Use Your Gifts

A picture taken in Thailand with my family and my brother, John Tamayo, SDB in Thailand a few years back. I love the background! So peaceful.

Happy New Year everyone!!! With this greeting comes a story that I don’t want to forget, which I think is great for the beginning of a new year. New hopes! New dreams! New plans! So here it goes and I hope that you can take something good out of it.

I attended this one Sunday mass in November of 2016 and I sat by my friend, Hannah. As we were about to sit for the readings, Hannah told me, “You sing perfectly,” with a smile. I was so happy. Later on, it was time to line up for communion. As I was walking in the center aisle, I was drawn to the huge pink purse of the lady in front of me. Suddenly, I remembered why. A friend of mine had given to me exactly the same bag. Questions popped in my head. Why am I seeing this? Does God have a special message? “Ginagamit n’ya yung bag n’ya,” I thought in Tagalog, which meant “She is using her bag. Mine was a gift from Vida last Christmas and it was still up our closet. My mind started playing with the words use and gift. Voila!”Use your gift or rather use your gifts!”  This message struck my heart with joy as I was about to receive Jesus in holy communion.

My pink purse given to me as a Christmas gift by my friend Vida. By the way, I am using it now.

As the mass drew to a close, of course, I sang again to my heart’s content.  When we were done singing the final hymn, the lady in front of me turned around and invited me to join their choir. Wow! I was taken aback! That was three in a row. God was probably saying, “If this does not get your attention, I don’t know what will.” Oh, Lord, I get it. I do!

PRAYER: For the new year, help us Jesus to listen to you more and follow your voice. May we be more giving of our time, talent and treasure to You because all of these came from You, anyway. You are our Creator!  “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them: if prophecy, in proportion to the faith; if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching; if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others,with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12: 6-8)“  Senor Sto. Nino, be with us!

The Holy Infant Jesus (courtesy of the Sinulog festival at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Hickory, NC)