A Woman Perseveres

A woman respects the main teaching of the I Ching: “To persevere is favorable.”

She knows that perseverance is not the same thing as insistence.

Insistence has some skewed motives, trying to force something to materialize even when circumstances would not allow it to. Insistence too has a taint of selfish manipulations. While perseverance has in it two strong virtues – of determination and commitment – trying to achieve self-actualization, capitalizing on own strengths, and dancing with the cosmos, gyrating with its beat to encourage the stars shine on her side.

And when she realizes that her struggles go on longer and her burdens get heavier than necessary, draining her of strength and enthusiasm, the Woman thinks: “A prolonged tussle and burdened heart finally destroys the victorious soul too.”

Then she withdraws her forces from the reality’s arena and allows herself a breathing space, letting a pint of craziness take over her sanity – that kind of spontaneity a child is made of – because she knows that only a child’s perspective can rejuvenate her strength and enthusiasm to face life.

However, the space she allows herself does not dampen her desires to win in her struggles. This space becomes her avenue to persevere with her dreams but she knows she must wait for the best moment to pursue her star.

A Woman always returns to the fray. She never does so out of arrogance or self-satisfaction, but because she has noticed with her gift of intuitive sensitivity a change in the weather, and that her stars have gathered around her own beat.

Sing Me Your Song Mommy

Sing me your song Mommy

your version of Brahms’ lullaby

embrace me tenderly

until with the birds I fly.

Sing me your song Mommy

your rendition of “I Love You Song”

even better than that of Barney

until the angels hum along.

Sing me your song Mommy

sing the song in your heart

I want to see you smile so sweetly

like clouds, a sugar-coated tart.

Sing me your song Mommy

sing me with daffodils in your ear

I will listen to you intently

like lilies kiss the water dear.

Sing me your song Mommy

let’s dance to its every tune

and in your arms you carry me

until darkness pleases the moon.

Sing me your song Mommy

let your music tug along dreamers

and fill our senses with the scent of a daisy

until the sun breaks our slumbers.

Happy Mother's Day to all great Moms out there! -- Moms who never stop giving even when they have given more than their cups could fill...

Greetings from the Josue family!

Reposted: CABAnata, July 3, 2007

A Teacher's Prayer

Loving God, our Father

We thank you for giving us a share

in the teaching ministry of Your Son, Jesus Christ.

Through Your Spirit dwelling in us,

strengthen us to carry out the service of love

with joy, perseverance and dedication.

Help us realize that our work has a place in Your purpose

so that we may go about it

with sense of responsibility and enthusiasm.

When results are disappointing

and we cannot see the expected outcome of our task

help us not to be discouraged;

Give us faith to find meaning in it all.

Father, in our desire for efficiency and competence,

help us to be patient

when things are slow to happen.

Give us an understanding heart

to respond to the cheerful ones,

the lonely and the frightened,

the difficult and the stubborn;

Let us reassure them of Your love,

through our gentleness and kindness.

Thus, by Your love transparent in our person,

may we be Your instruments

drawing our pupils and students into fullness of life,

and may we be their companions and co-missionaries

in transforming this world of love, hope and peace.

AMEN.

This is the prayer by all the Educators during this school year's Closing Program for Grade 6 pupils and Graduation of the IV year students last March 26 and 27, 2008 respectively in the academic institution I belong. I hope that through this prayer, I am able to share a part of my vocation to all of you who happen to drop by my site. For I believe that through the teaching ministry of Christ of which I am a part of, I can, in my own little words and ways make a difference in the lives of others.

To all Batch 2008 Graduates: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Go... Build Communities of Love Through Servant Leadership!

Eight Lies of A Mother

Mothers always lie..........

This story begins when I was a child:

I was born poor. Often we hadn't enough to eat. Whenever we had some food, Mother often gave me her portion of rice. While she was transferring her rice into my bowl, she would say, "Eat this rice, son! I'm not hungry."

This was Mother's First Lie.

As I grew, Mother gave up her spare time to fish in a river near our house; she hoped that from the fish she caught, she could gave me a little bit more nutritious food for my growth. Once she had caught just two fishes, she would make fish soup. While I was eating the soup, Mother would sit beside me and eat what was still left on the bone of the fish I had eaten. My heart was touched when I saw it. Once I gave the other fish to her on my chopstick but she immediately refused it and said, "Eat this fish, son! I don'treally like fish."

