In my culture, there is an ancient practice that wants the boys never to show their sentiments. According to such belief, boys don’t cry, and girls always have to be nice. And even when a boy is feeling like crying, he is expected not to do so for it will be girlish. He is always expected to suppress such an urge, for boys ought to act like they are strong, even when they are indeed very weak. But the problem is that later in life, all inhibited emotions almost always explode.
There is also another global belief similar to that. It is the belief that we should always be happy. Yeah, being happy is very good, and it is our ideal sentiment. But, as we know, that ideal is not always easily attainable, maybe we should tell each other the truth. Maybe it’s time to accept that we are not obliged always to be happy. Yeah, being always happy would be awesome, but
What do we do with sentiments of abandon?
What do we do when someone we love dies?
What do we do with the sentiments of sadness?
What we should remember is that all those sentiments are ours. The moments of joy, moments of sadness, of abandon, etc. are all integral parts of our human experience. What is very important then is that we live each of these sentiments as they come, for they permit us to know that we need others. We should seek help when sadness creeps in; we should lookout for a helping hand when the day becomes too cloudy; we should reach out to others to share in our happiness. We should avoid hiding our moments of sadness; our sentiments of abandon, our panics, and deception. The danger is to pretend to be happy because we think that others are all happy and we shouldn’t be different.
Today, may I remind you to be conscious of your sentiments? Do not forget that sentiments are like mirrors. They show you how you respond to what is taking place in your environment. They reflect the message the world sends to you. And when the world sends a discomforting message and you pretend not to be aware of it, sooner than later, it catches up with you.
Jesus told us in the beatitude, ‘Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for, in the same way, they persecuted the prophets who were before you,’ (Matt. 5:11–12). But when he asks us to ‘rejoice and be glad’, he does not ask us to forget that we are suffering. No! He tells us to know that we are suffering, that we are persecuted, that the world is making a mockery of us, but that we should not forget that great is our reward in heaven.’
So, be yourselves and don’t be afraid to feel abandoned, but never allow the sentiment of abandon to overcome you. When you are feeling abandoned, look around you to see those who are ready to hold your hand; when you feel disappointed, look around you to see those promising never to disappoint you; when you are feeling sad, watch for that brother or sister ready to help you pass through that sentiment. Accepting to be vulnerable, sometimes helps you to become very strong. Because at every moment you feel dejected and lonely, there is always someone somewhere seeking to help you go through that tunnel. If you dodge an obstacle, it will continue coming until you overcome it. So, face your fears; face your sadness and anguish, knowing that you are not alone in this race. And even if you feel there is no one around to help you overcome them, there is always God. Jesus went through those moments and will surely understand. Turn to him seeking his guidance and protection. With his help, you will overcome all your difficulties. For though weeping may last through the night, joy comes with the morning (Psalm 30:5).
