My 2005

The year 2005 is coming to an end tomorrow. Some people might have been thinking about the resolutions they wish to make for 2006. What about a reflection on what they have achieved or missed in 2005 first?

For me, 2005 is the worst year in my life as an adult... I lost many things dear to me...
my career
my study
my loved ones
my self-esteem
my confidence

All these make me see how vulnerable and helpless I can be, though I might have been considered a very successful person before. I went through some darkest moments in my life marked by tears. The only thing that kept me going was my faith in Jesus Christ, my Lord. It was like a 'stripping process' to remove what's natural to me so I may know that my trust and hope shouldn't be in these things, but in God.

For the last two months, I have been spending time doing my devotion with God daily w/o fail... something I wasn't that consistent with in the past. I am learning to trust in God's unfailing love and care for me, and to know His plan in my life. It might be something totally different from what my natural mind could think of.

Now for the rest, my friends and readers, perhaps the following article might encourage you to reflect about your own life just as it has prompted me to reflect mine above....


Don't wait until I'm dead to bring me flowers
by Connie Ard

There is a cemetery on our way to church. I began to notice every Sunday a man visiting a grave. There is a bench near the grave that he visits and that's most often where I see him. Sometimes, he's picking weeds or laying flowers on the grave. One Sunday, my mind began to wander after I saw the man sitting there.

Who's buried there?
His wife perhaps?
Did she know while she was alive how much he loved her?
Did he spend so much time with her when she was alive?
Was he as devoted a husband then as he is now?
Did he bring her flowers to show he cared while she could enjoy them?

I had to resist the urge to tell my husband,"Don't wait until I'm dead to bring me flowers!" Dead people can't enjoy flowers.

They can't look at the beautiful colors or touch the soft petals.
They can't study the intricate way a rose folds together or the delicate curling of a lily.
They can't smell the wondrous smell of one of God's creations.
They can't enjoy the emotions of love with which the flowers were given or the joy with which they are received.

Have you told someone who means the world to you "I love you" recently?
Have you given them a hug or a kiss to remind them how much they are loved?
It doesn't take much to let someone know you love them. Let them know before it's too late.