It is amazing what you can learn from people who make less than $2 a day. I’ve learned that perseverance in the face of enormous adversity is necessary for survival and recovery through difficult times. That is what I learned from my brother and his wife/my sister-in-law and their family who thankfully survived the ravages of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. Their house was undergoing construction and almost finished until it was decimated by the storm. With the grace of God, her children (my niece and nephew) are safe, have shelter, and are not hungry. Her courage and indomitable spirit in the face of adversity has strengthened my resolve to overcome my own personal challenges here at home.
It is important to reflect on these recent disasters during the holidays and remind ourselves how blessed we are living in the richest land in the world; the United States of America. I get a chuckle from many Americans when I say that because they have given up on the American Dream and are struggling with under/unemployment, high levels of debt, and lack of savings, but these are relatively insignificant compared to the trials and tribulations of our Filipino brothers and sisters. The things we take for granted such as clean running water, heat, food, a roof over our heads, clothes, and electricity are abundant so we don’t even think about it. After living in that poorer part of the world for half my lifetime, I can attest that life here in the USA is still rich with opportunities and that the American Dream is still within reach if you so choose to aim for it. It is this attitude of gratitude that has allowed me to see those opportunities presented to me, leverage them to become successful, and provide assistance to those who have a greater financial need.
I thank the many community organizations who have donated their time and money to support victims of the Typhoon. After weeks and months pass, this calamity will fade from memory; major news networks have all but stopped coverage of ongoing relief efforts. It is critical that we maintain the momentum of financial support as aid workers transition from emergency relief to disaster recovery and economic development. This holiday season, let us include the people of Bohol and Tacloban in our prayers and gifting. Support organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Catholic Relief Services, Save the Children, the 3000 Club, our local Fil-Am support groups, and many others as a way of sharing our blessings and delivering the grace of God to those who are less fortunate.
