I Take off the MASK!

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A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
-Proverbs 15, WEB

Peace is achieved not by being kind or patient enough. In order to achieve peace, we need kindness and patience that is more than what we consider just or necessary.

It isn’t enough just to be kind to those who are being kind to you. We need to be kind even to those who are rude.

It isn’t enough just to forgive those who are asking for our forgiveness. We need to forgive even those who are not asking it from us.

It isn’t enough not to do any harm; we must do good. It isn’t enough that we must not hate; we must love.

For if we fight darkness with even more darkness, how can we ever find light? If we return violence for violence, how can we ever find peace?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. – Matthew 5:43-48, WEB

“Go in this your might, and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Haven’t I sent you?” – Judges 6:14, WEB

Not everything happens according to our plans. No matter how carefully we execute our steps, no matter how much brain storming we make in anticipation of future problems, there will be times when events will take us by surprise.

When they do however, it isn’t the time to blame ourselves or cry endlessly in grief for failure. When unexpected things happen, it is time to rise up and tap our hidden strength to face the challenges in our way.

We face the problems not as we imagined them to be, but for what they truly are at present. We adjust our plans. We think of better solutions. We move, we look for other resources; we do what can still be done.

“When the unexpected happens, it’s time to discover also unexpected courage and unexpected strength.” – Jocelyn Soriano

“Sometimes, when you lose, you win.” – WHAT DREAMS MAY COME, The Movie

Happiness sometimes comes not by holding on or by pursuing it so fiercely, but by letting it go.

We let go of our heartaches so we can be healed. We let go of our anger so we can have peace. We let go of our regrets so we can dream again.

We let go of the people who broke our hearts so we can find those who will truly love us.

We let go of our desire to take revenge so we can allow God to give us the justice we deserve.

We let go before we become empty enough to receive.

We are loved most when we finally learn to give love away.

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.” – Matthew 16:25, WEB

No one reaches the finish line by always looking back. – Jocelyn Soriano

To keep on looking back is to fail to see what lies before you. It is to hang on to what has already passed and to keep your hands so full you can’t receive anymore the rewards waiting ahead.

It is good to remember the lessons we have learned along the way. But it isn’t wise to live our days as though our lives have already ended at some point in the past.

What you have gained long ago is already yours. Don’t lose the things you can still achieve.

There are people who are waiting for you to go on, who will be happy to see you dream again and achieve those dreams.

There are so many people you can still bless with your smile. But they will wait in vain, unless you are willing to let go of your tears.

“No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for God’s Kingdom.” – Luke 9:62, WEB

“Escape for your life! Don’t look behind you, and don’t stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be consumed!”… But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. – Genesis 19:17,26 WEB

Love has two hands: one is gentle, the other one, strong. – Jocelyn Soriano

“See then the goodness and severity of God.” – Romans 11:22

When people want to be kind, they are often expected to be passive. They think they should be tolerant of everything, even when they should already be standing up for the truth and defending others from being abused.

On the other hand, when people want to be just, they sometimes move to the other extreme and forget human limitations and weaknesses. They become unforgiving and harsh, and they set out to punish others more severely than they ought.

True goodness however is when we are able to be just and kind at the same time. It is when we know when to show tenderness and when to be really strong.

“Mercy and truth meet together.
Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Truth springs out of the earth.
Righteousness has looked down from heaven.”
-Psalm 85:10-11, WEB