Turning Curses to Blessings

By: Nancy H. Abiera

 

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. Do not have other gods besides Me. Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers’ sin, to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commands.” Exodus 20:2-6. HCSB Version “.

Jesus answered: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’ “. Luke 10:27. HCSB Version

Rewinding my life back to my early childhood, I remember my grandmother. She was an awesome grandma always giving and sharing. She cooked delicious food and brought candies when she visited me. I recall her in my mind as tall, fair and beautiful. She was a great mother to my mom and the rest of her nine other siblings. I did not meet my grandfather as he died before I was born. Even though my grandmother was a single parent, she did not look poor to me. I even remembered her pictures always wearing long traditional Filipino gowns. Later on, I learned that she was also poor just like us. Because of financial hardships as a single parent, I was told that she was forced to give away her two children for adoption to her older daughters. I thought to myself. . . Hmm. My grandmother’s family was poor and I observed my mother and father were following the pattern of poverty. Again, I made a promise to myself that I will be different. I will not be like them. Instead, I will be living RUSH (Rich, Undeniably Successful and Happy). Though my family seemed happy inspire of poverty, I was not sure if they were successful because I was clueless of what it meant to be successful.

Moving along with life, my grandmother suffered a heart attack and died. I was about three years old at that time. All I remembered was she came to me one night in a dream. I went to the toilet and as I was going back to bed, I saw her waving at me. I was pretty compliant kid so I came to her. She handed me something which I was not sure what it was. That’s all I recalled and the following morning, I shared my dream to my mother. She just explained to me that my grandmother left some inheritance.

Again, my conclusion about PMS (Poverty & Marriage Suck) got even highlighted seeing my grandmother living a single parent which brought her poverty. I did not understand much about how her marriage ended besides being widowed since it was never talked about at home.
Fast-forwarding to my teenage years, I avoided young men for fear that I might end up pregnant and eventually get married. I thought that kissing makes one pregnant. I never knew what transpired behind the scenes. All I witnessed was some of my high-school classmates got pregnant and dropped out of school. Some got married while others were single mothers. A few continued school yet I saw the hardships they went through. These experiences I had continued which reinforced my thinking about PMS (poverty and marriage suck) . It kept repeating in my mind subconsciously. I did not know it back then but as I reflected on it, I knew later on.
Let’s pause here for a moment. What about you? What was it like when you were a child? Were there things you hate the most? What’s your greatest disappointment as a young person? Who knows. . . Our greatest disappointment may turn into our greatest appointment. We can exchange our fears with the faith of God. More so. . . we can trade poverty with prosperity. Or, at its best, we can ask the Lord to cancel the curses in our lives and turn them into blessings. Yes, it is easier said than done. Say it anyway and watch them manifest right in front of your eyes.
I love you readers with the love of the Lord but God loves you the most.

Smile and be a blessing. . . The Rev. Nancy H.