hush

rarely did we think about leaving our country "for greener pastures" or "to give our children a better future" in the past recent years. that was since the time we realized it is here where god led us and it is here where he intended for us to stay and raise our family. it is only when we hear of our close friends planning to leave, or when we have come from another country, when my husband and i get into a discussion about the decision we made several years back.

few weeks ago after returning from new zealand was one such time. and last night was another. driving home from a reunion with old friends, we pondered on why one very dear couple to us, was planning to migrate. it was totally unexpected and i felt, after a few seconds of disbelief, sadness. why, i asked my husband. we thought they were doing very well here. just like us, they work as doctors and are able to enjoy the fruits of their labor with their kids, have extra for little luxuries from time to time, and still have some left for savings. just like us, they strive to be responsible and concerned citizens of this country and do not let its current state of affairs get the better of them. we thought that just like us, they were quite happy to stay.

my husband says it is because of the many trials which came their way during the past year. it has been a problematic year for them in terms of career, which of course had some effect on their family. an unjust lawsuit hovering above their heads continue to torment them. a robbery and threat to their security forced them to move out of their home. and some other disturbing things. they were all too much to bear. and they took these as signs from god that just maybe, he is telling them that this country is not the place for them.

we re-visit our decision to stay. i review my previous entry on "to stay or not", and realize that pretty much all the reasons which led us to decide on staying, remain the same. it is not to say that everything has been fine and dandy all the time. my husband also had a major crisis at work last year, a hopeless and frustrating situation which almost pushed him into depression. i felt his pain brought about by injustice, as well as my own pain brought about by a sense of helplessness. there were other disappointments here and there. and intermittent thoughts that maybe, our country will not be so significantly better within our lifetime. at least not in the way we would like it to be.

but unlike our friends, our trials have made us realize that god is indeed still telling us to stay. my husband's major crisis turned out to be a real blessing in disguise. whenever we have some uncertainties, god unfailingly creates situations to turn our thoughts around. he quiets us in an awesome, unbelievable way.

yes, he is still shouting it out loud for us to hear. he says, hush, be not restless. be calm, stray not. you are what i want you to be, where i want you to be.