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How does one heal a broken heart?

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How does one get over a loss? How can life be any sweeter than before? Moving on, easier said than done. Some take it one day at a time. Others defer to self help books. While others plan. Plan a life ahead, planning for the unknown. Or some start getting busy. Busy for no one and nothing in particular. Will any of these make any difference?

What once was a picture perfectly painted in your head was simply a dream. You feel alone in this struggle. Unable to look people straight in the eyes. You no longer find delight in what once was a happy memory for you or life for that matter. Despite the smile, there is deep aching sadness in those eyes. Simply because behind those eyes is a human being. Made up of desires, hope and dreams. Risking and giving their hearts to fellow flawed human beings who don’t know how to take care of such fragile and pure hearts.

My dear, you have got to understand, some just can’t simply handle such responsibility.

Now, picking up the pieces or maybe what was left of you. Bruised. Torn. Shaken. Forever scarred. It’s amazing how some can smile despite so much pain.

It is never wise to pin your hopes on man. Man is fickle. The Lord, enduring.

How can you give comfort to those who have lost a child? Or lost who they thought was the love of their life? How can words be any comfort, if it is any at all?

How does one heal a broken heart?

The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against evildoers, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. – Psalm 34:15-18


May the link below also bring you comfort as I have found it to be:
God’s Pathway to Brokenness

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Finding Solace on Christmas Day

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It’s only a couple of hours before Christmas day, and right now, the house is a complete standstill. Everyone’s in their rooms resting in preparation for tonight’s festivities.

And this is just the opportune time for me to think thoroughly why we are celebrating this occasion. The company of family is heartwarming, parties with friends are good as well, gifts are nice to receive and give. Everything feels good right now. But there are some people I know who will be celebrating alone. Right now, this very instant, alone on Christmas eve.

My friend, this post is for you.You are not alone. You never have been.

Christmas offers many truths, but surely this is one: You are of great worth to God.

Taking these cues, I bring you a prayer and a blessing:

To all who’ve been dismissed or tossed aside;

To all who, made bitter by the cracks in your story, now tremble or seethe at the mention of ”love”;

To every weary-boned parent saddled with regret or loss or despair;

To every child, grown yet still yearning for tenderness and acceptance;

To every one of us who compulsively judge our reflection in the mirror or replay conversations over and over or carry every criticism to a dark, dark place;

To each of us who are ashamed of our fears and our machinations and who hide the fact that in our own sophisticated ways we still have to leave the light on at night.

I pray that you will know, these beautiful days, the profound worth of your soul, the sturdy weight of your being. There is an astounding splendor in you—and I know this because the God of all beauty and power has called you into existence. And God delights in the sheer presence that is you. – Winn Collier

The Lord is closest to the struggling, the empty and especially the broken. Today, rejoice. You are not alone. You don’t have to be. Jesus’ very birth is the reason why those who are in their darkest can find solace and comfort in the fact that He was born to us.

Smile my friend. Our Saviour is born.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. - Luke 2
And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
– Luke 2
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The International Community pledge aid to Filipinos

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The International Community pledge aid to Filipinos || Please SHARE and show our gratitude to them

USA: : Obama said America “is already providing significant humanitarian assistance and we stand ready to further assist the (Philippines) government’s relief and recovery efforts.”

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the millions of people affected by this devastating storm,” Obama said in a statement.

The U.S. government aid – both military and civilian – began flowing as relief efforts got under way by international organizations and private relief groups.

The U.S. Agency for International Development is sending supplies, including emergency shelter and hygiene materials, to help 10,000 families. The supplies are expected to arrive early this week, according to a spokeswoman.

USAID also is dispatching 55 metric tons of emergency food to feed 20,000 children and 15,000 adults for up to five days, the agency said.
90 U.S. Marines and sailors arrived in the Philippines as part of a first wave of promised U.S. military assistance, which included aircraft for search and rescue operations.

EU: EU: European Union Ambassador Guy Ledoux to the Philippines also expressed yesterday his solidarity with the Filipinos and announced humanitarian teams and relief packages were on their way to affected areas.

“The Philippines has been severely tested by nature on several occasions this year. As it confronts yet another natural calamity, I express my solidarity with the Filipino people and my deep sympathy with those who have lost their loved ones or their livelihoods,” Ledoux said in a statement. The European Union Humanitarian Aid & Civil Protection said it is deploying four experts to areas near Cebu and Leyte and will also help assess the plight of the victims of the recent earthquake on the island of Bohol.

