Flying Kathy & Me

When people heard the word "middle east" the other counterpart word that comes to others is "desert" Try to picture on your mind how does the deserted country looks like - puro buhangin lang, mainit, walang masyadong buildings at walang nabubuhay na mga halaman. Well ganon yung napipicture sa isip ko almost 14 years ago bago ako pumunta dito sa Qatar. Stepping out on my comfort zone - being away sa place na nakasanayan mo, people, friends and most especially family na ever since namulat ka sa mundo kasama mo na. Far away from those "independent" life before they become OFW, hindi ako talaga ganon, hindi ako katulad ng iba na naexperienced magwork away from home or magdorm man lang. In short 14 years ago I am totally out on my comfort zone. The only hope I have that time is that EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE, its not because of the courage I have in me but its because I entrusted everything to Jesus.

Back to what you have in mind when you picture out the desert, ako din akala ko talaga walang puno or halaman dito sa Qatar. Well, actually 14 years ago hindi pa naman talaga ganong kadami ang mga trees and plants dito mostly talaga buildings lang talaga. And if may mga halaman man talagang pricey sya pero buti na lang dahil marami ng supply now, the law of supply and demand applies on its price na.

I love greens - trees, plants, plantacions, farm. Kaya naman nageenjoy talaga ako kahit road trip lang na makakita ako ng greens sa Pinas everytime na uuwi ako, nakakarelax talaga.

December last year I bought a flowering plant for my table para naman mejo sumayasaya ang ambiance at hindi puro papel na lang ang nakikita ko :)

I bought a flying kathy in Carrefour for QAR 20 (wag ka ng magconvert kasi mura na yon para sa halaman kapag nasa Middle East ka).

December 2019

At first glance para talaga syang artificial. Everyone na nakakakita is pinching it just to be sure na totoo sya. Some them will tease me, na pwede na daw ipang salad yung dahon nya kasi ang lalapad then shiny and looks crunchy daw. Super fresh, buhay na buhay talaga sya. Kung sa tao walang kastress-stress sa life nya and super blooming.

Like human, ganyan din naman tayo di ba when we are into something na gustong gusto nating gawin,it seems na effortless ang lahat and sometimes we are too idealistic na we can achieve everything kasi we know that we are doing everything to achieve our goals, pero paano kung hindi pala......

I was away for a month sa office pero bago ako umalis, ipinagbilin ko sa teaboy namin na pakialagaan ni Flying Kathy. Low maintenance naman ito - 2x a month mo lang sya need diligan at konti lang talaga, konting sunlight lang since mas nagblobloom sya kapag malamig kaya indoor lang din talaga sya. I was back from my vacation on January and ganito na sya...

 

January 2020

See the difference? nagdry at nalagas na yung ibang mga dahon nya. Yung dating super green, shiny and "crunchy" leaves nya natutuyo na yung mga tip. Though may mga flowers nya pero kapansin pansin na nabawasan yung ganda nya.Nalungkot ako ng slight kasi I'm expecting na mas maganda ko syang makikita, I'm expecting na mas magblobloom sya pero the good thing is she's still holding on to the ground kung saan sya nakatanim. Parang she wanted to tell me na "hey I'm still blooming where I am planted".

Its like us there are times na super energetic tayo, blooming at everything runs smoothly sa life natin. Pero let's face the reality - may hurdles, challenges, problems, and unexpected circumstances tayo na mga pinagdadaanan.  How many times na nadapa ka na sa buhay? ang dami mo ng pinagdaanan pero still see yourself now - courageously and hopeful in battling the challenges of life. The Lord is good, He is good to all, and He is good all time, Sometimes, He allowed us to experience na madapa tayo para matuto tayo in life. May mga times na hindi natin naiintindihan ang dahilan bakit nga ba - bakit nga ba need pa nating masaktan, madapa, magkaproblema. Pero naisip mo ba na sa bawat pinagdadaanan mo may lessons ka na natutunan. I remember our late Pastor Vil sa isang sermon nya na talagang nagrema sa isip at sa puso ko "hanggang hindi ka pumapasa sa test ng pagsubok babalik at babalik ka jan, kaya sa una pa lang na test ipasa mo na" Really true, may mga circumstances or problema naman talaga na contributor din tayo, kung sa una pa lang itatama mo na and you will allow God to be with you - to guide you, lead you at susunod ka then maiipasa mo ang test and surely sa sunod na magdaan ka ulit sa test na ganon it will be easier for you.

Sometimes ang dami nating reklamo sa buhay, nalilimutan nating iappreciate kung anong meron tayo. May mga times na hindi tayo natututong makontento at magpasalamat kay Lord sa kung anong meron tayo. Naisip mo ba na ang lahat ng bagay na pinagdadaanan mo ngayon ay may purpose .

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose - Romans 8:28

BLOOM WHERE THE LORD PLANTED YOU!

 Kung saan ka nadapa don ka rin tumayo. Our Lord Jesus Christ is gracious to guide and lead you to the path that He wants you to be BUT you need to listen to Him; allow Him to control and be the driver of your life. Trust me, He will never ever fail you, never will He leave you nor forsake you. Sa disyerto na mainit, maalikabok, maraming restrictions ka Nya dinala, still BLOOM! Nagiisa ka man, malayo sa pamilya or kaibigan mo, the Lord wants you to BLOOM! The Lord Jesus Christ has purpose kung bakit ka nasa situation or nasa lugar kung nasaan ka ngayon. Hindi mo alam kung anong purpose ng Lord, the ask Him, pray and He will answer.

Let each one live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called him -I Corinthians 7:17 (CSB)

This is Flying Kathy now, no more big, shinny and crunchy leaves, and no more flowers too but you can still see her beauty. She's still confidently holding on to the ground na para bang sinasabi nya  na " I've been to storm but here I am still standing gracefully"

There are pruning season and there are growing seasons. When I look back on my life, I can tell the greatest growth comes right after you get cut back. I am still a work in progress by the Lord Jesus Christ. And I'm expectant that the Lord will continue to move in my life.

If you are now in the situation of your life na para bang ang tingin mo ay puro problema na lang at walang nangyayari na maganda sa buhay mo, let me pray for you...

Lord Jesus Christ, our gracious and compassionate Lord, I pray that the person who's reading this blog right now, be comforted in Jesus name. You are the all knowing God - alam Mo po Lord kung ano yung best para sa tao na ito, maybe he or she planned everything for his / her life pero Lord still Your will be done sa buhay nya. Lead Him Lord for him/her to truly know You and accept You as well as his /her Personal Savior, in Jesus