Waking Up Everyday

“The LORD’S loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”
– Lamentations 3:22-23 NASB
I learned to play the guitar when I was just 9 years old.  As I grew older, I develop the skill by constant practice and by carefully observing other guitar players.  One guitarist in the church I’m attending caught my attention because of his extraordinary way of playing the guitar, and the bass guitar.  I found myself admiring his skills.  Fidel is a natural, I told myself.

“Shake him!  Shake him!”, I heard one of the band members shouting as he heard the fresh news.  “Fidel is not moving!”  He didn’t wake up this morning!  To our disappointment, he passed away in a young age of 21.  During his wake, the people kept on telling their stories on how this young man touched their lives.  And the song that Fidel always sang when he was still alive is the music that kept ringing in that wake.  It still keeps ringing in my ears now.

Agos ng batis, buhay ng tao (the running waters of the river, the life of man)
Tumatakbong sabay ito (together they ran…)
Sa dagat na wakas ang tungo (to the sea which heads to the end)
Ang buhay mong sa Diyos nanggaling (Your life that came from God)
Sa Diyos mo rin itagubilin (to God, you entrust)
Gamitin mong pagpapala (spend it as a blessing…)
Sa buhay ng iyong kapwa (…to your fellow’s life)

I was blessed by his life.  I was the one who replaced him as the bass guitarist of the church a year after his death.  What I’m thankful to God is that, I still wake up every morning to continue life…

Sometimes we come to a point when we no longer appreciate waking up everyday.  After Fidel’s case of death by failing to wake up, I learned a great lesson. After that horrible event, I became more aware that – not every person who sleeps, wakes up again. God is good. His loving kindness never cease, his compassion never ends.  His faithfulness is great!  We always have another day to live, to move on.  Another day to make up for our mistakes, to apologize for offenses….  To be a blessing to others….Or better yet, to turn back to God and make things right with him.  Others were not given that great opportunity, they just slept and never woke up again.

I’ve learned that waking up is a big blessing, a great miracle.  It’s more of a privilege than a right.  It’s a manifestation of the Lord’s steadfast love and unfailing mercy. One good reason enough for us to be led back into his loving arms, where we belong.  He loves us so much that he gave us this day to reconsider our lives. Isn’t it beautiful?  Yes, it’s worth saying again and again, God is so good!  This day, live your life for Him. Be a blessing to others, for later we’ll sleep and who knows if we’ll ever wake up again?