Australia: Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says the Australian Government will contribute $10 million in aid, which will include $390,500 of emergency supplies previously announced by Ms Bishop on Saturday.
“I have approved a $10 million package of humanitarian assistance. This comprises the urgent deployment of an Australian medical assistance team – at a cost of about $1 million, $3 million to be deployed through Australian non-government organisations, $4 million to the United Nations flash appeal,” she said.
“[We will also contribute] $1 million for additional food items and non-food items, which includes the funding already announced – so tarps, mosquito nets, water containers and the like, and $1 million to the Red Cross to assist in their disaster response efforts.”

Canada: Canada is donating PHP 206M for Yolanda victims

“Canada is deeply concerned by the impact of this catastrophic typhoon,” said Canadian Minister of International Development and Minister for La Francophonie Christian Paradis said in a statement.

New Zealand: New Zealand will give another $2 million to support humanitarian relief efforts in the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan, Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully announced this afternoon.
The money is in addition to the $150,000 already pledged.
“Typhoon Haiyan has caused significant damage and affected more than 4.4 million people across 36 provinces in the Philippines,” Mr McCully said.
“New Zealand will provide $750,000 in dollar for dollar funding to New Zealand non-government organisations that are working with partners on the ground to support the relief and initial recovery effort. We will also set aside a further $1.25 million in funding to be allocated over the coming days as the priority areas for support are identified.”
The $150,000 that New Zealand had already committed would go to the International Federation for Red Cross to support the immediate distribution of relief supplies and conduct needs assessment.
In addition, an official from the New Zealand Aid Programme would be joining the specialist United Nations Disaster Assessment Co-ordination team.

UK: David Cameron has offered £6m in emergency aid to the president of the Philippines to help dealing with the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan.
The Prime Minister called President Benigno Aquino III to pledge the UK’s full support following the deadly storm and to offer the country’s thoughts to the victims.

The Prime Minister said that our thoughts are with all those affected, especially those who have lost loved ones,” a Downing Street spokeswoman said.
“We have also sent four humanitarian experts to the Philippines to assist three advisers already in the country helping to coordinate the international response.”

Belgium: Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) said it was sending 200 tons of aid—medicine, tents, hygiene kits—to arrive mid-week, with a first cargo plane leaving from Dubai on Monday and another from Belgium on Tuesday.
Israel: IsraAID will send a team this week to assist local NGOs and UN agencies in treating hundreds of thousands of people affected by a powerful typhoon that hit the Philippines Friday.

Indonesia: Indonesia will offer humanitarian aid to the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan’s deadly landfall, the president’s office said on Sunday. “[The] president is concerned about the natural disaster that happened in the Philippines,” Presidential Spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha told the Indonesian newspaper Kompas. “We are working on humanitarian aid which will be processed under the BNPB [National Disaster Mitigation Agency] and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

UAE: The UAE has announced support and assistance programmes and projects worth Dh37 million for Philippine typhoon victims on the directive of the President, Sheikh Khalifa.
“The UAE extends its deepest sympathies for the loss of life and property,” the Government said.
“The UAE stands by the people of the Philippines in these tragic circumstances and commends the Government of the Philippines and its emergency workers for making all possible efforts in providing aid and relief to the victims.

Germany: Germany is also providing support. Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle pledged 500,000 euros in immediate humanitarian aid for typhoon victims. “Germany wants to help, Germany will help,” he was quoted as saying. German President Joachim Gauck expressed his condolences to his Filipino counterpart Benigno Aquino, saying “It was with extraordinary dismay that I heard of the thousands of deaths and countless injured.”
Nicolas Hefner, spokesperson for the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) told DW his agency would be sending a team to Manila to determine where and how the German government can help. The THW provides assistance in areas such as purifying drinking water, cleaning contaminated wells and providing emergency accommodation.

UN: UN leader Ban Ki-moon promised UN humanitarian agencies would “respond rapidly to help people in need”.
The UN children’s fund UNICEF said a cargo plane carrying 60 tonnes of aid including shelters and medicine would arrive in the Philippines Tuesday, to be followed by deliveries of water purification and sanitation equipment.

Vatican: Pope Francis, “deeply saddened” by the disaster, on Sunday urged Catholics to provide “concrete help” and led 60,000 people in prayers for the Philippines. “Sadly, there are many, many victims and the damage is huge,” he said. On Saturday, he had tweeted his sympathy to the Asian nation.
Norway: Norway commits to a contribution of NOK 20 million (PHP 140 million) in immediate humanitarian assistance to the Philippines. The NOK 20 million will be channeled through the UN, the Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations which have access to the affected areas.

“I want to express sympathy with the Filipino people who have been hit so hard by this disaster. We follow the humanitarian situation in the Philippines closely and will provide further assistance when we get a better overview of the needs,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende in a statement posted on the Norwegian Embassy website.
Sweden: Sweden Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, meanwhile, tweeted that Stockholm will be sending equipment for emergency communications to the Philippines

Japan: Japan, meanwhile, said it is sending a 25-member team, mostly medical personnel, to help following the devastation of typhoon Yolanda.

