Day 86: Yet another story of ‘heroism

While waiting for my turn at the prefecture, we met two Filipino women whose turn is a bit behind us since they arrived later. I suggested that they give me their documents and I’ll have them done along with mine. It worked and saved them time. One of them invited us for a cup of coffee; the other one however went ahead because she needs to go to her part time job.  The three of us then went to a nearby cafeteria.

Rosefie Trilles Jimenez or Rose hails from Legazpi City in Bicol. She arrived in Rome in 2007 through an agency which cost her almost half a million Pesos. Her love for family encouraged her to brace all the difficult situations her stay and life abroad had brought her.  She has since remained strong-willed to fulfill her duty – to support her family.

Her story is one of the hundred thousand stories one can hear from a Filipino migrant or overseas worker. The love for family is always the main reason and top priority why they go abroad to work which is a very good thing but could also prevent personal growth, fulfillment and sense of happiness. The common mistake that we normally do is to replace God as Savior; we want to become the personal savior of our own including our extended family.

As a result, you lose the opportunity to think of your own future and happiness, and the people whom you want to ‘save’ lose the opportunity to become independent and responsible persons. To labor hard to help them is indeed a noble act of kindness; it can also be a ‘channel of grace,’ but going beyond what is required of you to the point of ‘sacrificing’ your own growth and happiness prevents you to achieve the purpose of life – the life in which Jesus, in John 10.10b spoke about, “I have come to give you life, and have it to the full.”

There are many ways in which we can be of help to our family and other people. But let us be wise to know when to stop, when to say no and when to withdraw. Let the light of and wisdom of God lead us to the life of the blessed.

(I would like to thank Rose for her generosity)