THE FIRST ONE
Are you guilty of indulging in earthly possessions or splurging yourselves with materialism?
Stella
Sadly, I gotta to admit that I used to love SHOPPING very much! Back then, there were no weekends passed without shopping rituals, or what some prefer to call 'retail therapy'. The worst part perhaps, I even successfully converted a few of medium-shopper-friends into shopaholics!
It was until one fine day, I had a short yet meaningful conversation with a close friend of mine.
+ Geez! I nearly splurge on a-few-grands handbag!
- Haha ...
+ Lucky this time my self control was very good! *proudly*
- Hmm ... Haha ...
Anyway, did you know? With a few grands, a LOT of children in small village might be able to continue their education for a couple years.
I was struck by these words!
A wise use of our money could actually changes other people's lives.
Joyful smiles of children in small village with tons of hopes in continuing their studies are definitely far more meaningful than a piece of designer handbag!
Miraculously, from that moment on I slowed down a lot in shoppings.
I began to understand that my money is not actually my own, even though I might be the one who work hard to earn them. My money is God's, which He trusts me to take care and use wisely. And hence, since that day I would feel terrible if I violate His trust by using them irresponsibly merely to satisfy my hedonistic needs. There are so much other better usages of money, such as helping children in small villages to continue their studies! =)
I learnt (with much struggles and self-denial of course!)
1. To buy ONLY what I NEED and NOT what I WANT.
2. To be more responsible for whatever God has trusted under my care.
And it might be weird to some, but I'll always seek God's permission while sometimes I feel that I NEED (not WANT) to 'reward' my hard work with a little splurge. Haha ... *Afterall, I'm still kinda enjoy indulging myself, I guess* =p~ *BUT now with one condition: OIGP (Only If God Permits)*
THE SECOND ONE
I learnt that I have to be ready whenever God calls me, whether to priesthood/religious life, married life or single life. I believe each vocation is unique thus none is superior than the others. A priest told me that if I don't accept the vocation that God gives me, there'll be something missing in my life. So I've been discerning where God is leading me and praying that I have a heart like Mary that I'll be able to accept my vocation with all my heart.
Vincent
I used to have a kind of mindset that religious life, with their poverty-chastity-obedience vows, is the most noble vocation amongst the rests. I admire them so much. And it was only later on, after deep reflection and contemplation I finally understood that none of the vocation is better or worse than the others. Each of the vocation carries its own noble purposes according to God's master plan.
Thus, every single sentences which Vincent wrote above is like a reminder, or rather a re-confirmation to me, that whatever vocation which God has given to each one of us will definitely be the best one! Simply because, since the days we were on our mothers' wombs, He has planned everything perfectly and He has created each one of us for special purposes. =)
A priest told me that if I don't accept the vocation that God gives me, there'll be something missing in my life. ~ Vincent~
I definitely agree with this statement. Yes, we could try to run away from the vocation which God has called us into. Yes, we could just purposely choose other vocation according to our own will. BUT the risk is high, we might always feel that something is missing in our lives. Simply said, we might not be able to live our lives into the fullest.
And so these days, I'm still wholeheartedly discerning on which vocation God has actually given to me. Frankly, at the moment I totally have no pictures. Yet, I pray that whichever it is, one day I, too, could say to God like Mary once said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to Your word." ~Luke 1 : 38~
~ Images were taken from Google Image ~
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