Singapore: Singaporeans and Filipinos here are rallying to help victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force has sent a team to Tacloban, the worst-hit city, to aid rescue efforts by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday.
In a letter to Philippine President Benigno Aquino, Mr Lee offered his condolences and help.
“The Philippines has always demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity. I am confident that your people will pull together and rebuild their lives… Our thoughts are with the people of the Philippines during this difficult time,” he wrote.

Switzerland: Switzerland has sent five experts from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit to the Philippines after a devastating typhoon reportedly killed at least 10,000 people.
The Swiss foreign ministry said the group left on Saturday evening and would work closely with international aid organisations, delivering emergency assistance.

The foreign ministry said three Swiss experts, including doctors, were already in the Philippines. They are liaising closely with the Swiss embassy in Manila and assessing the needs of the people on the ground.

Hungary: A team carrying medical equipment and 15,000 dollars in aid from the Hungarian Reformed Charity will leave for the typhoon-hit Philippines on Monday, the charity told MTI on Sunday.

Denmark: Danmark giver 10 millioner i tyfon-hjælp til Filippinerne. – Det er en meget markant naturkatastrofe, hvor hundredetusinder af mennesker nu er i sorg og i nød, og derfor har vi besluttet at give op til 10 millioner kroner i nødhjælp, siger udviklingsminister Christian Friis Bach (R) til DR Nyheder.
Hjælpen kan blandt andet bestå af mad, vand og telte.
– Pengene vil være til rådighed så snart der ligger en appel fra FN. FN og de filippinske myndigheder er i fuld gang med at få overblik over katastrofen og vurdere behovene. Så udsender de en appel, og der vil vi med det samme byde ind, siger ministeren.
Ireland: The Government has announced €1m in emergency funding towards the relief effort in the Philippines following the widespread destruction and loss of life caused by Typhoon Haiyan. Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore said the funding would go towards shelter, food, water and health.

Netherlands: Pledges the Philippine government 2,000,000 Euros

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No Longer Home

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I was practically brought up by my grandmother, well, the formative years part atleast. Coming back from abroad, my parents decided that my paternal grandmother was the best person to look out for me and my brother.

Grammy is the best. She was and still is the peg of what I want to achieve in life. A hard worker, intelligent and money-savvy, Gram also ran a beautiful, comfortable home which was the envy of the neighborhood.

She held little lunches for family and friends and believe me, it was always done with taste and a touch of elegance. Because that was how she was brought up and I have to thank my great grandparents for that.

When my parents finally came home from abroad and we moved into our new house, I was already in my gradeschool years. Basically, what I learned from my grandmother was enough to mold me into the person I am today. Thus, the formative years in a child is vital. It will set them for life.

My life started out comfortably. We had a car, a huge property, two stay at home helpers, had vacations, went to a good school. Everything was good.

Then my parents separated for reasons I will no longer divulge in this post.

When you are a product of separation, it will always be a chip on your shoulder. You feel that everything is unstable, unreliable and unsafe. You are unable to trust, to give love and accept love in return.

Everything became “official” when I was in my college years. I was forced to leave the expensive ladies dormitory I was staying in for economical reasons. I felt humiliated and beaten down.

I only felt shame for my family. How can we start out so well and end like this? If my parents really did love us, how can they let me and my brother suffer so much? To be gossiped in family circles, etc.?

I was even branded by some family members and family “friends” as anorexic and ungrateful while my brother as a withdrawn drug addict. Yes, some people go that far. No one was there to protect me and my brother from such attacks. Weren’t we the real victims in this story?

And because of that, I grew up fast.

Me and my brother didn’t like attending those lunches anymore or any gathering for that matter, beacause my family’s present circumstances was jiucy gossip. Our struggles were fodder and at times, a source of amusement for their “perfect” lives.

I focused all my energies in school. I became part of the debate team, made it to theatre arts, had good grades, etc. Partly because of my desire to get out. I said to myself that if I make good, me and my brother can start all over again. This time without our unreliable and unstable parents and the people who “wanted what was best for us”.

Things didn’t go according to plan. I graduated, yes, but I was miserable on the inside. I got my first job in a reputable company but I was unhappy with work. I moved from one job to the next. I messed around with men (regardless of the age and marital status), I excercised too much and ate very little. These were the things in my life that I thought I could control.

My view of marriage was that it was rubbish. If I could get away with the things I did, marriage didn’t mean anything. Commitment didn’t mean anything to me because my concept of family was non-existent.

