Enduring Life's Tests

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

                                                    -          James 1:24

Photo credits to www.spiritlessons.com

“Inner peace”, a very famous line from the movie Kung Fu Panda.

He faced a lot of difficulties.

He was ridiculed, mocked, laughed at.

He was saddened, had self-pity, and lost confidence.

That was his past.  Fast forward to the present.

One day he plummets.  Next he goes up, and...cheery panda, he jokes! Oh, thanks to his master!

“Inner peace”, that’s the tag line.  Until he found peace, he couldn’t have conquered his fear and won the battle. 

Just a movie, but the lessons are practically for us humani.  It could simply be a source of entertainment for some, but only if you dig deeper will you find its real core.

Do you know someone who, just like the big fat panda, had bravely crossed the raging sea of trials and hurtaches? I’ve known quite a number of them; but there were the chosen ones who’ve etched their way into my heart.

First my mom.  A superwoman.  A fighter.  A MOTHER.  Yes guys.  I would gladly give her my sincerest affirmations.  She took care of us no matter how difficult it was.  The scenario? My biological dad enjoying his moments with a new-found love.  My most precious mom painstakingly toiling for her three kids.  Three-in-one.  Yet, she loved us with no regrets.  Did she curse my dad? No, she didn’t.  Why should she?  She has a big God.  So great He could deliver her from any form of melancholy.

Next up is my step dad.  Oh, not really.  HE IS MY FATHER.  We love him so much.  Our respect is so great that we would go to all lengths just to keep him safe and well.  Exuberant.  Radiant.  His labors of love made us whole.  His fatherly wisdom shaped our outlook in life.  Wants?  Needs?  He would readily oblige.  Why?  LOVE.  Unconditional love.  Is he of blood-relation?  No, but he is that one special man whose name is entrenched in our hearts.

These two persons were scorned, all for unrestricted love’s sake.  Deliberately, they’ve succeeded in their journey.  Their secret?  Inner peace, strong faith in God, and their BIG love for their family.  Any mark of anguish left in their hearts slowly faded.  They are champions because they endured hardships.  They are now looked up by those who mocked them.  They made us proud, and we did our best.  Now, they are happy parents, satisfied and contented for they have chosen to escalate during those moments of major drawbacks and complexities.

We’ve given them a taste of their reward here on earth, but with God’s perfect love, I sure do see an ocean of blessings awaiting them in our Father’s abode.

That is the prize of endurance.  That is the ultimate trophy of Faith and Love. 

They are my lifetime mentors.  And as the prophet James speaks about, “Let endurance have its perfect result so that you may be complete, lacking in nothing.”