This was Mother's Second Lie.

Then, in order to fund my education, Mother went to a Match Factory to bring home some used matchboxes which she filled with fresh matchsticks.This helped her get some money to cover our needs. One wintry night I awoke to find Mother filling the matchboxes by candlelight. So I said,"Mother, go to sleep; it's late. You can continue working tomorrow morning. "Mother smiled and said, "Go to sleep, son! I'm not tired."

This was Mother'sThird Lie.

When I had to sit my Final Examination, Mother accompanied me. Afterdawn, Mother waited for me for hours in the heat of the sun. When the bell rang, I ran to meet her. Mother embraced me and poured me a glass of tea that she had prepared in a thermos. The tea was not as strong as my Mother's love. Seeing Mother covered with perspiration, I at once gave her my glass and asked her to drink too. Mother said "Drink, son! I'm not thirsty!"

This was Mother's Fourth Lie.

After Father's death, Mother had to play the role of a single parent. She held on to her former job; she had to fund our needs alone. Our family's life was more complicated. We suffered from starvation. Seeing our family's condition worsening, my kind Uncle who lived near my house came to help us solve our problems big and small. Our other neighbors saw that we were poverty stricken so they often advised my mother to marry again. But Mother refused to remarry saying "I don't need love."

This was Mother's Fifth Lie.

After I had finished my studies and gotten a job, it was time for my old Mother to retire but she carried on going to the market every morning just to sell a few vegetables. I kept sending her money but she was steadfast and even sent the money back to me. She said, "I have enough money."

That was Mother's Sixth Lie.

I continued my part-time studies for my Master's Degree. Funded by the American Corporation for which I worked. I succeeded in my studies. With a big jump in my salary, I decided to bring Mother to enjoy life in America but Mother didn't want to bother her son; she said to me "I'm not used to high living."

That was Mother's Seventh Lie.

In her old age, Mother was attacked by cancer and had to be hospitalized. Now living far across the ocean, I went home to visit Mother who was bed ridden after an operation. Mother tried to smile but I was heart broken because she was so thin and feeble but Mother said, "Don't cry, son! I'm not in pain."

That was Mother's Eighth Lie.

Telling me her eighth lie, she died.

YES, MOTHER WAS AN ANGEL!

M - O - T - H - E - R

"M" is for the million things she gave me,

"O" means only that she's growing old,

"T" is for the tears she shed to save me,

"H" is for her heart of gold,

"E" is for her eyes with love-light shining in them,

"R" means right, and right she'll always be.

Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER" -- a word that means the world to me.

For those of you who are lucky to be still blessed with your Mom's presence on Earth, this story is beautiful. For those who aren't so blessed, this is even more beautiful.

And shall I say, painful; because this reminded me of my own Mother who was so selfless and died of Cancer, too almost four years ago.

To Maricel who forwarded me this short story, thank you. Words are not enough to express my gratitude of the gift of friendship.

A Mother's Wisdom: A Carrot, An Egg and A Cup of Coffee

A carrot, an egg and a cup of coffee... You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and howthings were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make itand wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water andplaced each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second, she placed eggs, and in the last, sheplaced ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placedthem in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asks, "Tell me what you see."

"Carrots, eggs and coffee," she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sittingthrough the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" She asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a break-up, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside, am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water,the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, itreleases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level.

How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make youstrong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

It's easier to build a child than repair an adult.

This is so true - may we all be a COFFEE BEAN!

SISTERS!

This is for all the GIRLS!

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. Asthey talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter. “Don't forget your Sisters,” she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. “They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need Sisters. Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them.””Remember that 'Sisters' means ALL the women... your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other women relatives too. You'll need other women. Women always do.”

“What a funny piece of advice!” the young woman thought. Haven't I just gotten married? “Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grown-up! Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!”

But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact with her Sisters and made more women friends each year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about. As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, Sisters are the mainstays of her life.

After more than 50 years of living in this world, these say it all:

Time passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Men don't do what they're supposed to do.
Hearts break.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.

BUT.........

Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach. When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end. Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...Or come in and carry you out. Girl-friends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, mothers, grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life!The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other.

