivery of our babies as my labor coach.

Last week's culmination of a birth-class and another couple halfway on the course, as well as a baby shower I hosted last week for one of the ladies in our small group, got me thinking of another birthing process my family will soon experience in the place God has given us.

Pain is real in birthing. Just like the woman who will soon experience pain when contractions start to come as her labor begins, I expect that we will also experience the "birthing pains" such as discomforts, confusion, the feeling of "losing it" (which pregnant moms in labor feel during the transition phase in labor), and discouragement. And while delivering mothers feel impatient when the baby does not come out yet after an exerted effort while "pushing", I know there will also be times of impatience, long waiting and hopelessness when nothing seems to happen despite all the “pushing” being exerted.

These all sound too negative!

But just like in Lamaze birth, there are comfort measures to counter-act the pain and all the negative feelings.

One major comfort measure is breathing properly and using different kinds of breathing for every stage and phase of labor.

Our God is a breath of fresh air. The Holy Spirit is likened to the wind. When we ”breathe” Him, we will be refreshed, renewed. As the supply of oxygen is replenished every time we breathe, God will also restore blessings, provisions and eliminate stress and worry.

Even writing this realization is like fresh air to me. As we face the challenges of preparing for birthing, I can say, “You are the air I breathe!” and suddenly, inhaling Him deeply releases any tension or stress that get in the way. Just like how the supply of oxygen works to refresh the brain to eliminate any stresses, toxins in the body and lets all organs of the body function well, God’s supply of air will fill my mind and heart with His provision, wisdom and power to carry out His will and see its fruition.

With God’s strength, focus and hardwork I can say that every birth is welcome with delight and joy. It is a special gift.