Inspiration 4: Allow Others to Love You

“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. 

Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete”. Jn. 16:24

Hi there. Happy Easter!

We come now to the last part of our series: Allow Others to Love you!

This is the last of all the inspiration of pasahero yet it also reflects the beginning.

If you'll look back, I invited you to allow God to love you mainly because He's the source of all generosity. And if we're not willing to receive His love and generosity; what can we offer to ourselves and to other people? It's also liberating to believe that God loves us unconditionally for it reminds us to be humble by not relying too much in what we can do for Him but in what He can do for us.

Now, I’m inviting you again to do the same.             

But this time, allowing yourself to receive love and generosity from others. I mean, from your very own family, relatives, friends, classmates, colleagues, to all the strangers you meet in the streets, terminals, jeepneys, market, malls, restaurants, shops, gym, schools, churches, etc., and yes, don’t forget to receive love from your Mother Earth.

Don’t be Killjoy !

Bro. Joey,a friend and mentor of mine told me:

 “If you’re not willing to receive from other people, you’re becoming proud and you’re not giving them the opportunity to show and practice generosity!”

And I believe he’s right.

Have you heard someone telling you these?

You look good today! (ganda mo ngayon ha!)

Your dress is very nice and fits you well!

You’re the best! (galing mo talaga!)

Great job! Let me treat you…

What were your initial reactions?

Have you responded like these?

Not really! (hindi naman)

It’s only my luck… (tsamba lang yun)

No, you don’t need to… (‘Wag na po, nakakahiya naman)

            These were usually your answers, right?

Yes, most of the time we don’t receive these compliments well thinking that others may see us proud, taking advantage or simply we're not convinced that we deserve the appreciation.

Listen. When we always behave like this, we become more proud than being humble.

In other words, we fall on false humility!

Who are we not to receive blessing from others?

And not only we become proud, but also we're depriving others to become generous and preventing them to receive the blessing that comes with it.

Who are we to hinder others to become generous?

Who are we to hinder others to be blessed and experience happiness?

Wag kang killjoy! Ika nga. (Don’t hinder other’s happiness)

So, my invitation for you is to learn how to receive joyfully.

Here’s the truth.

If God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7), God also loves a cheerful receiver!

The bible says:

“Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks.” 1 Tim. 4:4

Did you hear that? Receive every good gift with thanks!

And what's more interesting is the reality that we cannot be thankful without being joyful.

Why? The bible said:

 Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete”. Jn. 16:24

Hear that again? Receiving makes our joy complete!

So this is the reason why sometimes you we're not able to enjoy what was given to you. (Uhmmm...) It is because you we're not able to learn to received it well. 

Remember the handkerchief or towel last Christmas?

How about the birthday card?

Oh yes, how about the greetings? The good mornings, how are you's, and the congratulations'?

Did you receive them well? Did you really pay attention? Did you really enjoy them?

Or you want and expect more?

Remember this my friend- Don't ever miss the blessing that comes from every gift and don't even deprive a person to be blessed by every gift he never missed! (Get it? Read it again slowly.) 

So next time someone is appreciating you or giving you something (make sure it's good), receive it well. Say thank you (mean it) and acknowledge it with your most beautiful smile!


Do you know that Jesus (mighty and powerful he is) knows how to receive joyfully?

Look at these:

Jesus received the womb of Mary, (Mt. 1:23)

Jesus received the baptism of John, (Lk. 3:21)

Jesus received the five loaves and two fishes, (Jn. 6:9-11)

Jesus received the expensive perfume on his head, (Mt. 26:7)

Jesus received the feast of Zaccheus, (Lk. 19:5)

Jesus received the applause on the first Palm Sunday, ( Mk. 11:9)

Yes, Jesus received the shamefulness of the Cross! (Mk. 15:21-32)

Because Jesus received a lot, he was able to give a lot. He’s our perfect example!

Tree of Generosity or Tree of Selfishness?

I believe each of us has two trees waiting to grow (to be received) inside our hearts:The Tree of Generosity and the Tree of Selfishness. 

Only one is destined to grow, bringing more fruit, and bringing more seeds. And the truth is; it will depend on us what kind of tree we will be allowing to grow.

The Tree of Generosity or the Tree of Selfishness? It’s your choice! 

And I know you will choose the Tree of Generosity. Right?

Because there's no person in his proper mind who will choose the Tree of Selfishness.

Have you heard someone: “Oh, I’d like to be selfish, can you teach me how? If not, can you at least tell me where can I get a Doctoral Degree of Selfishness, Major in Greed?”

I believe none.

But the sad fact is some of us are learning the craft of selfishness and some of us are becoming and graduating from life with the Summa Cum Laude of greed. (what a terrible honor to received!)

The Water and Fertilizer of Generosity

Let me end by telling you the kind of water and the fertilizer needed for you to cultivate the Tree of Generosity.

The Water: Receive love a lot.

The Fertilizer: Give love a lot.

Learn to receive love and learn to give love my friend.

Remember.

Allow others to love you!

P.S. We’ll be starting a new series next time. And it will be about the pasahero_act: the three distinct ways for you to be identified as a true pasahero. This will be great and I can’t wait to share them with you! Thank you and God bless your adventure!