#WriteHopeFWD · cancer · easter · faith · family · fear · God · Grief · hope · legacy · Memorial · mom · Nostalgia · Ovarian Cancer

This Easter 2017: When Death Defers Hope, Remember He is the Resurrection & the Life

Last year’s April 16th wasn’t Easter or any major holiday, it was just an ordinary Saturday. Before that day, there were plenty of other days, ordinary days, I chose not to think about death. Every time I did think about death, fear would invade every aspect of my life. Whenever I think about death, it becomes an obsession. The what, when, where, why, how questions would flood my brain to the point of keeping me idle and isolated as to avoid anything that could possibly kill me. So, I did my best and I deferred.

But April 16, 2016 was one of those days I didn’t think I’d remember, but one picture brings a plethora of memories and emotions.

Because for the first time in my mother’s diagnosis, I thought of death. Her death.

church · faith · family · God · leadership · Live It Well · Love · politics · Switchfoot · time · Where The Light Shines Through · wisdom

The Correlation of Wisdom and Time… and Pumpkins!

You know summer is over when you stock up on pumpkin-flavored everything because you also know that fall will also soon be over. I mean, it may have started with pumpkin lattes at Starbucks and some delectable dessert choices, but now we have to indulge, or tolerate if you are not a fan of, pumpkin-flavored Greek yogurt, potato chips, cream cheese, cereal, English muffins, bagels, hummus, etc…

Fall season is also the beginning of a lot returning TV shows and also the new and most anticipated ones, such as Designated Survivor and did you guys get to watch my new favorite This is Us?

As we grow older and seasons come and go, time resembles more like an enemy who is constantly reminding us of how we’ve wasted it with our lack of productivity. Our reasoning? We just don’t have enough of it.

But what does wisdom tell us about time?

faith · Friends Tv Show · God · humility · inspiration · leadership · legacy · perfection · success · Switchfoot · Travel · Where The Light Shines Through · wisdom

How to Travel Light in a Heavy World: Wisdom and Worldly Success

I told myself in order to be successful, I had to be perfect.

But that was a lie. In order to be successful, I must be wise.

Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc, Friends) once said,

When the package is this pretty, no one cares what’s inside.

I know one person who cares.

His name is Jesus.

cancer · Cruise · faith · family · food · Forgiveness · God · godliness · Grief · mom · Ovarian Cancer · Switchfoot · Travel · vacation · Where The Light Shines Through · wisdom

How to Travel Light in a Heavy World: Wisdom is Free

As a self-proclaimed foodie, one of my preferred ways to travel is on a large and luxurious cruise ship because we consume all of this “free food.” I mean, who doesn’t love a free frozen treat after a long day spent exploring the hot and humid Caribbean islands? Then there’s the hard-working crew who are often the friendliest and sweetest people you will ever meet. They will make you feel like royalty for every dinner, particularly on those nights we get to wear our formal attire.

discipline · faith · Switchfoot · Travel · Where The Light Shines Through

The Art of Traveling Light

When we travel, we may have packed a sedative to calm our anxiety. A sedative may be a temporary solution to relieve us from our nerves and our pain, but God wants us to seek something a lot more permanent to cure our wounds. Instead of numbing our pain, we should be praying for a more long-term solution, for wisdom to enter our hearts (Proverbs 2:10).

cancer · faith · family · genuine · God · Grief · Switchfoot · Where The Light Shines Through

Oh, Grief is Where The Light Shines Through

Oh grief, do not consume me. I fear to stop grieving because I simply don’t want to forget her, but at the same time, I’m tired of answering everyone’s questions on how we are doing. You’ve become a slow, calculated, and nagging process; but then you wonder why most choose to skip you. Running away from you was enticing, but choosing you was the most reasonable option. You promise faster healing and relief, while running away from you would have led me bitterly back to you anyway.

cancer · discipline · faith · family · God · Grief · mom · Ovarian Cancer · Switchfoot · Where The Light Shines Through · work

Let It Burn

If your house burns down today, what will be the one item (or person) you will grab on your way out to safety? Who or/and what fulfills us? Most importantly, are we willing to sacrifice ourselves to ensure someone else’s safety? All these questions have been invading my mind in the last few weeks because what I thought mattered most doesn’t anymore.