8/18/2011

Too Much, Too Little

My friend ALB (whom I love dearly) and I enjoy the same things—especially the arts, crafts, music, and exotic places.  We both gush and drool over art books and travel brochures in unison.  We could talk for hours about the many wonderful places and beautiful things we've seen.

“You and I have the same taste,” I tell her, “the only difference is, you have the money and I have the looks.”  She loves the joke.

Well, she definitely has the looks.  She walks around in her Hermeses, Guccis, Bulgaris, and whatever names there are in that exclusive world of luxury. 

ALB buys a two-million peso watch from Hongkong and I buy a P200 watch from Market Market.  She has a collection of paintings by the art masters; I have a collection of the same paintings in a book I bought from a second-hand shop. 

Once she excitedly showed me a brochure of Petra.  I've visited this UNESCO World Heritage Site and archaeological city many times in my mind and in the pages of books.

“Let's go, Grace!”

“I'd love to, but this poor me is short on moolah!”

“Can't you save for it?!” ALB asked, incredulous why I can't find a way to go to Petra.  

“I have to sell my house,” I said, laughing. 

Fresh from Austria, she gave me a pasalubong (coming home gift): a pair of red earrings.  They looked so similar to my favorite plastic pair, so I didn't know what to say.


ALB read my mind.  “These are real rubies! Throw away your old plastic earrings.”  

Cut to one of my other circle of friends:  

Connie (whom I love dearly) and I share the same faith.  We often exchange notes on how God has been so good in our everyday lives. She is a prayer warrior and my prayer partner, too.

Connie doesn't wear a watch or earrings.  She just has enough cash for the family's food and her child's schooling. Not having been schooled herself, the words Petra, Hermes, Gucci, Bulgari, and ruby are not parts of her dictionary. 

She owns not one art piece nor has bought a book for herself (her Bible, devotionals, and other spiritual reads are gifts from friends).

But Connie says all the time, “God's grace is always enough.”

Based on world standards, ALB and Connie are black and white. And people may ask, why does God allow one to have too much and the other, too little? 

But who's to say who's got too much and too little?

In my private talks with God, I thank Him for all my friends, rich and poor, and what they teach me about life and grace. 

Today, I have borrowed Azur's prayer in the Bible, Proverbs 30:8-9 (The Message):   

"God . . . Give me enough food to live on, neither too much nor too little. If I'm too full, I might get independent, saying, 'God? Who needs Him?' If I'm poor, I might steal and dishonor the name of my God." Amen.

By the way, ALB just showed me her latest buy from Louis Vuitton.  I gasped.

Connie pushed back her hair so I could see her first-ever jewelry—a plastic “ruby” earrings. I cried.

12 comments:

Yay Padua-Olmedo said...

I'm happy with my NIV or KJ anytime. Will definitely not rot like an LV or a G or a P.

Grace D. Chong said...

For a moment there, the alphabets stumped me. Ah, sodeska! Hahaha!

Anonymous said...

Geesh! what can I say? but I thank God for the "too much , too little" graces that comes my way everyday. I miss you so much,Grace!
mabelita

Grace D. Chong said...

You're traipsing all over the world, it's so hard to catch you! Take a breather one of these days and let's talk about having too much and too little, and a host of other topics, too!

Caline Nyassoke said...

What a very inspirational blog Ms. Grace! Indeed let us be grateful to God, how much or how little we have for the most important is that we are alive and we are with the persons that we love and cherish. God Bless!

Grace D. Chong said...

How nice of you to visit my blogsite, Caline! Thank you very much. God bless you, too!

I believe said...

Yes, often I forget to thank God for various opportunities to grow in the faith because I sometimes become too focused on on my lack of material possessions.

Grace D. Chong said...

We all tend to forget; may God continue to cure us of our amnesia. Thanks for the visit!

BIG AL said...

Hi ate grace, so much blessed by your stories. i have prayed the same prayer Azur uttered. enough so i may have something to testify about abounding grace, and enough to bless others as well. just wanna let you know, not a single time im online have missed visiting your blog.staying here in cambodia is indeed a manifestation of HIS grace. -POPOY SANCHEZ-

Grace D. Chong said...

Hi, Pastor Popoy! Thank you for taking time to visit my site. The prayer of Azur certainly pulls us back to earth. Praying for the continued success of your ministry in Cambodia.

Anna Vergara said...

Hi Ninang Grace May! I am blessed again with your story. It truly touched my heart. My heart is overflowing to thank our God with many "too little" blessings in my life.....

Grace D. Chong said...

Hi, Anna! Have not heard from you for sometime. Nice of you to drop by. Indeed, we need to be grateful for all that we have.