When I was a child, like any other children at school, after hearing all those rosy praises heaped at national heroes of our land, I felt an ever-deepening envy and desire to imitate, equal, or even surpass the likes of Dr. Jose Rizal (shown at the background of our photo).
But as time passed by, it became evident that mine was to simply be just a life of privacy, a little comfort, a little hardship, a blessing from GOD here, and a little trial or chastisement there. Though, at a very minimal degree, I was able to assert myself a hero, during small class debates, won not-too-grandoise an award in Accounting Quiz, Journalism, and some sports fest -- but all too nothing as compared with, perhaps, the prizes and accolades you, my reader, may have received in your own lifetime.
Then I became aware, during this latter part of my life, especially after so many of my most endeared relatives have gone to be with GOD, that life is a wonderful gift from GOD, but is too short to be consumed on fretting, self-pity, or even out-of-tuned comparison with great figures of history. I realized that each of us is given by GOD with an equal opportunity to bloom in this life where you are planted, enjoy, be of help to fellowmen as channel of blessings, and above all, to redound all glory to our Creator, in a way that is unique in you. You are unique; there is nobody exactly the same as you. And only you can do or accomplish what GOD has specifically entrusted to you to be done in this part of eternity and later on beyond this life, in HIS coming Kingdom.
When I realized all these, my perspective instantly changed. I began to appreciate every single moment of my life, as I have never done before. I became content with whatever little I have and I literally stopped inappropriately comparing myself to others and then feeling inadequate most of the time. I stopped worrying, brooding, and fretting. I now look at the glass of water that is half-empty, as half-full. Even with the little or seemingly insignificant good turn-of-events each day; I now magnify and give praise to GOD about.
Dr. Jose Rizal will always be remembered as our nation's greatest hero, no question about it. But he never had a normal family life like what I now enjoy, he never had a son, like Paolo with me, and though he has his monument as tall as 9 feet or so in Luneta (as shown in the photo), I, myself, stand equally as tall, while using Rizal as the background, as I have my son, Paolo, in this life, who will one day be a hero for us, and who knows, for the entire nation as well.
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