Seasons

There are three groups of people whom I find hard to understand: 1st group is those who do not want to reveal their age, especially when it's their birthday, 2nd group is those who don't want to be called (and even despise the term) "old", and 3rd is the most phenomenal: those who belong to both groups 1 and 2.

Old age for me is something that we should not be ashamed of. An old one has definitely went through the stage of being young and the young one will sooner or later be as old. Thing is, God puts us in different seasons exactly the way He planned.

And besides, when do you call young "young" and when do you call old "old"?

I am 23 years old, turning 24 this October. For the teens, I am already old. For those in their 40s and up, I am still at the hype of my youth. Whatever they call me, it doesn't matter. I love my age. This is my season!

Grade I at SMES (1996)

When I was a grader, I think almost every year, we were asked by our teacher to write an autobiography. I then noticed that every year, my age changes (come to think of it! lol). That's when I formed a mindset (in my so innocent state) that if I am 10 years old now and after a year, I will not be 10 years old anymore, I shall enjoy every day of every year that passes...

My elementary days were fun! I (and my five siblings) went to a small but cool public elementary school, 15-minute walk away from our house. For six years, I was just like playing while learning.

3rd-year high school (2004)

High school was when I had a sort of identity crisis. I went to a private school in the city and it was hard to fit in. Then I learned just what it takes to belong- which since then, I've brought everywhere I go: being myself.

BSA-4th year college (2009)

College, on the other hand, was extra colorful for me. We were 17 in the class who had an extra special bonding. I also belonged to an organization (Phoenix, our student publication) where I met the most varied wonderful people! It was when I started earning a bit for myself (by doing what I love doing-writing), I reached many places without spending (school's expenses), I joined in different contests (where I had a taste of winning and losing) and I had the difficult but beautiful experience of leading.

Phoenix at Baguio (2008)

Then I entered the corporate world. This is where I got to encounter different kinds of people (some are nice, some are pretty hard-to-deal-with) and had a lot of experiences (some are sweet to reminisce, some I don't even want to remember *grin) before I reached my promised land.

Thus far, it has been more than three years of being a single professional, glad with how God shapes me now, and excited how He will lead me to my next season.

God blessed us with life and it is supposed to be lived just once. We will die. This is something that everybody knows but many deny. We may not just know when, but inevitably, it will come in His time. The Bible compares man to grass* - it springs up fresh and new; time swiftly passes, it withers and dies.

Psalm 90:1-6 says, "Lord You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. You turn men back to dust saying, 'Return to dust, O sons of men.' For a thousand years in Your sight are like a day that has just gone by or like a watch in the night. You sweep men away in the sleep of death: they are like new grass of the morning, though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered."

Considering this, many fall into the trap that since life is supposed to be lived to the fullest, they think they should do everything they want, regardless if it's good or bad. But there is something way more fulfilling than that - to enjoy every day of every year that passes, in a way that will honor the One Who created us.

This is also my prayer for myself, that in every season of my life, I will make my Creator smile.

I may not be perfect. I am even far from being one. I fall, I sin, I get stubborn at times, but my prayer is that God will continue to purify my heart and work in me, that I may always desire to bring honor and glory to Him.

...so that when my season ends here on earth, I could see my Lord smile when I meet Him face-to-face in heaven and worship Him forever.

What season are you in right now? How old or how young are you? It doesn't matter. If you're still a student or already a professional, single or married, a working mother or a plain housewife, a teenager or a retiree - no matter what you've been through in the past, what matters is how you live your life now. And in any season, nothing is more fulfilling than using this life to please the One Who gave it - and make Him smile...

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever. -Psalm 136

So next time someone asks you of your age on your birthday, don't hide it. That means God added another faithful year in your life... He loves you that much! :)

     *All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40:6-8