a conversation with a farmer

i had this little conversation with my uncle as he was hitchin' a ride on my way to the office today. i've known him since birth, his house is just in front of ours, & in the same compound. he did not use his multi-cab today, which he uses to visit his farm in Baungon, Bukidnon. today, he's going to visit his farm in Gingoog City. when i was a kid i idolized this guy, he was young, smart, and full of dreams. he lived in his own house, has a promising career with the government at the National Irrigation Agency, he was a bachelor then. he has two college degrees (Geodetic and Civil Engineering), he pursued his studies during day while tending in a bar at a hotel during night time. When i started my service with the government, i remember him telling me his past experiences and what-could-have-been if he continued his service with the government. he actually resigned from office at the peak of his career and took a job offer from a British construction company doing a very big project in Malaysia. after a year or two of working abroad, my uncle returned and gave up his job in Malaysia as well. the reason???? woman, he cant stand working from afar and not being with the love of his life. and so he choose to stay in the Philippines and got married and had 3 kids. after resigning from his job in the government and the British company, my uncle started his own business, a mini-grocery store. he was successful for a while but then it did not flourish, he was not a businessman, he was trained as an employee. when the kids are growing and bills are growing as well, he never resorted to becoming an employee again, instead he is now a noble farmer.

"lessons learned"
my uncle is no longer the tough and handsome guy i used to idolized, he is now old, thin, but still smart. of course during our talk in the car, it was all about agriculture, and stuffs... before i could reach the office he askd me to pull the car over coz he will be taking the jeep from there to the the terminal. he thanked me and i said no probs uncle! as i watched him go with his back-pack and stuffs for the farm.
as i reached the office, parked the car, and then i thought for a while about my uncle... then i had this lessons learned: what we are today, it's because of our decisions in the past! my uncle's motivation now is his kids (3 boys), and i can see the glow in his eyes as we were talking bout his eldest who is now about to graduate in highschool. it doesnt really matter where we are now, what matters is in what direction we are moving.. my uncle is now a Christian and also his whole family (just last year)... that's what i am most thankful to GOd about!

"today matters"
Lord give me strength & wisdom for the day!