By: Lee Ochoa
It simply amazes me that my collage during the Women’s Retreat 1 held last October 2, 2010 would become a personal illustration of Fr. Dave’s Advent recollection last December 12!
Fr. Dave Concepcion’s talk entitled “Advent Recollection: Defining Moments” was an affirmation that I had followed God’s will when I took the risk of retiring from a very well paying job and be unemployed with almost no savings last March 2010.
Months of discernment and prayers led to that defining moment when I decided in Dec 2009 to retire (extended up to end Feb 2010). I had prayed for years for two things: (1) that I may learn to be prudent and start saving and, (2) that I lose weight as I was even heavier than my weight while pregnant. God answered my prayers in a way that I did not expect, but in a most effective way.
Why my first prayer? I was literally obsessed with shopping for myself and my family, going to an expensive parlor to keep up with the stature of my position, and eating in fancy restaurants while treating friends. I felt that if I didn’t shop weekly, I would get sick. I just couldn’t stop spending and my 4 credit cards were busting at the seams. I was paying interest on them that could pay the salary of 3 full time workers! In other words, I was spending beyond my means. My clothes were in the cabinets of my husband and my 5 kids as they couldn’t fit in mine. I had at least 50 pairs of branded shoes and bags that matched the colors of my clothes and mood. To this day, I have suits that still have their price tags. I didn’t know how to stop and how to pay off my bills. My husband was understandably stressed by the situation and by the fact that we didn’t have savings for our retirement.
I changed employers in Jan 2008 because it was a much more lucrative job and offered greater career challenges. I prayed for discernment before moving jobs and I knew it was God’s will. Lo and behold, I lasted only 1 year and 2 months as it was not the right environment for me. I lost 30 pounds (answered prayer #2!) in 6 months and my blood pressure became erratic, from 150/110 to 90/60 the next day. My face developed acne (kahit menopausal na ako!) and I had to spend a lot for derma treatments and creams. The income loss resulted in a monthly financial gap in six figures! The reasons why are not as important as the realizations and blessings that ensued. If I wasn’t in community, didn’t have the faith and love of my family, I would have either gone crazy or may have committed suicide.
My decision to retire from my job was the best thing that happened to me and my family. I paid off all my credit cards (although it ate up most of our savings), but for once in my life, I felt financial freedom! I hardly spend for myself anymore and have lost my obsession for shopping. I have finally become prudent in spending (answered prayer #1)! Our children learned to ride public transport and have also cut down on their spending. Our two elder working daughters started sharing in the monthly expenses. We have learned to minimize eating out and just cook at home to celebrate special occasions. Everyone has joined hands in tightening our belts.
Meanwhile, I rediscovered my passion for cooking and started my food order business. Recently, I even won 3rd place in the Ultimate Taste Test 5.0 (UTT 5.0) of Our Awesome Planet held last Nov. 5 with my Hungarian Goulash dish! Thanks to brothers and sisters in community (both Ligaya and Familia), friends in my former employments, and publicity from my exposure at UTT 5.0, my business is growing slowly but surely. Our house help and driver are also benefitting as I am able to give them more income now than when I had a steady job since I give them a percentage of my profit on top of their monthly salary. Even community is benefitting as I give bigger tithes now (even with lower income)! I have more time for service in FAMILIA as head of the Matured Women’s Ministry and assisting Jobert as Central Area Head, service in Ligaya as new PL, and in the Home for the Elderly with Jean Eustaquio. I, likewise, have more time for service to my family by doing the errands and grocery/market chores that I failed to do before when I still had a job.
Fr. Dave’s Advent Recollection put my life in perspective and encapsulated the transformation that had occurred in my life and in my family’s life because of my defining moment. I am happy that I took a leap of faith. I still have a long way to go in being the daughter that God wants me to be but, I am glad that I started the journey, that I allowed my defining moment -- my difficult moments, to give me “the opportunity to stop, think and make needed changes” in my life. I took action and seized the new opportunity to turn my and my family’s life around as a result of my defining moment. As a result, I know that I have become a better person.
To God be the glory always.
About the Author:
Lee was introduced to the renewal through Couples for Christ (CFC) in 1991 and has been with Familia for 17 years. She entered the Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon Community 7 years ago and became a covenanted member in 2007. She is married to Jobert for 28 years and their children are Fiona, Dani, Meggie, Cobi and Job.