:(

And with this, my seven year stint with the gems and jewellery industry comes to an end. I had known it long back in April itself but it came as a rude shock when I couldn’t upload today’s news in the morning. I had thought I could upload one last news piece on the last day. This industry has been my most favorite industry and I am certainly feeling sentimental.

Even Jesus knows how sentimental and vulnerable I am and that is why, much before this stint could come to an end, He shifted me in my yet another favorite industry – education. So I know even if I don’t have one thing, I still can be happy because I have something equally nice.

All good things come to an end. But in my case, God has been gracious to me and already began a good thing in my life much before the previous one could come to an end.

Thursday, 30th September, 2004

September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) and this is the day in the year 2004 our piglet was born. The economic scenario, in the 3rd quarter of 2004, the world economy grew by around 3.2%. I am unsure of this but the one thing I am sure of is that my body percentage had also been increasing this year because of the cute piglet in my womb. Google research tells me that there was a lackluster environment in France. Even in my case, there was a lackluster situation. I lacked all lustre because of my pregnancy. In God-knows-where Lunlunta, the copper cables that carry local telephony were stolen on this day, leaving two villages without telephones. Hehehe…

So you see, worldwide there was chaos and something similar was happening in our world also. A child was to be born – there was pain and anxiety and then total happiness around 7:55 pm when the pink piglet, Goldie, was finally born and was taken in a green plastic tray for bath. Ah, what joy and happiness and peace I experienced.


And today we celebrate her ninth birthday. How time flies!!!

1 Corinthians 13

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Feeling proud :)

Today's art class...

AMEN!!!

New Eve/Nova Eva

Often we hear Jesus being called the New Adam and Mother Mary as the New Eve. One of the many doctrines of the Romanists that find no place in the Word of God is that of Mary as the “New Eve” and it is my favorite topic of research.

The first insight regarding the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given by the Church Fathers was the vision of Mary as the New Eve. It is Mary’s obedience to God that makes up for the disobedience of Eve. In the mystery of the Annunciation the Virgin Mary takes the role of the New Eve. The Virgin Mary is the New Eve who resists the lies of the serpent and whose son Jesus, too is obedient to God. MARY, THE NEW EVE, FREELY OBEYED GOD.

Before the great mystery of the incarnation, Mary spoke her 'yes' and was faithful to God. She became a handmaid of the Lord. Eve's disobedience introduced spiritual death into man's history. Mary's faith-filled obedience to God blazes a new path toward life in Jesus. Mary, as the mother of the Savior, the mother of God and the Church, she is therefore the New Eve. Her “yes” balances the first Eve's “no”. As Eve had believed the serpent, so Mary believed the angel. It was Eve's “yes” to Satan (and “no” to God) that began the Fall, and it was Mary's “yes” to God at Annunciation that began the Salvation story. Furthermore, Mary as “Eve unfallen” and the true “Mother of All the Living” is more than simply the “New Eve” who redeems Eve. The theme of Mary as the new Eve carries deep theological dimensions.

And last Sunday i.e. on 15th September, I had a presentation for the Confirmation class on this very topic. It was the first time that I could be comfortable and confident with a PPT. Feeling great!!!

L’Oreal Shampoo

Till now I had been a loyal die-hard Dove shampoo fan but I have been facing serious hair fall issue for a while now. So I wanted some change in my hair care. I needed a shampoo that could give my hair extra strength and yet be so gentle because my hair deserves the best possible care.

I neither have been paid by them to write this nor I am their brand ambassador, still I will write that after Dove, one shampoo which I can vouch for is L'Oréal Paris. I usually don’t use conditioners as it doesn’t agree with my hair but by mistake I had bought L’oreal conditioner instead of shampoo and I must say that both the conditioner as well as the shampoo is working wonderfully for me. Now it has become one of my favorites.
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I have started using Advanced Haircare Total Repair 5 Restoring Shampoo by L'Oreal Paris. I can actually make out that it instantly repairs damaged hair, split ends, weakness, roughness, dullness and other hair problems. I was on the lookout for the perfect shampoo to suit my hair and I am glad that I could hit upon this expert hair care range at L'Oreal Paris. Now I am regularly using the conditioner and other hair care treatments for healthy, shiny hair as the brand has expert formulas for all hair types.

Hopefully, my hair which had been thinning for quite some time now will grow normal. My curls will look beautiful like earlier and my hair will always be at their best at all times. I hope that my hair becomes smooth and sleek with all the nutrition and protection I am providing them now. The slogan for L'Oreal shampoo is 'Because you're worth it' and I hope that the shampoo will be worth my hair.

1 Tim 1:12-17

I give thanks to Christ Jesus, our Lord, who is my strength, who has considered me trustworthy and appointed me to his service, although I had been a blasphemer, a persecuter and a rabid enemy. However, he took mercy on me because I did not know what I was doing when I opposed the faith; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, along with the faith and the love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is true and worthy of belief: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. For this reason I was forgiven, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his generous patience as an example for all those who would believe in him and obtain eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, honour and glory forever and ever. Amen!

LIVING WATERS FLOW ON

Living waters flow on
Sweep away my pain
Bring your healing to my heart
Help me love once again

Cares and worries get me down
Fear of failure fills my day
When I'm lost and all alone
Help me Lord to find Your way

People knocking at my door
Strangers seeking love and care
Never let me turn them down
Teach me gently how to share

Children come into my life
With their laughter and their song
When will I become like them
Teach me Lord to sing along

Living waters flow on
Sweep away my pain
Bring your healing to my heart
Help me love once again.