Thank you so much to the following SISTERS in my life:

Mama, not here present with me but I know is somewhere among the heavens watching over me.

Lolas, for making me look forward to graciously age with time.

Auntie Cely and Auntie Lita, for being just an email away.

Auntie Grace, for being just a thought away.

Auntie Dina and Auntie Lib, for being just a text away.

Auntie Tarcela, for being just a prayer away.

Nanay, for the patience.

Ate Arjo and Ate Leah, my sisters-in-law, for being available all the time.

Ate Imelda, for the listening ear.

Armila, for just looking at me when I cry. (And cry later… when I’m not looking.)

Gracia and Judelyn, my high school buddies, for just being there.

Macel, for uplifting my spirit.

Tata and Issa, my college sentimental pals, for always making your presence be felt.

Ate Arnila and Ate Flor, for the laughs.

Ate Chai and Ate Rosabel, for challenging me to be great educators like you.

Ma’am Naoe, for the inspiration. (I swear, I will put up my school for kids with special needs.)

Bea and Gaby, my beautiful and wonderful daughters, for making my day.

**Just a NOTE: For more than a couple of weeks not blogging, here’s what I learned: “I easily cry.”

What a Woman Really Wants?

Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighboring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him but was moved by Arthur's youthful happiness. So he offered him freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur, would have a year to figure out the answer. If, after a year, he still had no answer, he would be killed.

The question was: What do women really want? Such a question would have perplexed even the most knowledgeable man, and, to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query. Since it was better than death, however, he accepted the monarch's proposition to have an answer by year's end.

He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everybody; the princess, the prostitutes, priests, the wise men, and the court jester. In all, he spoke with everyone but no one could give him a satisfactory answer. What most people did tell him was to consult the old witch, as only she would know the answer. The price would be high as the witch was famous for the exorbitant prices she charged.

The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no alternative but to talk to the witch. She agreed to answer his question, but he'd have to accept her price; the old witch wanted to marry Gawain, the most noble of the Knights of the Round table and Arthur's closest friend! Young Arthur was horrified, she was hunchbacked and awfully hideous, had only one tooth, smelled like a sewer and often made obscene noises. He had never run across such a repugnant creature. He refused to force his friend to marry her and to have to endure such a burden.

Gawain upon learning of the proposal, spoke with Arthur. He told him that nothing was too big a sacrifice compared to Arthur's life and the preservation of the Round table. Hence, their wedding was proclaimed, and the witch answered Arthur's question.

What a woman really wants is to be able to be in charge of her own life.

Everyone instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth and that Arthur's life would be spared. And so it went. The neighboring monarch spared Arthur's life and granted him total freedom.

What a wedding Gawain and the witch had! Arthur was torn between relief and anguish. Gawain was proper as always, gentle and courteous. The old witch put her worst manners on display. She ate with her hands, belched and farted, and made everyone uncomfortable. The wedding night approached: Gawain, steeling himself for a horrific night, entered the bedroom. What a sight awaited! The most beautiful woman he'd ever seen lay before him! Gawain was astounded and asked what had happened.

The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her when she'd been a witch, half the time she would be her horrible, deformed self. And the other half, she would be her beautiful maiden self. Which would,he want her to be during the day and which during the night? What a cruel question! Gawain began to think of his predicament.
During the day a beautiful woman to show off to his friends, but at night, in the privacy of his home, an old spooky witch? Or would he prefer having by day a hideous witch, but by night a beautiful woman to enjoy many intimate moments.

What would you do?

What Gawain chose follows below, but don't read until

you've

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Noble Gawain replied that he would let her choose for herself.

Upon hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all the time, because he had respected her and had let her be in charge of her own life.

What is the moral of the story?

The moral is that it doesn't matter if a woman is pretty or ugly, smart or dumb. Underneath it all, she's still a . . . . . witch!!!


- Author Unknown




I think this story is funny yet inspiring to all the women out there. This is an "icebreaker" from my usual entry on Woman: Salt of the Earth and Light of the World.

To the men:

Call us witches but in the end you will realize "You love us more than you realize you can love someone else... other than the witches in us."

Girl power?

Woman empowerment!!!

A Wise Woman's Stone

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.

"I've been thinking," he said, "I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me something more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone.

