UNMASKED: God Loves You "As Is"

Negative emotions like anger, fear, and hatred are poison that can shorten our life. But how do we get the negative feelings without allowing ourselves to explode in the process?

UNMASKED Write to Ignite Season 3

During my teenage years, my heart was overflowing with hatred and anger. I was pretending to be strong, independent and brave, but the truth is I was terrified, fearful and feeling empty. Not until I found peace and love from our savior Jesus Christ. I surrendered everything, leaving the baggage that I’ve been carrying since I was young. As I grew a deeper relationship with the Lord, I decided to open myself with other people as well.

The purpose of life is to be happy. There is a little correlation with what we have and how happy we are. Let me put into the spotlight someone who inspires me with her unmasked attitude and real self - the story of Aunt Charito.

meet my pretty auntie Charito

Have you ever wondered how 'differently-abled' individuals maintain a meaningful relationship with others? 

Allow me to share my personal experience living with a special individual who has taught me just to be myself.

Unmask to Build a Meaningful Relationship and Friendship

Despite her special situation, she was a charming tita who I can confide with my problems in life. She usually just stays quiet, but her generous smile uplifts my spirit despite the difficulties of life; whatever they may be. She might not be able to give me the best advice in the world, but hers was the most heartfelt one, with the most innocent view of life.

People growing up with a learning disability often feel a sense of embarrassment. They wear masks to cover their weaknesses. Sadly, these feelings of embarrassment often lead the individual to hide their feelings. This is usually the reason why their families would keep them at home, away from the pinning and judgmental public eyes.

old family photo together with my siblings, my late grandma and auntie Charito

But such is not the case with my aunt Charito, her unmasked attitude and real self inspire us to treat them with respect just like any normal individual. Even when I was a kid, I already knew there's something special about her. I still remember our grandmother telling us that she is a "yellow baby", an inborn state caused by a couple's blood incompatibility. My lolo had blood Type O while lola has blood Type AB. This is what they call ABO incompatibility in pregnancy.

innocent like a child

The only remarkable feature anyone would notice about her is her difficulty in processing speech and motor coordination, aside from the fact that she often acts like a child. Despite her condition, Aunt Charito went to school and finished a Library Science course in college, to the surprise of most people. She wanted to become a librarian back then. Her siblings, my other titas and titos, told us she had many friends, and even had a boyfriend! :)

fond memories with Aunt Charito

Aunt "Ato", for short, was also fashionable. Now in her 60s, she would still dress-up and wear very light makeup attending Sunday mass. Here's a video from eight years ago when we went swimming and island hopping in Batangas. There's my auntie Ato enjoying the boat ride and the scenery.

 

Most of us keep complaining about life, despite being physically fit. And here she is, a differently-abled person, proving that you can be the best you as long as you stay who you are. 

The Ongoing Work of Restoration

The last two years have taught me many things in life - to live a simple and peaceful life. In Christ, I have freedom. In Christ, I have freedom to love, love in serving others.

   

A video from our recent family trip abroad with my mom and her siblings except auntie Charito. Since then she expresses her desire to travel and experience riding a plane. I promised myself to bring her with me in one of my trips soon, perhaps a local trip.

I joined our church's community service. Funny that I was assigned in the hospitality team where we greet churchgoers as they enter the sanctuary. Back then I was not so friendly, so it was an extra effort on my part. But as time went by, it became easy and natural. Whenever I feel uncomfortable and not worthy to serve, I look at my humble auntie Charito, disabled but happy. I will forever be grateful for having someone like auntie Charito. I will forever be grateful to God for giving her to us.

with Jonel and bro. Rene our Life Group Leader, The Captain's Table

UNMASKED, Write to Ignite Season 3

In most cases, we fail to find the happiness we want in life because we set our own definition of success. Do you feel lonely and unacceptable? God created us in His image and likeness, shouldn't we be proud of it? Perhaps it's time to take off your mask.

Write to Ignite Season 3: UNMASKED

This story is an entry to COMCO Mundo's "UNMASKED: The COMCO Mundo Write to Ignite Season 3". The initiative aims to pull and collate powerful stories from the Philippine blogging communities. "UNMASKED" aims to explore how each mask is a person brimming with hope and wonders to share with others, as well as why it is important to tell their inspiring journeys in life. The "Write to Ignite" Season 3 is made possible by COMCO Mundo League of Enterprise, with airasia, Babyflow, PHILUSA Corporation, Century Tuna, Licealiz, Lamoiyan Corporation, Remy Martin, and Uratex Monoblock as brand ambassadors.