"10 Things"

A repost. As originally published on EV Mail News for the week of March 19-25, 2012.

Link: EV Mail News (Digital Version)

Ever since I've written the "10 (Unsolicited) Advices for Teenagers" (see EV Mail News issue for January 23-29, 2012), I can't get over the fact that I've really, really enjoyed writing that article. I'm not sure if any of the readers enjoyed it too but I loved writing it. It was an easy-breezy for me. I actually finished writing that article in just one sitting and I was laughing the whole time. For the most part, I was imagining my son while I wrote each of those 10 advices. I can vividly picture his facial expressions and eye-rolling. Kids! I can't get enough of him but sometimes teenagers can really wear down any parent, even the best of the best among us.

But I didn't write this article today to reminisce on that previous one. I'm introducing to you the "10 Things Series" for my column. Since I've enjoyed writing the previous "10 Advices," I plan to write more "10 Things" in the future. I will vary it once in a while of course, but I'd love for you to join me in the countdown of several 10 things in my world. The possibility is virtually endless! 10 favorite things, 10 worst things, 10 most beautiful "whatever" things, 10 most annoying "whatever" things, and so on and so forth. I can't wait to get started, but not today though. This is just an introduction remember?

For some unknown reason, I’m an organizer. I'm a planner and I'm a manager. I love to have things in order, like from 1 to 10, if possible. Sometimes my husband teases me that my "neatness" and orderliness can come about as "obsessive-compulsive (OC)" at times. Take note that I placed the word neatness in quotes because I don't consider myself as neat, I'm just organized. Big difference.

A number of people in my life have already taken noticed of my "organizational abilities." Even with my household chores when I was still in the Philippines were "categorized" by day, per week, and according to importance. But wait, I'm not done yet. Those chores were also listed on paper. I actually had that list on my refrigerator door for my "assistant/nanny" Alice to follow each week.

One of my Pastors in Tacloban saw that list one time when he came by our home for a Bible study with my husband (we were newly married then) and he commented on my being "organized" based on that list. I was so proud of myself then but thinking back now, um, I think it was a little bit over the top.

I still do my lists until now. I have them on my PDA, my cell phone and on my computers (work and home), but I still love to write my to-do-lists on paper. I guess old habits are hard to break. And as I "mature" in age, I found out the hard way that remembering things in my head alone doesn't work that effectively anymore. I can't escape it, I do need those electronic and paper reminders more than ever.

The thing about those lists is that I do follow them strictly. It seems like my day is not complete and I feel I haven't really done anything constructive if I haven't at least checked-off half of my to-do list. I'm a creature of habit and I can't help it if I follow a list to help remind me of “very important” things I need to do, and then to actually do them. What's the point of having a list if not to do it, right?

So for now, one of my to-do things for today is to finish this article and email it. Check! Then I have to begin with that next article of "10 Things" so I can share with you my "OC-iness." Get it?

And as a follower of Christ, one of the "10 Things" that is very important in my life is the 10 Commandments given by God to Moses as recorded in the Old Testament. I know that as Christians we don't live under those Laws anymore in order for us to be right with God because we are under God's grace through faith in Jesus, and we're not judged under the Law. But as Christians we still have the obligation to follow and obey God because we love Him.

"(1)Thou shalt have none other gods before me.

(2)Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

(3)Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

(4)Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee. Six days thou shalt labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.

(5)Honor thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

(6)Thou shalt not kill.

(7)Neither shalt thou commit adultery.

(8)Neither shalt thou steal.

(9)Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbor.

(10)Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbor's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbor's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbor's." -Deuteronomy 5:7-21 (The numberings are mine.)