Contributed by KS Maui senior Shyla-Te’hara Moore
Ka Ipu o Lono shares weekly devotionals to provide spiritual enrichment to members of the Kamehameha Schools ‘ohana. For more inspiration, visit the KS “Our faith” website.
Heluhelu Baibala
ʻO ʻoukou nō ka mālamalama o ke ao nei: ʻo ke kūlanakauhale i kū ma kahi kiʻekiʻe, ʻaʻole ia e nalowale. ʻAʻole i hoʻā ʻia ke kukui i mea e waiho ʻia ai ma lalo iho o ke poʻi, akā, ma kahi e kau ai ʻo ke kukui, i mālamalama no ka poʻe a pau i loko o ka hale. Pēlā ʻoukou e hoʻākāka aku ai i ko ʻoukou mālamalama i mua o nā kānaka, i ʻike mai ai lākou i kā ʻoukou hana maikaʻi ʻana, a i hoʻonani aku hoʻi lākou i ko ʻoukou Makua i ka lani. - Mataio 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 5:14-16
He manaʻo o ka haumāna
The unforeseen events that happen in our lifetimes will have various results and impacts on the people we become and lives we lead. Who am I? I believe the more important question I should be asking myself is “Who do I want to be and what do I want to believe in?”
Faith…Faith is what gives me hope. Hope motivates me to endure another day of life. What is the purpose of endurance? My life has been a series of unforeseen & unfortunate events. But it has also been a series of blessings, opportunities, and the ability to unlock unknown abilities I have in myself. Losing a parent is a tragedy that will always have its scar on your soul. I lost my father to a heart attack at the ending of my 7th grade year, a couple weeks before my 13th birthday. Along with losing my father, I lost my grandparents. My grandparents, who I lived with for the majority of my life, became people who I couldn’t even recognize. I have been through court battles, DNA testing to prove I am the child of my father, custody battles and throughout that whole series of heartaches I was still a child trying to understand that my dad wasn’t waking up or coming home any time soon. I am the daughter of small business owners; I have been my daddy’s little helper from when I was eight. I have learned the ins and outs of all the physical prep and labor aspects of the company.
The gifts that God has given me was my family, my knowledge, my strength, and my love. Being able to be a pillar that held up my family during a difficult time in our life was an honor. I did make many sacrifices, but in love and life, sacrifices are how you know you have a reason worth living. I have a different view of life than others my age not just from the loss in my life but the way I was raised prepared me for this.
I do believe that God prepares us all with the tools, talents, and gifts we need to strive in the best way to represent Him. My life hasn’t been an easy journey to embark on but even though my light may have dimmed for a short period, I found the Lord and I am shining once again. I do believe that I am far from reaching my potential and I have more opportunities that lie ahead. My path may be a rough, confusing, difficult, challenging and heartache-full one, but I understand as long as I have my faith, I can fulfill my destiny. I have been blessed with the opportunity to come back to Kamehameha and graduate with my class, my friends and people who believe in me and want the best for me. I plan on giving back not only to my community but to Kamehameha Schools when I find a way to. My life will never be an easy topic to explain but I am proud of who I am, who I am becoming, who I used to be and the progress I have made within myself and my spirituality.
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daily devotional,our faith,christian values
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