SUNSET

By Jeffrey R. Ballares

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It is the sunset my favorite part of the day.

It signs that the whole day is almost done, greeting the coming of darkness. But for me, sunset symbolizes different meanings in life.

As the sun rises and sets from East to West signifies that no matter how successful or mature we become, it’s important to remember and look back to where we came from.

The changing of color from sparkling white to warm orange as the sun descends underneath the skies encourages transformation and change which we all need to cope up with unending challenges in everyday life.

Moreover, the temporary disappearance of the sun in the sky also tell us to leave our worries behind for awhile and take some useful rest to regain energies we need in the next coming day.

Lastly, when the skies turned into extreme darkness gives us the feeling that there will be another day coming tomorrow...and that teaches us to have HOPE.

EVER-AFTER NO MORE

By Jeffrey R. Ballares

(Poem)

I began chirping with sound melodies at sunrise

Drifting with dreams coming into life

Saw all cheering people but especially one

Granting smiles to everybody but rewarding a kiss just for one

Keeping the ties close as time flies by

Ever-after fairytales happening only just once

Tell me...where should I limit my boundaries

To create a longtitude between pain and happiness

Here comes the repetition of dark clouds

Hanging up in the skyline, shaking up my ground

Why did the destiny gave me the chances to prove

Ended up empty-handed, but nothing to lose

Nights are blistering with sheds of tears

Shattering moments are flashing in each scene

So why did it happened, this one I ask

A backfire of realisation just hit me bullseye

Another chapter had just begun

Thinking all past dues were just all for fun

I leap and reap the harvest of truth

The stronger I became, the bigger I gain

THREE LEARNINGS

By Jeffrey R. Ballares

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The day will be fullfilled as I finished writing this piece. For today is the day after my 23^rd birthday, taking my reward of 1-day vacation after being exhausted in yesterday’s celebration with family, friends and close relatives.

As I watch and feel the day pass by, I can't resist thinking of things that have gone in my 22 years of living. Once again, I recollected the rays of memories that flashed my entire life. There are rays worth-seeing but some are not.

And today, I realised at least three learnings.

LIVE LIFE AS IF IT WILL BE YOUR LAST

Have you ever dare try to ask yourself when will you be going to die? or somehow think of how will you be going to die?

The answer is difficult to decipher. No one could ever tell. That’s why it’s better to let the question kept hanging and convince yourself instead that today is your last day and you will do something worth-seeing in His eyes before He will take your borrowed life.

NEVER EXPECT

Here goes the cliche : “It’s better to give than to receive.”. Right, in any aspect of our lives we view that giving is something being valued. The deed will be more meaningful if we will never expect something in return.

They also say that life is tough and we have to bear for the results in any decisions that we have done whether we fail to recognize if it’s right or wrong. Some outcomes may be painful but the beautiful part here is we can have the chance to stand up and prove to ourselves that we can survive. Lesson learned? Never expect. Less expectations. Less disappointments.

PUT HIM ON TOP

Since the day I’ve heard this sermon of one of the priest in Quiapo Church, the thought has been engraved in my heart and mind conciously. His sermon was about prayers classifying that we have prayers where we ask for forgiveness, for wishes/wants/needs, and for thanksgiving.

Among the three kinds of prayers, I was moved on how the priest explained the power of prayer asking for thanks. He said that it is our RENEWED LIFE everyday that should be first to thanked for.

Since then every morning as I woke up, the first thing that I ask is the prayer of thanks. Being grateful that He has given me again another life to continue together with His plans. In that way I strongly believe, I will be able to put Him on top.