I looked gaunt. My brother even told me one day that he didn’t recognize me anymore because I was so thin. He called me a walking skeleton. Some good friends mentioned that they were worried for me. I brushed it off and said, I ate. I showed them I ate. But after that, I excercised like there was no tomorrow and my guilt was just to big to swallow.

I have graduated from some of my struggles, but there are still some things I still have to deal with everyday. Simply because hurt people, hurt people. In my case, I wasn’t only hurt, I was a broken person.

So for all parents out there, let me give you a word of advice: never fight in front of your child. Never talk bad about your spouse. Never belittle your spouse, after all your child is also a part of them. If divorce or separation is inevitable, explain to the child why. If its not too much to ask, be civil with each other.

My point of the story? Being a product of a dysfunctional home is no laughing matter. In fact, it will be a spiral down for some people. I was able to get away from some horrible things I did by the skin of my teeth. It was that bad and they still haunt me to this day.

In the end, the life you bring into this world, your child and his/her future, is all that matters. Why would you even be a parent in the first place?

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Selling Life Insurance: An Agent’s Secret Struggles and Quiet Triumphs

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Author: Miss Duckie

Two years ago, I was at the supermarket doing my grocery when I bumped into a former acquaintance. We talked for about 5 minutes and he asked where I was working. I said, “I work for PruLife UK”, “ Is this the Insurance company?” He asked. I nodded and said Yes. While talking to him, he slowly walked backwards and cut our conversation with a quick good bye. Poof! He disappeared into the canned goods section. I was left standing with my shopping cart. I smiled, shook my head, chuckled to myself and moved on. Wow! I was only a year in the industry and I already had the ability to repel people.

Some people are scared of the things they do not know and also of the things they already know. I should know, I was a victim of both . As a child, I jumped on a diving board into a 12 feet swimming pool without the thought of drowning. I knew that it was 12 feet deep but the consequences of the depth and the perils of drowning was far from my mind. Eventually, with much struggle, I was able to swim my way up to the surface. Ignorance is very expensive.

I believe in education so I studied the insurance industry. I learned that there are more than 50 products, but I could say there are only 3 main products with a lot of varieties. These 3 products could also be the solution to the 3 unforeseen events that can happen in each person’s lives. How do we prevent a financial problem in the future if (1) we die too soon, (2) live too long or (3) get sick along the way?

Let me summarize the answer into 3 categories:

1st Protection: My mom is a cancer survivor. Although this happened 8 years ago, I remember my dear mom as one of those patients who was unfortunate to be diagnosed with 4th stage cancer. I heard my mom cry several times after her radiation therapy. My mom wanted to die not only because of the excrutiating pain but because of the towering hospital expenses we had, or so I heard. My Dad on the other hand smoked continuously probably thinking where to get the money. I guess we were blessed to have relatives who generously donated some of their resources. Why am I sharing all of sthese? Well, if we had an insurance policy then we would have had a financial solution for medical bills without touching our savings or avoided debt at the mercy of our relatives. We would have a protection from depleted savings.

2nd Savings: I plan to visit the Holy Land in 10 years time. So I should put monthly savings for 7 years in our company while the projected interest rate is at 4-10% . If I get critically ill while saving, this fund won’t be taken away. I will be given money for my hospital bills while my savings remain invested in blue chip companies or government sectors.

The same thing applies to parents who want their children to study in a good school. They will set aside monthly savings so that it will hedge on the inflation rate and they will have the ability to withdraw the funds when the right time comes.

3rd Investments: Do you know that even when you have saved millions of Pesos in the bank and in the unfortunate event that the bank suddently closes, you will only receive 500k regardless of the amount of money you had stored? With the insurance company I represent, we can guarantee a return of 25% of what our clients have invested. They are also given the choice to assign their beneficiaries, not subject to garnishment and no one is allowed to touch their account even if their business has suffered a loss.

I have been in this industry for three years now. I never regretted the day I set foot in our company. I am confident that what I am doing is helping a lot of people save for their future. As a financial consultant, I make sure that my clients understand the product before they commit to it. I haven’t experienced my client getting critically ill. When my client enters retirement age, I will gladly serve them so that they can enjoy their retirement years comfortably.

To define Life Insurance : When a person dies (especially the family breadwinner ), insurance provides the finances to the family who were left behind so that they can continue on living . When a person becomes old, insurance provides them retirement money so that they will continue on living. When a person gets sick, insurance provides financial provisions so that they can get well and continue on living, all without having to touch their savings.

Our company takes the risk out of people’s lives. I am a tenacious insurance agent. My vision is to see people continue on living regardless of life’s ups and downs.