I am Loved Surprisingly

God surprises me every day. Yes, indeed He loves me. His love is manifested in my relationship with people and in the mission He has entrusted to my care. Every time I get attracted to temptations and became weak enough to resist them, He continues to remind me of His great love that no matter what I am loved just as I am. I thank Him for the countless blessings He has bestowed upon me each day. I know well that His surprises in my life are ever amazing and wonderful. And so, each day, I also desire to know Him more, love Him more through giving humble service to others, especially to the least, the last, the lost and the poor, and most importantly to make Him God in my life. His presence unfolds the gate to peace and forgiveness, especially when I get so attached to my responsibilities and when I am tempted to be imprisoned with what others say I am, especially for the hurting comments of people who don't know me by heart. He never fails to remind me of my worth as His child and as His beloved. Each day, I am amazed by His loving revelation of Himself through people, events and situations I am with. Though many times I choose not to listen to Him, I am always thankful that He loves me so much, He owns me and He never allows me to go astray. With that, regardless of the innumerable times that I disappoint Him, He still stays in me. Indeed He is a God who loves surprisingly and these surprises come in His own time perfectly.

“TATAK SPINOLA”

Marcelo Spinola School is where I have been working at as an educator since April 2013. This is a Catholic school owned and administered by the Spinola Sisters whose Charism is to share the personal love of Christ. For almost five years, I’ve been here and indeed, this has become my home and my identity.

Years have passed and I carry with me the “TATAK SPINOLA” identity. Anywhere I go, people look at me as an exemplar of a Spinola educator whose values are in accord to the values of the Gospel.  One that I have been firmly holding on in this school is its simple yet authentic prayer and community life. Here, I know, love and share God more which is manifested in my daily life though everyday I am still trying to make it better and real. This is the reason why I don’t cling to what people ask of me- to look for a greener pasture- because here, it’s even more than enough. I learned to serve with no expectation and give with healthy motivation, I learned to help myself carry on all life’s battles for I am certain and confident that God is with me always; and I learned life’s lessons which helped me grow as a wholesome being, a child of God whom He loves unconditionally. These are but few of the gifts I received from this institution.

Sometimes, it’s difficult to deal with persons whose views are widely different from my own perspective, but above all what prevails in me is the reality that we still need each other because of the relationship we have built and kept in our hearts.  Truly, we are for each other and it is God who sustains the family we treasure. Again, this is the “TATAK SPINOLA” identity, this is the Spinola Family.

Today, I always thank God for the gift of this mission and I have never felt empty in here for this is a work of God and I am just a collaborator, together with my co educators, to His Divine plan.

Today, I am bringing with me the courage to work more, give my best and be part of whatever excellence the school is aiming for, especially in its pastoral mission of sharing the personal love of Christ to the young, through the ministry of education. This is to simply give and share the fruits of the gifts I have received from God. I love the school so much that I couldn’t find any reason to leave it. The “TATAK SPINOLA “ identity has been planted in my heart and it's leading me to God's plans and ways. This has been my home for almost five wonderful and God-filled years and here, I know that I truly have a family.