Col 1:15-20

Christ Jesus is the image of the unseen God, the firstborn of all creation, for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, rulers, authorities, powers; all things were made through him and for him. He is before all things and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is also the first, the firstborn from the dead, that he may be the first in everything, for God was pleased to let all fullness dwell in him. Through him God willed to reconcile all things to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by establishing peace through his blood shed on the cross.

TEACHERS DAY

Thus goes an old saying: “School is our second home and teachers are our second parents”

Teachers' Days (or Teachers Day) is intended to be a special day for the appreciation of teachers. Teacher's Day in India is held on September 5, on the birthday of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, India's second President and a teacher by profession. He was also one of the most distinguished diplomats and scholars. So Teachers Day is celebrated as a mark of tribute to the contribution made by him toward the society.

Teachers have an influencing role in the life of every student. They are like beacons of light, guiding students in the formative years of their life. There was this one and only teacher named Archana in Bhilai who was ever good to me. She is my all time favourite teacher as instead of doing good, all others could only humiliate me some way or the other. But she was always good to me.

I left Bhilai in 1989 and sadly, till last week, I didn’t know anything about her. I did a bit of research on her and have found her on FB. She’s still in Bhilai and aging gracefully. She looks extremely charming. I have sent her a friend request but I really don’t know whether or not she will accept it.

As Teachers' Day aims to raise awareness of the importance of the role played by teachers all over the world, today with a sincere heart I want to pay reverence and gratitude to her for her selfless effort in shaping my mind. I firmly believe that a teacher should be a person like her who always helps everybody to get the knowledge and always stand beside the students when they have problems. I really thank her for being the best teacher of my life. Like I wrote before, she’s the only one who never ever humiliated me. She is just one that teacher. Others always managed to hurt me in some way or the other.

Thanks to FB, I have found so many classmates from sector 5 school and a few teachers as well. I always thought I will never be able to find her because I only remembered her name (Archana) and that she was my class teacher in 1988-89 (Std VIth C). And that’s it. I didn’t remember anything more about her but hey hold on, if our intentions are good; one can find anything in this world. So I have at last able to find her out in this whole wide world. And so today I feel like appreciating my most popular and beloved teacher. How I wish I could speak to her!!!

In my heart, she has a high regard and respect. On this Teacher's Day, I express my love and gratitude for my dear teacher. Therefore I have searched for Archana Miss with great enthusiasm. She was the only teacher who made me feel good about myself. And the biggest teacher who makes me feel good is obviously Jesus Christ, the greatest teacher ever – who was, who is and who will be.

Happy Teachers Day to both of them!!!

PS: Yesterday had a nice and memorable time with the Ss of the “Project T”. Totally overwhelmed by their love, affection and words – truly these came straight from their hearts.

Surprise Visitor

We had a surprise visitor on the night of 3rd September, 2013. I have not been keeping well since a long time and especially this week has been extremely bad for me. I keep getting excruciating back and shoulder pain and all my joints are stiff. I find it extremely difficult to do any work and it’s exceedingly difficult to even go anywhere out of the way. So when I had to attend the bimonthly Eucharistic Ministers meeting last night, I just didn’t want to go. But somehow I dragged myself as I hadn’t attended the last meeting as well. I didn’t want to miss it this time. Luckily, the meeting wasn’t at all boring and got over well before time.

So, while I was coming home, I met our loving parish priest, Fr. Michael. While I was talking to him, he expressed the desire to come home with me. How could I say no to him? He didn’t even allow me to inform my daughters about his visit as he wanted to give them a surprise. And so, my daughters had a surprise visitor last night.

He found Googaa “coyest” and Goldie to be having an “enigmatic smile”. He was very happy to know that we have not yet started giving them any pocket money and found it extremely delightful that they have their own savings account opened from the money they got during their respective baptisms. He found it really nice that whenever we are in urgency, they give us loan and we repay them later on. He said he will mention these all in one of his forthcoming sermons.

After Fr. Michael went away, I kept pondering about the whole incident and these Biblical words sprung up in my mind - “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me”. And that’s what He did last night. He paid my daughters a surprise visit in the form of our much loved Fr. Michael. They were extremely surprised to hear a cat meowing outside the door and further surprised when the cat happened to be their very own Fr. Michael. Truly, Jesus can come at any time and within any given generation. Nobody can know the exact time and day. We have to be alert.

So, feeling humbled and blessed and very happy as Fr. Michael prayed for peace and happiness in our home and on the kids also. Fr. Michael has such a magnetic character – all kids love him and love to go around with him. He loves them all equally and knows each one of them by face and name. He has kind and appreciative words for all of them and is never seen with a grumpy face. He is just adorable.

1 Thes 5:1-6.9-11

You do not need anyone to write to you about the delay and the appointed time for these events. You know perfectly well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people feel secure and at peace, the disaster will suddenly come upon them, as the birth pangs upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that this day will not surprise you like a thief. All of you are citizens of the light and the day; we do not belong to night and darkness. Let us not, therefore, fall asleep as others do, but remain alert and sober. For God has not willed us to be condemned but to win salvation through Christ Jesus our Lord. He died for us so that we might enter into life with him, whether we are still awake or already asleep. Therefore, encourage one another and build up one another, as you are doing now.

Sir 3:17-18.20.28-29

My son, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved by those who are acceptable to God. The greater you are, the more you should humble yourself, and thus you will find favour with God. For great is the power of the Lord, and it is the humble who give him glory. For the sufferings of the proud man there is no remedy, for the roots of evil are implanted in him. The wise man reflects on proverbs; what the wise man desires is an attentive ear.

And I always thought I couldn't draw...

Drawn on 30th August, 2013...Friday...