Will Life Begins At 40?

 I hope so! But, I'm not sure about it. My wife greeted me yesterday a happy birthday. Then today, my mother did prepare something for me and and greeted me, too! Well, I'm not really used to having a birthday celebration and all I want is just a simple one with or without it. But, of course, I'm thankful for what they did for me!

Whenever my natal day is coming each year, I usually had to recall my early days and compared them with my life today. I don't feel old and hate getting old anyway! I want to stay young if possible. But, all of us will get a little older each year, becoming more mature and getting more serious in life. I have to face it! But life must not end in seriousness nor in happiness, it should be balanced.

What makes me realize then, whenever I had a recollection of my past, is that, I already have a life and family of my own. Those early moments in my life as a boy, a teen, and now, as an adult has brought me into a stage of maturity, more responsible and being independent. I learn from my childhood the importance of a family, friends and company. I learn how to earn money when I was 9 years old because I came from a poor family and happy for our early beginnings in life. I learned how to be simple in life, in custom, in attitude and the importance of love and charity. Family should be bounded in love and harmony. Should help one another and learn the most important thing, which is to love our parents.

I'm thankful for my parents for raising me in a very strict manner, full of discipline, becoming obedient, loving and the greatest of all, having fear in God.

Now that I'm 40, I hope and wish that God will lengthen my life, and bless me spiritually and physically, maybe with another 40 years in life just like my parents; that I may be able to see what would befall us in the last days. To feel how good it is to be in the millenium times and become a part of it. That I may be able see and feel for myself how good a life can be when peace and justice will be restored on earth.

I wish also that my wife and son will be more blessed, and my son will be able to achieve what I wanted him to be. I wish to be more patient, understanding and of sound-mind, for I don't want to be a burdensome one day to my family. When I'm old enough, I want to be more self-independent and spend my life in simplicity.

Call for Peace in 2010

There Is Hope For Peace

(1)                                                                                                           (6)

When chaos fills men’s hearts with fear         Every nation aspires for peace.

And everywhere confusion reigns;                  Terrorist are minorities.

When dreams are dashed to nothingness       Hands reach out to cooperate,

And only emptiness remains,                            Hearts yearn to settle all disputes.

I choose to believe                                              Peace can be achieved

There is hope for peace.                                     In this century.

                                                                                                               

(2)                                                                                                           (7)

When laughter is no longer heard                     America, Afghanistan,

And only cries of pain resounds                       hear, O Israel, Pakistan,

For loved ones gone so suddenly                    Arab lands in the Middle East:

As buildings fell ‘midst smoke and flames;    you want to enter into rest.

I choose to declare                                              Peace can be achieved

There is hope for peace.                                     In this century.

(3)                                                                                                           (8)

When a nation mighty and strong                    Come, let us reason together,

Becomes victim to hell’s forces,                       Let us not fill out thoughts with war,

Who can blame the rest of the world               Happiness and prosperity

For dreading an impending doom?                  Are the goals of humanity.

I choose to affirm                                                Peace can be achieved

There is hope for peace.                                     In this century.

(4)                                                                                                           (9)

When anger binds the hearts of men               Return to righteousness, nations,

And hatred rears its ugly head,                         for love is stronger than hate.

Talks of deep vengeance fill the mind,              Life, not death, is the gift of God;

And reason might be pushed aside.                 Each land has a place in the sun.

I choose to announce                                         Peace can be achieved

There is hope for peace.                                     In this century.

(5)                                                                                                           (10)

When all are wakeful in the night                     Though your past is filled with battles,

Worrying what might happen next,                 Your future can be sealed with peace.

And restless as the day goes by                      You can be a blessing to all

Thinking when a war would break out,           As you work in true harmony.

I choose to assert                                                Peace can be achieved

There is hope for peace.                                     In this century.

                                                                                                               

                                                                Carmelita H. Acosta

                                                                Manila

There Is Hope For Peace

(1)
When chaos fills men's hearts with fear
and everywhere confusions reigns;
when dreams are dashed to nothingness
and only emptiness remains,
I choose to believe
there is hope fore peace.

(2)
When laughter is no longer heard
and only cries of pain resounds
for loved ones gone so suddenly
as buildings fell 'midst smoke and flames;
I choose to declare
there is hope for peace.

(3)
When a nation mighty and strong
becomes victim to hell's forces,
who can blame the rest of the world
for dreading an impending doom?
I choose to affirm
there is hope for peace.

(4)
When anger binds the hearts of men
and hatred rears its ugly head,
talks of deep vengeance fill the mind,
and reason might be pushed aside.
I choose to announce
there is hope for peace.

(5)
When all are wakeful in the night
worrying what might happen next,
and restless as the day goes by
thinking when a war would break out,
I choose to assert
there is hope for peace.

(6)
Every nation aspires for peace.
Terrorist are minorities.
Hands reach out to cooperate,
hearts yearn to settle all disputes.
Peace can be achieved
in this century.

(7)
America, Afghanistan,
hear, O Israel, Pakistan,
Arab lands in the Middle East:
you want to enter into rest
peace can be achieved
in this century.

(8)
Come, let us reason together,
let us not fill out thoughts with war,
happiness and prosperity
are the goals of humanity.
Peace can be achieved
in this century.

(9)
Return to righteousness, nations,
for love is stronger than hate.
Life, not death, is a gift of God;
each land has a place in the sun.
Peace can be achieved
in this century.

(10)
Though your past is filled with battles,
your future can be sealed with peace.
You can be a blessing to all
as you work in true harmony.
Peace can be achieved
in this century.

Carmelita H. Acosta
Manila