All Work And No Play

Dear Ate Emz,

Sa totoo lang masaya, madali, mahirap ang buhay. I wanna share my story in life.

I finished college while working at the same time (working student so to speak). Became an Officer in-Charge sa isang branch where I am working. It’s hard to deal with my colleagues kasi naiilang ako. Thinking they are my seniors and been there ahead of me. Mga obstacles na dinaanan ko until such time na tanggap na nila ako as their OIC. Because of my eagerness to work, enthusiasm and responsibility I wanna make sure that the branch under my watch will be greater than the others. Being hard working is not bad at all but working and studying at the same time made my body deteriorate. I got sick till I decided to quit my job. That was the Month of December na wala akong work and to think na breadwinner ako sa pamilya and they are dependent on my resources kaya nga lang wala eh and I need to take a break and rest to restore my health and body back in shape.

I surrender everything up to GOD and Mama Mary. My GM sent me a statue, image of Mama Mary and I’m planning to make a grotto for her.

In spite of everything that I am going through I am still thankful for my life that God has given.

Just Me,
3231

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Dear 3231,

Congratulations for earning your degree through your own efforts and sacrifices! Working students like you have to double your efforts, balance your acts in managing your time between work and study, sleeping or even losing sleep just to cope with the all the demands of school and job. Indeed, patience and perseverance are important factors to sustain your efforts throughout the journey in order to reach your goals in life. In the end, all your sacrifices have paid off and you have reaped its rewards…you’ve got a job!

New challenges met you head on as what you had experienced being new to the company and in a short while, you rose from the ranks and eventually became the Officer in Charge of one branch. It’s understandable that you may feel awkward having gone up the career ladder ahead of other employees who are senior than you. I believe that the maturity and work ethics you have developed during your working student days have served as plus points in the way you managed the situation and earned your co-workers’ acceptance and respect.

However, sometimes all the stresses, pressures, physical as well as emotional exhaustion could take a toll on one’s health. You just have to listen to your body because this could be an indication that it is already complaining and sending you the message that it needs to rest in order to regain its energies. It must have been a difficult decision for you to quit your job, especially considering the fact that you are the breadwinner of the family. But then, you just have to give top priority to your health and wellness for you only have one life and you must remember that health is wealth! Thanking God that you listened to your body!

You see how God continues to take care of you and sends you His message of love and compassion. Your General Manager’s inspiring gesture of giving you that image of our Lady, I believe, was God’s way of leading you to the Blessed Mother. This is actually an invitation for you to seek refuge in her, whose powerful intercessions He cannot decline, as long as it is in accordance to His will. With your prayer encounters with God, I am sure He has many more messages to reveal to you and more blessings to pour through Mama Mary; and certainly, she will be happy that you plan to build a grotto for her.

Everything is grace, including the trials, difficulties, pains, discomforts, you have gone through and will continue to go through. Rest assured that all these are accompanied by the necessary graces to strengthen your faith and trust in His constant and consistent love, mercy, and compassion. He will forever be with you, hence, just hold on to Him at all times.

Remember, when God closes the door, He opens the windows. Sometimes in cases like yours, new opportunities may just surprise you. You might discover other ways of bringing in some income if you sit down with other members of your family and discuss resources (time, talent, treasure) you have, and what you can do together. In the process, family members may become more united with each other in many endeavors, hence, strengthen relationships. And more new blessings will just pour in as God continues to work in mighty ways in your daily lives. All you have to do is to count them. Yes, indeed, you have all the reasons to thank and glorify Him with your life!

God bless you more.
Ate Emz