Never Give Up

Grief and Healing - Download the eBook

Sometimes, all we need is just one person who believes in us and who will never give up on us. Someone who sees beyond our weaknesses, beyond our faults. Who knows that though we walk in darkness, we can still find our way into the light. – Jocelyn Soriano

I pray that you may find someone who will never give up on you. Someone who sees you truly and who believes in the very best you could become.

Whatever happens, remember that you have God. And when you have Him, you have Someone who will never give up on you.

Never Giving Up

You are the kind
I know
who will never give up
on me.

The kind who will
believe in me
long after
I could no longer
believe in myself.

The kind who sees
my shadows
yet who never fails also
to see my light.

A light that can remain
hidden for so long
Hidden even from
my own eyes.

I can hate myself so much
that I can’t even look
at my very own
reflection.

Yet I don’t even need to see it
Because I see better
as I look
in your eyes.

I see someone
who will always
be there
through and through.

Whose silence
is far better
than any word
other people can utter.

Whose gaze alone
can give me hope
can help me hold on
for one more day.

Because you never give up
on me
You never did
and never will.

Though I let go
you will get me back
Though I forget
you will remember.

Though I stop
even to hope
You will hold on
for the both of us.

He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up, saying, “There was a judge in a certain city who didn’t fear God, and didn’t respect man. A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, ‘Defend me from my adversary!’ He wouldn’t for a while, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God, nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.’” The Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says. Won’t God avenge his chosen ones who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them? -Luke 18:1-7 (WEB)

A Letter To a Child

Life is not a series of consecutive triumphs, but a winding path of ups and downs, of happiness and tears. God leads us every step of the way, especially when the journey becomes tough and we feel too tired to go on. Through it all, what upholds us is the love of Him who alone gives us the strength to carry on. – Jocelyn Soriano

Dear child, when you go forth in this world, remember that not everything would work out the way you wanted to. In fact, most things would be flawed and far from ideal. Many things would bring you pain.

This is not to discourage you or to keep you from dreaming great things. But you need to know these things so you can be brave and so that you may not be easily dismayed. You need to keep your feet firmly planted on the ground like a tree that will never be shaken by the strongest wind. But you need to keep your gaze up in heaven so you may never forget where you will one day take flight to your true home.

But while you are in this life, remember that many things will try to bring you down. There will be times when the weight would be too much that you’d fall. When that happens, remember that the most important thing is to not remain fallen for far too long. Learn your lesson, then get up quickly and move on.

Remember also that people will never easily fit inside a neat box or a sure formula. You can understand better by experience, but many times, people will do things you’d never expect or imagine, and this both for the good and the bad.

Many people don’t really think that much. They may say things that hurt you all because they failed to think about what they ought to say. Don’t presume that people always say and do things intentionally. Many of the things people do, especially the bad things, are done out of ignorance, or weakness or fear.

Sometimes though, even people you thought were bad would surprise you by doing something really good, even heroic. Thank God then, for there is still that spark of God’s light within the soul that is trying to make its way felt and known.

There is goodness indeed in this life, though often mixed with pain. Find it! Let it lead you ever closer to God’s grace. God has not given up on this world, why should you?

You have but very little time to gather in it eternal treasures that will never fade, never waste a moment of it! One day, everything will make perfect sense, even the smallest of things would have its story. Have patience then and be strong!

Remember most of all that God watches over you. He is the strength in your weakness, the consolation in all your troubles, and the hope that will never let you down. God loves you and you need never be alone.

…for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it. I know how to be humbled, and I know also how to abound. In everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need. I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:11-13 (WEB)

The Birth of Joy

“In my deepest wound I saw your glory, and it dazzled me.” – St. Augustine

It is never God’s intention to cause hurt or sorrow. Yet if He ever allows any pain, it is only so that He could make way for greater joy!

We can never fully understand it here. Not when we’re suffocated by darkness. Not when our hearts are broken by sorrow.

But someday we will know. We will see how each of our tears have become priceless pearls, how our most terrible afflictions have given birth to our highest bliss.

MY HEART’S DEEPEST WOUND

I guess you will always be
my heart’s deepest wound.
The kind that aches terribly.
The kind that time could never heal.

I glimpse a memory of you
and I feel it!
I feel both the joy and the pain
of loving you.

Yes, loving you.

For I have never really forgotten.

How could the heart forget?

Had I not loved you,
I’d have moved on already.
Had I not loved you,
You wouldn’t have been able
to cause me pain.

But I did.
I loved you then, and I love you now.
You will always be
the deepest wound in me.
That’s how strongly
you are etched
upon my heart.

For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory… – 2 Corinthians 4, WEBBE

A Place For Rest

Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” – Luke 9, WEB

It’s so easy for people to speak about peace and finding time for quiet and solitude when they do not live amidst noise and chaos. We all desire the relaxing sound of the waves near the shore, or the chirping of the birds in a secluded forest. But what of those who live in the midst of cities and noisy streets? Or of those who cannot afford a quiet spot of their own? Who cannot even find a place to rest after the exhaustion of the day’s labor? A place to pray and ponder and heal after the countless battles one has fought?

Let us pray for God’s mercy, trusting that Jesus Himself knew what it was like to have no dwelling of His own though He made all the universe and everything that’s in it. He left heaven itself to abide with us, to live in this restless world right where we are.

“But pray, my children. God will hear you in a short time. My Son allows Himself to be moved by compassion.”– Our Lady of Hope

The Love We Give

The love we give in this life is the only thing that can truly belong to us for eternity. – Jocelyn Soriano

There are times when we start to ask ourselves, “What is the worth of my life? What do I possess now to prove that something has happened and that my life has not been in vain?”

We then look towards our achievements or our status in life, and we start to compare it with what other people have. More often than not however, this kind of thinking just makes us feel worse. It makes us feel that if we don’t have a lot to show, we have not lived well. We feel empty as though nothing good has ever happened in our lives.

But if we start to see things through the lens of eternity, we may start to wonder deeper. What are the things that really matter anyway?

Then a little voice within us seems to say, “only love”.

In the end, the only thing we’d ever regret is not having loved enough. The only thing we lose is the love we held back.

Jesus said to him, “…go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” – Matthew 19:21, WEBBE

Hold My Hand

Hold my hand in friendship,
while I am still alive.
Come take my hand and walk with me,
along the road of life.
For I don’t want your whispers,
when my ears can no longer hear,
Nor your embrace,
when I can no longer feel.
Let me know you need me,
while I can still extend my hand;
Lest I let the Savior take me,
to a far and blessed land…