- Author Unknown

I was searching for some short stories for Ma’am Nora Gundran, the Coordinator of Student Behaviors in our school which she will use in her pep talk two weeks from now when I landed on http://www.yuni.com/library and saw this story.

Before I go any further, Mommy G is not just an ordinary personnel in school, but she is one mother I consider like my own, too. We have shared a lot of fun times together, so are tearful moments. This school year is her last year as a teacher because she’s about to retire. This school year is also my last school year in the institution I consider my home because I shall seek a teaching career in special education in another institution, of which I hope would be as warm as the home I have with my present school.

After reading this short story, I can hear myself sobbing like a child whose balloon has flown with the wind – no returning.

I am heading off too. Away from the school that has taught me a lot of things -- from professional skills to work ethics to being human.

“Solid Christian foundation, imbued with a sense of mission and service orientation.”

This is always the beginner’s quote I utter everytime we conduct admission promotion outside the campus. I shall no longer say this in the same event, but I will say this a million times in my thoughts and teach my children, grandchildren and other’s children about the essence of being alive.

Indeed, I will be bringing these precious stones with me, but I know in my heart, the core of the wealth is not in the teachings and ideals I have gained with the school. The real wealth is within each people that make up the institution -- their own humanity that they share with one another, to the school and to the community.

I seal this entry with my tears and my hopeful heart, that wherever I may be, I can share the untarnished wealth the good Lord has endowed me, polished in the school I consider my home.

A Woman's Light

The Woman more often fights with those she loves than with those she does not care about.

The Woman who shields her love ones is never overthrown by the turmoil of living. Her light is strong enough to shine through thick clouds of struggles and shares that light to others.

She, however, is often confronted with inevitable circumstances humans call trials but for her is just a variety of blessings. She tries to transfer these thoughts to her kin, that when her soul may part from her body, somebody else’s light will continue to scintillate. In so doing, she inflames her family and friends into discussion. Mind versus mind. View versus view. Until her mind is no longer hers but her family’s. Until her view is no longer just her own, but her friends’, too.

The Woman establishes her stand and proves her worth through her words, every inch manifested in the life that she lives. And everything follows. Every piece fall into their right destined places.

“Why do you take the trouble in doing that?” asks a bystander, “When the world is a many-faceted evil. What you do is just a grain in a vast ground.”

“Indeed I am just a grain but I belong to a greater ground. If I would just expose myself into the heat without using this heat to transform me into something of greater value, then you shall not be wearing that diamond necklace.”, replies the Woman.

Silence…

Then she added, “And Sir, hope you do know that minerals form in mass that starts in a single grain sharing to its neighboring grain the power of the heat.”

A Woman's Status

There was once a visitor who had been to the same barrio five years back. He wanted to see for himself the progress and processes of rural development. For many years, he had donated money to his favorite village projects. It was natural he would spend a full day visiting the farmers and hearing accounts of their achievements.

At the end of the day, the visitor left even more convinced and thoroughly impressed. He especially liked the self-help dimension and the evident pride exuded by the farmers. Income had doubled over the years. The people’s economic organization enabled them to manage their own credit, consumers and marketing needs.

There is only one thing the visitor found unacceptable during that visit. The status of women was below his expected standards. The women took second-class position yet they were as able and as hardworking. There was not a single woman among the leadership structures of the barangay council and the cooperatives. The visitor was particularly turned-off when he observed women walking a few feet behind their husband on the way to the farm.

It was natural that on the second visit, he looked for any change in the role of women. True, the economic and health aspects continued to advance. But it was the improvement in the position of women he keenly observed.

As the visitor strolled the familiar main road, he noted a farmer and his wife walking towards the wide path leading to the rice fields. He could not believe what he saw. The woman was actually walking in front of her husband. She was at least ten feet ahead. A sight unseen in the past and not heard of in all the years.

The visitor approached the farmer who trailed behind. “Hey, women have come a long way in their status. Why, your wife actually walks ahead of you now where before she had to walk behind as a sign of submission and difference to macho man.”

“Well, yes, my wife now has to walk ahead of me,” responded the farmer almost meekly.

“That is great!” said the visibly pleased visitor.

The farmer thought for a while and added, “Yes, she now walks ahead because recently, rebel bandits left behind a number of land mines and other booby traps.”



Now how about you, have you treated women you meet the same way as the farmer treats his wife? Hope not.

