You are the Apple of His Eye

Out of the blue my girlfriend messaged me on facebook, “Nakakaproud at nakakaadmire ka talaga love.” (I’m proud of you and I really admire you.)

Of course I asked her “Why?”

And she told me, “Ang pogi pogi mo kasi!” (You’re the most handsome man I know!) – I failed in translation during elementary days.

I said, “Well, I know that already. Aside from the fact that I have slanted, chinito eyes, that I am very handsome, what else? Why said so?”

She said in reply, “Because you’re a confident humble man.”

Suddenly, I examined my eyesight.

Is my vision clear? Do I need to visit an ophthalmologist and have my eyes checked? Did I read it right? Me, a humble man?

Then she explained the things she observed which made her conclude that I’m both confident and humble guy.

She said that I have many talents, which I share to the world but I don’t brag about it.

And at the back of my mind I said to myself, “Really? Am I that humble? Of all my weaknesses, you still are proud of me and admire me?”

Then it hit me.

God is like that. God is like your girlfriend, your mother, your father, your spouse, your partner. He admires you a lot.

You are the apple of His eye (Deuteronomy 32:10).

You may have flaws and faults. You may have weaknesses and imperfections. But God doesn’t focus on that.

He admires you more than His other creations.

He is pleased and satisfied about you.

Friend, you worship a God who is proud of you and admires you a lot.

Praying for you,

Kevin

Actively Wait

“Argh! I wish I have someone I can talk to and share wonderful, great ideas and memories. And even at the silliest of things. Someone a degree higher than a friend. Someone I can call my girlfriend! My significant other!”

That was my battle cry for 23 years.

Actually, it evolved through time. During the first year, my battle cry was “waaaaaaaaa!” Then it became “mam.” Until I can finally cry for “milk!”

Yes, I just turned 23 this year.  And since birth, I had no girlfriend.

Can you imagine how difficult it was for me and for the girls around me? Because school is my priority, I had to turn down every woman that would come up to me applying for that girlfriend position. (As I write this, I lack sleep)

Until I met her.

And I’ve actively waited for her.

Today, I’d like to talk about waiting.

Waiting is probably one of the most difficult things for a single person to do. Inspirational author for single women, Rissa Kawpeng, knew this personally.

She was married at the age of 38.

She said in her book, “I knew that the Lord had someone in store for me because I believed I was called to the married life. But it was the waiting that was killing me! When the pain of loneliness would strike, I'd turn to the Lord and sometimes pray, ‘I know You can do it. In a blink of an eye, You could send that man for me. So why don't You just do it?’ Yes, God has a purpose for making us wait that many times we don't see it. In my case, I now realized that the many years I spent as a single woman wanting to be a bride have equipped me to be an inspiration to countless others on their ‘wait training.’”

I remember during my college days, I told myself to focus on studies first. I’ll be honest, I prayed to God to give me a girlfriend… but not that persistent.

At the time I finished school, it became stronger. And I became more religious. Almost every day I claim to God and thank Him for a girlfriend that is coming my way.

Days, weeks, months and years have passed and the door for that area of my life was still locked and closed.

But instead of hiding myself in bed under my pillows, I started to work on myself. I used my free time to attend seminars. I went to the gym. I launched a blog site. I managed a business. I read a lot of books. I listened to a lot of talks. I met a lot of people and gained new friends. I increased my self-esteem.

I actively waited for the woman of my dreams.

In hindsight, I realized that, like Rizza, those many years I spent as a single man wanting to have a girlfriend have equipped and prepared me to love myself more.

And I believe that by loving yourself more, you’ll have abundant love for yourself that you can’t help but share that love with other people.

Ohh! I almost forgot. During my waiting time, I enjoyed life. I took vacations. Mini ones. This is the part of my life where I met a gorgeous, fantastic woman who would become my girlfriend. Yes! God gave me the key to unlock that closed door of my life.

Now, we are enjoying life together. And we’re actively waiting and preparing for the time when the next level of our relationship presents itself.

If you're single right now, just wait. Actively wait.

Love yourself more.

Increase your knowledge.

Learn a new skill.

Serve.

Enjoy life.

"Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)"

Praying for you,

Kevin 

How Enjoying Life led me to find the Love of My Life

I’ve travelled a lot for the past month. I went to Club Balai Isabel Batangas, Nagsasa-Anawangin Zambales, Sta Victoria Ilagan, Iba Zambales, and Palaui-Sta Ana Cagayan. I don’t know your standard, but for me that’s a lot just for a month. Some of you may be wondering if I’m really that guy because I was a very introvert man. For almost two decades, if people wanted to see me, they may not need an email, a facebook or a cellphone to know where I am. All they need is their loud golden voice to shout and call my name in front of our gate: Kevinnn!! …because we don’t have a buzzer.

In today’s layman’s language,”kumota na ako” (I’ve reached my quota). And it taught me 256 lessons of life that I’m going to share with you.

Okay, I heard you.

I’ll just drop it to 5 lessons of how my pursuit of happiness, how appreciating, adoring and enjoying life has led me to find the love of my life.

1.    Relationships Come and Go on the Road

In my Nagsasa-Anawangin trip, I was with total, completely, undeniably strangers. The only person I truly know was my cousin. Actually, it was my cousin’s group of friend’s way back in college. The place doesn’t have an electricity or network signal so we don’t have a choice but to talk, laugh, cook our own food, discover the place, stargaze and laugh more.

I friend them (thanks to facebook, friend is now a verb). Because of the activities we shared, it was easy for us to become friends.

However, according to Matthew Kepnes, the nature of travel doesn’t always lend itself to long-term relationships. It’s hard to make something last when everyone moves in different directions. But I’ve realized you need to simply enjoy your time together and live in the moment.

2.    But Chase the One You Like

Yet once in a while, you’ll find someone you really connect with. And when you have nowhere to be and no place to go other than where you want, sometimes there is no reason not to follow.

I was in awe by the beauty of nature in Nagsasa. But I couldn’t help my admiration and wonderment to this woman whose smile can melt a cone of ice cream even during winter.

She’s simply beautiful and her sweetness triggered a bulb lit above my head. And an idea popped out, “I want to know her more!”  

She invited me to attend her sister’s wedding a few weeks later after that Nagsasa trip. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to get to know her more and her family.

3.    People are Good

Next trip: Iba, Zambales.

She’s from Iba. And the wedding was held at their hometown. Gosh, I was going to meet her parents. There was this movie I watched where the guy was introduced to the gal’s parents and he experienced like he was eaten alive. Whew!

My story was different. They were very accommodating and fun to be with.

4.    God Knows Best

I asked her to have a summer vacation with me in Sta Ana, Cagayan.

All things were set. We left Manila, Friday at 2pm. We were supposed to arrive Saturday around 1am in Isabela, my hometown, and get the car to drive to Sta Ana for 4 hours. It’s really nice to see the sunrise at the beach.

But something happened. A trailer truck turned upside down and blocked the road leaving the cars and buses no choice but to wait for the response team to clear the area. It took us 10 hours before we were able to pass through.

We know that this is an uncontrollable event. Instead of grumbling and complaining why it happened, it gave us more time to talk, bond and laugh together with other bus passengers. People often say, “Enjoy the journey.”

More bumps in the road and unexpected surprises occurred. And that’s what made it so exciting.

I don’t know why such delay, but I thank God for it. Maybe He is preventing us from danger or He just wants us to feel and say, “The trip was worth it.”

He knows Best!

5.    You have to Let Go of Where You Were to Get Where You Can Be

We arrived at Nangaramoan beach, Sta Ana, Saturday around 9pm. Since the trip was long and tiring, we stargazed a bit and went to sleep.

Sunday morning, it was sunrise at the beach.

But as much as we want to enjoy the beach, we’re really after the island: Palaui Island.

So we had to leave for almost an hour boat ride to the island.

Whoallah! The view was spectacular!

What am I saying?

You have to let go of where you are to get where you want to be.

It’s fun being single. I’ve been enjoying it for the past 23 years. But the moment she said yes to my proposal (as her boyfriend), it’s rapture.

Joy.

Bliss.

Euphoric.

It is God bearing fruit to a dream He has planted into my heart.

But it didn’t happen with just a snap of a finger.  I had to do things I’ve never done before.

To go out and live life to the full.

To enjoy life.

And to trust God that His Will and His Timing is better than ours.

Friends, go out there!

See what’s in store for you.

Enjoy life!

If you're single, who knows? You might find your one true love. 

Cape Engano

Jump shot at Palaui Island

Nangaramoan Beach