Title: My Colorful Pet Parrot
Size: 5 x 7 inches / museum wrapped
Medium: Acrylic
Artist: betsisanders 2010
One can teach a parrot to speak, if only to utter words of praise. How I wish human beings can also be taught to speak only about good things, They say that if you cannot improve the silence, do not speak.
But I write and speak my mind. I hope that with what I have to say today, on Good Friday, one or two people will be inspired. I am conceited and I want what I write, paint or say, to be appreciated , and probably help someone in need to make his/her life a little better, a little happier. ..I m not a shallow person or a person who has 'sayad' or 'topak'.... I'd like to be remembered as a profound significant thoughtful loyal and generous friend. If one or two persons feel that way about me, I will forever be grateful.
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Every Good Friday,it has been my habit to watch the “Seven Last Words” on television. What struck me most about today's sharing or sermon was the first 'sharer'. She didn't have the eloquence or the ability to to be persuasive, fluent or be a powerful speaker. All she did was thank the people who helped her, after she survived being hacked, mutilated by four men. There was a long pause after her 'thank you' speech. I thought that was the shortest most boring 'sharing'. After a while, someone started to sing and I thought that they were getting ready for the next sharer. Meanwhile, at the corner of the stage , rather, altar of Christ the King Church, there she was wearing a chef's uniform and was preparing a salad using her arms. She had no hands.
I was in awe. She has forgiven those who have mutilated her body; had the determination to go on living despite her physical handicap. She is one grateful individual, who had shown her deepest gratitude to all those who had helped her survive her ordeal and pursue a better life. She did not need any words.... I understood.
“Forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”
The priest, who earlier shared his thoughts on the first of the Seven Last Words, said that he once had distanced himself from a sister , or was it a sister in law. He said that the woman wrote him letters, very bad letters, and that he was very much hurt with what the woman had written. He stayed away from the woman, banished her from his life, turned his back on her.
I found myself identifying with this priest's actions or reactions. I, too, have done the same thing, stayed away, turned my back and banished my frenemies from my life.
The priest continued his narration. He said that he later found out that the woman had mental illness. That was when he realized that the woman did not know what she was doing, and that he had forgiven her.
How I wish I could say that my frenemies or detractors also have mental illness, so that it will be easy for me to forgive them.
If I compare what my frenemies had done to me, to what Jesus had to endure... my hurts, my suffering, my complaints are nothing. I just have to look up to Jesus on the cross, who had forgiven those who made him suffer. Who am I not to forgive.
“Father, Forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”
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May I quote Father Orbos, “Do not be a storm to other people's lives.” “Do not cause them pain, or make them worry, or cause them trouble, and sleepless nights.”
What are these storms that enslave you, or chain you, and make you troubled captives?
always needing to be right
constant self pity or self doubt
blaming others instead of looking into one's self and taking resonsibility
endless criticism, gossiping, miakng up stories to prove one's innocence, to prove one is not guilty of any wrongdoing
being happy for others' misery
continual fretting and worryiing
being arrogant and putting other people down, feeling all powerful, all righteous, all popular, all great and mighty
an ungrateful person, never acknowledging the help that was given to her, forgetiing how she was once a recipient of another's generosity
thinking only of one's self, self-centered, selfish
always bragging about her material possessions only shows how sick she really is
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the inability to forgive. That is the greatest shackle or chain that holds me captive. To forgive those who do not know what they are doing. To love the unlovable. This, dear Lord, I have yet to learn, so that i shall be free from the chains that bind me, so that I can be not just happy, but be able to make others happy too. ...and when I can do this, I will be able to attain my latest pursuit... joy
The pursuit of happiness, which was my goal three years ago has been achieved. I can say that I am completely happy. Now, i have raised my level... my pursuit will be of joy. How will I go about this? With God's help, with those people who love me back and with my dearest loved ones and true friends, I will be able to achieve joy, everlasting joy.
betsisanders' prayer....”Lord, teach me and help me to love all sentient beings. to love the unlovable. With your love and guidance, I shall attain this one day. Thank you for making me happy, because only a happy person can make others happy too.”
A
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Be a trained parrot who do not speak ill of others, but brings cheer to children and adults. What a lovely beautiful creation of our Lord. How can you not believe there is a God? This creature, this parrot is just one of God's creations. Believe in God. I do.
betsisanders / Good Friday 2010
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