A Woman's View

The Woman says, “Life makes an excellent mirror.”

Then she heads on to meet people from all walks of life. Never judgmental. Never arrogant. Never proud.

When people spit on her head, she just wipes the slime and moves on. When kids run over her feet, she just leans over to remove the dust on her sandals. When other ladies look at her with envy and contempt, she just looks back at them and smiles warmly. When men stare at her with passion and exaggerated lust, she just bows her head and whisper to God, “Thank you for beauty.”

The Woman never fails to see beyond what is physical. She even uses the flaws of others to clean her own. She uses her impurities to wash the total wreckage evil have set forth amidst her.

The Woman never allows others to humiliate her, especially her opponents, though she does not regard them as such despite their causing her some trouble, for she walks in dignity even when she feels incapable.

But in the end, which she knows in her heart, she can summon her confidence and wisdom to view the world in its finest form even when its inhabitants say, “This is what you call life? It sucks!”

She would just repeat to herself, “Life makes an excellent mirror.”

And let me add, “What thou sow with life; though shall reap.”

A Woman's Greater Love

An article in National Geographic provided a penetrating picture of love in the extreme.

After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno’s damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree.

Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother’s wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise.

She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. When the blaze had arrived and the heat had singed her small body, the mother had remained steadfast. Because she had been willing to die, those under the cover of her wings would live.

Indeed, a Woman across cultures and across species has this kind of love far greater than an earthly love we can imagine possibly existing.

Hail to the Woman who imbibes this greater love!

A Woman's Pain

An unknown woman in the Ravensbruck consecration camp wrote this little prayer and pinned it to the dead body of a little girl. I would like to share her prayer:

Oh Lord, remember not only the men and women of good will but also those of ill will. But do not remember all they have inflicted on us. Remember rather the fruits we have brought, thanks to this suffering; our comradeship, our loyalty, our humility, our courage, our generosity, the greatness of heart that has grown out of all of these. And when they come to judgment, let all the fruits we have borne be their forgiveness.

Betsie Ten Boom, who died in the consecration camp, steadfastly refused to hate the guards who beat her and eventually, beat her to death. Her dying words were both simple and profound. Listen to what she said:

We must tell the people what we have learned here. We must tell them that there is no pain so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.

That is incredible! (William Bausch, More Telling Stories, Compelling Stories. page 28.)

A Woman knows that her pain is experiencing the beauty of life itself. And it is a wonderful life to be lived until her last drop of blood.

A Woman's Labor

“What are you doing, Hon?” asks her husband one late evening.

“I’m ironing your clothes for the week, Darling.” was her warm reply.

“What are you doing, Mom?” the kids ask during a lazy rainy afternoon.

“I’m mending your uniforms, Dear.” she says with a loving look upon her children’s face.

The following day, her friends dropped by and saw she was busy in the kitchen, they asked, “What are you doing in there?”

She answered with a smile of fondness upon her lips, “I’m baking a cake for you and cookies for your kids.”

That same afternoon, a neighbor passed by her garden and saw she was tilling the soil, he asked, “What are you doing out here?”

Full of compassion she said, “I’m growing these vegetables for the neighborhood. You can have some for dinner if you want. Here, you can take these eggplants for your family.”

This is her… a Woman who labors not for herself but for others. She does things with much love in her heart, even if it means giving all of herself and leaving none for her happiness.

For a Woman knows, it is in giving that she receives more.

Gentleness of a Woman

Gentle Woman

Gentle Woman, quiet light
Morning star, so strong and bright
You are chosen by the Father
You are chosen for the Son
You are chosen from all women
And for women, you’re a guiding light.

Gentle Mother, peaceful dove
Teach us wisdom, teach is love
You are chosen by the Father
You are chosen for the Son
You are chosen from all women
And for women, you’re a guiding light.

A Woman’s gentleness eases not just physical pain but even of our brokenness. Healing external and internal discomforts by the warmth of her touch and the tenderness in her voice.

Like the Virgin Mother who in the Gospels, was mentioned only during Jesus’ birth, suffering and death is a picture of such gentleness. Her restoring presence was evident in Jesus’ life only when He needed strength the most.

Such is a Woman; her charisma is a gift to pacify disputes waged by man against nature, man and himself.

