Life Tapestry.

Life Tapestries | Intentional Living, Faith, & Creative Reflection

Tag: parents

  • The first things that I do is say praises to Jesus for the good things.

    Daily writing prompt
    You get some great, amazingly fantastic news. What’s the first thing you do?
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    Whenever I receive good news, the first thing I do is shout out praises to the Lord and express a heartfelt “Thank you, Jesus.” Following that, I immediately call my mom to share the news with her. I find immense joy in sharing such moments with my parents and siblings. As for others, I tend to share the news more gradually, perhaps later in the week.

    I don’t have grand plans such as hosting celebrations, treating myself to good food, or indulging in pampering sessions. I prefer to keep the joy within myself and my family before gradually sharing it with others. I’m not inclined to proclaim my achievements or share details with everyone.

  • Who I am is more important than judgement from my appearance

    Maturing swiftly, seemingly unaware of the years passing by, I find myself blessed with yet another year. In my younger years, I held the belief that by my current age, I would have achieved complete independence. However, I now realize this was mere wishful thinking, as my plans were formulated without actively involving God in my prayers and aspirations. I was confident that I could contend with time and attain full independence, allowing my parents to enjoy their lives without concerns.

    Reality has struck hard; instead of bringing stress relief, I find myself weighed down by more worries. My plans and dreams have been inconsistent, often wavering from one idea to another. The pressure from my family adds to the uncertainty, making it challenging to hold onto a clear path. I am currently in pursuit of a job that offers better compensation, working tirelessly with the ultimate goal of reducing the pressure.

    My primary objective is to work diligently, earning more, with the bottom line being a desire for respect from my colleagues. I yearn for them to acknowledge and appreciate me for who I am, rather than forming judgments based on appearances.

  • What Christmas is to me!

    Today is the 23rd of December, and 18-20 years ago, my siblings and I were filled with excitement as Christmas approached. It was a time when we could celebrate at home with our parents, indulge in delicious food, and adorn ourselves in new dresses. The festivities included eagerly anticipated afternoon games where we received prizes and the frequent treat of Gur Chini (jaggery) every few hours.

    Our parents, however, were seldom present at the community ground festivities. My mom was occupied with church and community work, while my dad had his own responsibilities, making appearances during the celebration quite rare. We found solace with our second and third aunt (yet third Aunt won’t be there this year at the community ground, as she is in a better place now), who took care of us, treated us to local delicacies like Sinju, and occasionally bought special treats from the shop.

    Despite not having the opportunity to wear fancy dresses or join our friends, the bond between my sisters and me strengthened. I took on the role of the big sister, responsible for their well-being in the absence of our parents. Occasionally, our peer groups would ridicule us for not being part of the larger group or not dressing as smartly. This, along with mom’s peculiar restrictions, further distanced us from our peers.

    This Christmas tradition continued until I started my degree studies. Since then, my participation in the festivities dwindled due to exams, short holidays requiring expense savings, and later commitments in the workplace. Initially, I didn’t mind being away during Christmas, but as time passed, I started feeling homesick and longed to be with my family.

    This year, being far from home, I anticipate spending most of my time inside the four walls of my room. My prayer is that, regardless of our locations, we will welcome Christ into our hearts and let His presence dwell within us. May we learn to submit to His care and be instruments of His love, no matter the circumstances. I extend warm wishes to everyone for a Merry Christmas.

  • Tears of joy?

    Daily writing prompt
    In what ways does hard work make you feel fulfilled?
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    I grew up heeding the wisdom of my elders, absorbing phrases like ‘Walk the extra mile,’ ‘You must burn the midnight oil,’ ‘You are the role model for your younger ones,’ and ‘You must excel,’ among others. During that time, I didn’t truly grasp the significance of putting in extra effort in all my endeavors; it was more about following their sage advice. However, when I eventually achieved remarkable success and witnessed tears of joy in my parents’ eyes, I came to appreciate the profound satisfaction that comes from hard work. Without a doubt, the tears of joy I witnessed were an indescribable feeling of fulfillment through dedication and perseverance.