A Day in the Life of Sandy with her dog Dodo: On Rejection

Sandy: Rejection is God's protection. Where did I hear that?

Dodo: From dating coach Marni Bassista?

Sandy: Oh, so it's meant for people in the dating scene, huh? 

Dodo: Yeah, the idea is that as soon as you're rejected, you move on and say, next! It's better to think you're better off without him. Or at least, it's better for your morale to think that. Besides, why obsess on what could have been? Why bother when you're date is a no-show, a creep or a loser? It's better to work on yourself and just look forward to your next potential date. 

Sandy: Wow! You're sounding like a dating coach. How many Dating with Dignity videos have you seen?

Dodo: Just enough to know something. 

Sandy: Does it apply to other rejections in life? 

Dodo: Huh?

Sandy: You think it's God's protection too that my book got rejected by those snotty publishers? Because, I don't get it. I couldn't for the life of me understand how it's supposed to be helpful.

Dodo: Are you going to cry? Do you need a tissue?

Sandy: And I thought I was done with this issue. You know, not becoming published book author. I thought I have accepted the fact that maybe this is not the right time, not the right book... 

Dodo: How about a glass of water?

Sandy: I agonized over this a few months ago already when I got my latest rejection email and now, I have to go all over the pain again. All because I came across someone's careless generalization. 

Dodo: Maybe it's good to remind yourself of how you got over it the last time. Try.

Sandy still sulking and close to tears.

Dodo: It was a character's line in that TV series you don't like and have stopped watching after 3 episodes. The lady said something like, you just do what you can, put it out there and allow for the universe to respond. If it doesn't happen, it's not on you. It's not your fault. Sandy, it's not your fault.

Sandy: So I wrote a novel and sent it out to publishers. And the answer is a resounding and a consistent no-no-no-no. Every time I receive a no, it's like a stab in my heart. How could God plant a dream like that in my heart and not do something? I don't know what to do anymore. 

Dodo: For now, it's better to stop overanalyzing. So what if they didn't like it, they don't know anything. But you know what, cheesy as it was, I actually liked it.

Sandy: You read it?

Dodo: Yeah.

Sandy: My dog read my book and liked it. But he thinks it's cheesy. You think it's cheesy? 

Dodo: Yeah, soooo cheeeessssy! But I liked it.

Sandy: Hah! Thank you, Dodo. You just made my day. 

My Missing Pair of Scissors

God hears our prayers. 

But of course, everybody knows that. It's just amazing and unbelievably incredible when something you prayed for comes to life, jumps on you and says surprise, I'm here!

Am talking about this guy, David (not his real name) whom I prayed over at a retreat in July. Saw his post on FB recently that he now has a girlfriend! Wow! I'm so happy for him. And for me for I was used as God's instrument, sort of. God, you really listened to our prayer. And that was quick.

The thing is and the reason I remember him among the quite handful I prayed over that day was that during the talk and exercise, I noticed he wasn't really into it.(Or so I thought. Maybe I was being assuming and judgmental again. But that's another blog altogether.) And when he came to me for a prayer, he seemed a bit cool and nonchalant about it. Can you pray for me, he said and gave me a tight hug. He didn't elaborate on the details so I asked for healing, for peace, wisdom and prosperity and my favorite prayer for singles, that they find their one true love and start their own family soon.

I remember my very first answered prayer. I was in gradeschool and I had this new pair of scissors for art class. When I got home from school, I checked my pencil case, emptied it and so with my schoolbag, but no shiny pair of scissors. I was worried sick, my mom just bought it. I couldn't tell her it's missing, she'd think I'm irresponsible. I had to find it but I couldn't. So that night, I prayed to God to pls. put it back in my pencil case. I also prayed to Mama Mary for help and slept. The next day, when I got up, jumped right next to my study table and took out my pencil case. I held it and prayed over it. With confidence, I held and felt it. It was not the boxy type but the fabric type with zipper on top. And I felt something made of metal. Quickly, I unzipped it and there was my pair of scissors. My first miracle. How it got there? I don't know.

Remind me to ask God when I see Him face to face in Heaven. Right then, my young heart couldn't contain the joy I was feeling. I was elated and grateful. Just as now, when I receive God's precious answered prayers, be it simple or great. Be it for me or for others.

It feels good to have facilitated David's blessing, in a way. So, when I'm feeling dejected thinking God is not there or not listening, I have this and all the other answered prayers in the past to go back to and remind myself that God hears my prayers.;p