No woman is a Woman when she brings dishonor to her country and family. She is not Woman if she brings division and rivalry.

A Woman's Calm

“10% of conflicts are due to difference in opinion; 90% is due to wrong tone of voice.”

A Woman knows this fact, thus, she does not rely on wisdom alone; she makes use of her calm, too.

She does not enter into a dispute with a raging thunderstorm but with the serenity of an early morning breeze. Then she opens her heart with her own reason and listens to the other’s. In the process, she discovers that the pain of her opponent is far greater than hers.

The Woman then stops the argument and turns to God for deliverance – not for her but for her enemy.

People who see this would say, “She’s a fool! Why would she retreat from the dispute and pray for her enemy’s behalf?”

But God would grant her the prayer of her heart and says to the Woman, “I was never wrong when I created you.”

A Woman's Passion

All the atoms the cosmos is made of has conspired to lead the Woman to her dreams.

She lay there on the grassy fields counting the stars and they said, "Let's dance in all majesty that we may entertain her." Then she marvels at the beauty of their rhythm.

Then the grass felt her presence, they said, "Let us emit our most fragrant dew that she may feel the velvety moist soothing her senses." And she felt the sudden rush of calm from within her.

The wind inhaled her scent and they said, "Let us whistle God's hymns upon her ears that she may feel His presence through us." So they did, and she was more than glad.

The skies rejoiced at her sight. Thus the moon highlighted more the dancing stars with their rays of crimson blackness. The Woman was more enchanted.

Her thoughts moved about. Dreams flash like striking lightning. She shivered. Feared the unknown. Her desires swept over the horizon like ephemeral bursts of vivid hues. She knows some of her dreams are like the grass, she can hold them with her bare hands. But she too knows that some of them are like the stars, wonderful to behold but unreachable.

Then just as when she wants to give up on her passion, a wishing star came across the sky and landed at the tip of her toes. She held it with her bare palms and said, "My dreams are impossible no more."

Intellect of a Woman

One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap.

Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out.

She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book.

Along comes a Game Warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, "Good morning, Ma'am.

What are you doing?"

"Reading a book," she replies, (thinking, Isn't that obvious?)

"You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her.

"I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading."

"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment.”

"I'll have to take you in and write you up."

"If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault," says the woman.

"But I haven't even touched you," says the game warden.

"That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment."

"Have a nice day ma'am," and he left.

Indeed, “Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think.”


To Marianne, my UP and Shelfari online-mate, thank you for providing me this vignette. I truly appreciate your friendship and the strength of your character. Not all women can be so tough like you in moments of grief and sorrow. We may not have known each other personally, but through your prose, you inspire me to pursue my passion in writing, sacrifice for family and love for children with special needs.

For all Women, if you have read this, remember your intellect and strength in your character. Never allow yourselves be abused and misused.

Happiness of a Woman

The Proverbs says: “A happy heart is a good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22 AMP)

Being a Woman, she is called Salt of the Earth and Light of the World because she believes that a happy disposition begets positive aura, inviting the cosmos to dance her own beat.

She immerses herself in the joy of faithful surrender to what life wants her to be, with courage and discernment – and sometimes – with a touch of madness.

She welcomes her desires, tears and happiness with vibrant paroxysm of colors. Gyrating like a Bohemian spirit, in quest for meaning. Then the colorful hues spread out the tips of her nails and toes touching every creature, great and small, young and old, sinful and seemingly not, proud and humble… with equal intensity, with equal passion, with equal happiness… with equal love.

Such is the desire of a Woman, a world of happiness and of love. For where there is both, the Hand that Created manifests itself in brilliant ardour.

Praise of a Woman

A Woman, after praising the power that created her, appreciates others, oftentimes, more than herself.

Michael and Gabriel fight over her on who must stay as her look out. Then both angels would agree – compromise the day and time of day they would take charge.

Envious onlookers would say, “She’s not worth it.” But the Woman hears beyond what words speak of.

That is why before the sun bids goodbye, she walks the road to herself, encloses all that has been in her solitude and praise God for the bounty He has endowed her.

She too never fails to remember friends, no matter how long her list may be, she names them one after the other, in no particular order or rank… patiently… for she recognizes the wisdom that uplifted her.

Then her day ends in perfect harmony with God’s plan and time.