It never gets old to witness how God captures our attention, especially when He does it amidst the busiest lives.
I have been a digital business owner for eight months now. I am very passionate about it and have been grateful for finally being my boss. Like most new business owners, I am putting in much time and effort to make it work. As a stay-at-home mom, I have that luxury to do just that—to devote a chunk of my time to the business.
I am the type of person fascinated by visual effects, so I tend to do things that could draw attention to drive Facebook users to my business page. In the digital business world, attraction marketing is fueled by the Internet and social media platforms. Therefore, every post I make is well-planned and meaningful. I post with a clear purpose so that anyone who finds my page has a good experience.
Eversince, I had a particular approach to social media that I've used even before starting my digital business. This blogging site speaks for it. I aim to showcase any skills I've learned by using phone apps that can bring out the creativity in people like myself who never thought they had it. I'm proud to say that I've succeeded in this mission, as I have received compliments from Facebook users who like what they see on my page.
Now, here is where I start to share my Lenten journey—
Our younger son's semester break came earlier than expected. Unlike last year, when he was home for Holy Week, this year's spring semester resumes during Holy Week. We find this insensitive to the observance of the Lenten season when families gather to pay homage to our Lord's passion, death, and resurrection.
God was not caught off guard by this, however. He understood the importance of my family attending the community penance service at our parish, or the regularly scheduled confessional service on Saturday afternoon, especially around Christmas and Good Friday. This is one of our family traditions, that I hope to continue emphasizing the significance behind the practice to them.
So, having accomplished this before he returned to the university was my consolation because the community penance service was scheduled during the week our younger son was home. My heart was overjoyed!
Palm Sunday came. We didn’t plan to arrive at church nearly twenty minutes before it started but arrived almost twenty minutes early anyway. Here is where it got interesting—
My husband dropped us off at the side entrance of the church, as he usually does. However, he didn't immediately join us inside, as he later decided to participate in the procession and collect some blessed palm leaves to take home. Those who wished to join the procession gathered at the back of the church, and after some prayers led by the priests, they entered through the main door at the front facing the street side.
Inside, the church was adorned with a pleated red fabric that hung to the side of an oversized crucifix that's affixed high up to the altar wall, draping down to the bottom of the crucifix and continuing to the other side. The altar was also covered in red fabric, the same goes at the church's back wall, that was also bedecked with the same pleated red fabric that draped from the far left end to the other end of it. At the foot of the altar was a palm foliage arrangement with red satiny ribbon that embellished it. The look and feel inside the church evoked the highly symbolic meaning of Palm Sunday.
As we waited for the Mass to begin, I knelt to pray, and just then, a staff member approached my sons to ask if they would like to be palm bearers. They needed eight parishioners to carry the heavy palms to form an arch. The arch was meant for the priests and other participants to pass through as they approach the altar.
In an instant, and just like that, my sons had a special role in the Mass. We could’ve joined the procession, too, like what we’ve done in the past, but not this year’s Palm Sunday for the very reason that God orchestrated for them to be one of the palm bearers this time. It was by God’s design, too, that we arrived early so the organizer would notice my sons, perfect for the task at hand.
I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity presented. I know they were gladdened by it, too.
I always cherish the moments when God surprises me with unexpected blessings like this. Although some may view it as a small gesture, it holds great significance for me.
I find or fascinating how seemingly simple things can have the power to bring tremendous joy to my life. I wonder how something so simple can have such a profound effect on me. One thing is certain: I had no part in planning them. Only God was behind it.
Now, here is where things got out of hand for me as I have mentioned above—
I recently took part in a 90-day Challenge within our global digital business community to enhance my digital business. This community provides the participants with valuable insights and tips on leveraging the warm market and implementing an effective system, which was lacking in my approach to my digital business. I was delighted to finally have a system to work with!
Although I had a similar system before, it was the old-fashioned method of pen and paper, which was not as efficient. Nowhere near. I had planned to create an Excel sheet, but never got around to it. Now that my current focus is both on the cold and warm markets, the pen-and-paper method will not do the job. Joining this challenge has truly been a gift!
As part of joining the challenge, we were required to conduct interviews and create go-live videos. The community's aim is to train and prepare us as future leaders by teaching us discipline, compliance, confidence, and a sense of responsibility. At the same time to raise our standards in running a digital business. We need to be result-driven to ensure success in our respective digital businesses. To soar high like eagles, we need to possess certain characteristics. The efforts the leaders behind this had put in to create this community and challenge required tons of brainstorming. What's surprising is that everything was done on voluntary effort, which is truly remarkable.
Our challenge had us grouped into teams of seven to eight members each. While some groups had a majority of their members drop out, our group was one of the groups that continued with the challenge and still had the majority of its members participating.
Last night, our group decided to have a live video session tomorrow night, Tuesday of Holy Week, to discuss and promote our business and, at the same time, to fulfill the challenge requirement. This will be the second of four in a series, as we had one last week. I've agreed to present one of the listed topics. Everything seemed to pan out with no issues, or so I had thought...
Here's the thing: It was only this morning that it dawned on me that though it is true that I was aware that we are in the final week of Lent, the busyness of life got in the way of me observing the Holy Week, the way I usually do. There was lackluster in my approach this time.
NO!
It wasn't right, so not one moment was wasted. I notified my 90-day Challenge group that I won't be able to participate in the live session but will be in next week’s. In addition, I have informed my other team that I will not promote any digital business content on my Facebook page. That includes the video clips I record for our team's bi-weekly video compilations. Nonetheless, I will continue to post stuff but solely focus on discussing my Holy Week journey.
Part of my Holy Week journey is to write this article to publish on my blog.
I may have forgotten to center my thoughts on the holiness of the week that changed the world, as I had done in the past, but God made sure that I did. I am grateful for this invitation to focus my attention on the holiness of the week, so today, Monday, I started the day watching the programs on the EWTN. Instantly, a rush of immense joy and relief enveloped me.
Now is your turn to share your stories ingrained with a heavenly touch. Shoot me a message. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Many Blessings!
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