Celebrating Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! We had a week-early Thanksgiving celebration last November 21, 2019, thanks to our American friends who organized it. Now on my third year of participation, it is always a wonderful time to gather and give thanks to God for all the graces we have received for the past year. God has given me an overflowing abundance despite all my shortcomings. Here are a few of the many things I’m grateful for, for the past year:

1. Relationship with Mary.

It is a surprise for me to get to know Mary this year. It took me a while to dive in (because I’m stubborn) but thanks to her, she continued to call me so I could get to know Jesus better through her. I did my Marian Consecration on the feast of the Presentation of Mary, the same day we celebrated Thanksgiving! As I went through the preparation, I went deeper in discovering Mary’s humility and grace in following God’s will (which I lack!). Thanks to Mary, my heart is yearning to ask for her help in discerning my vocation and living it fully.

2. Holy friendships in community.

It’s with great joy that I receive the gift of my friends through the community of St. Anne’s (women’s house of prayer), St. John Paul II (men’s house of prayer), Pure Heart Philippines, Community of St. John and just recently, ADF International! No one from my friends ever said that following Jesus is easy, but they have made the journey so joyful. Nobody's a saint yet everyone wants to love and please God despite each one’s weaknesses. I’m grateful that God provided me with a support system to follow Him boldly. To be in community takes a lot of dying to self, but the more I forget about myself, the better I could give myself to God and others.

3. Missionary life.

It’s been three years since I left my job and decided to be God’s missionary disciple! Everyone thought I was crazy and there were times I thought the same way. Yet I am grateful for having this opportunity to be on mission for God and help others encounter Him. This life has also helped me deepen my relationship with Jesus, relying on Him to provide for everything, including making up for all my incompetence. It’s an awesome purification for true love and humility.

4. Family.

I thank God for giving me my mom and my siblings. We have gone through challenging and dark years but happier memories fill us more today than ever before. Earlier this month, my brother Ken and my new sister Angel got married! It was a beautiful day to witness with family and friends their promise to each other in front of God. Also, I'm very grateful for my holy American friends Eric, Jeremiah and Sara for being a great support system in recent times. They’re my fellow missionaries who have become family. I get to see and work with them everyday for the glory of God.

The list is long and I could go on forever. Giving gratitude to God everyday has greatly helped me in loving more. I encourage you to try it sometime, beyond Thanksgiving. God will surprise you! What are you grateful for this year?