Sing! You Joyous Heart!

 

SET YOUR MIND. SET YOUR HEART. SET JOY. 

A DEDICATION TO ALL READERS OF THE PEN. 

 A Joyous Heart

There's a joy in my heart

Because the Lord is with me.

There's a joy in my heart

Because I know God loves me.

How I've learned to be true

To the love God gave me.

I have learned to go through

To the Light He showed me.

There's a Guide that I hear

From the Word that He speaks.

There's a Light that I feel

From the guidance He gives.

Oh, I ask you my Lord

To forgive me my sins.

Everytime that I fall 

To mischief that comes in.

There's a joy in my heart

Because the Lord is with me.

There's a joy in my heart

Because I know God loves me.

Hark the herald, angels sing!

Glory be to the Newborn King!

 

(c) bbayonito20/bethbciar

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Christmas Greet

 "In Joy" it anyway!

We have to remember we are never alone. We admit or reject it, God is always around.

Jesus was born. The Son of God was born on a date proclaimed for us. That is but the Greatest Gift we could ever had. 

So, no matter what our situation is or the condition of the world we live in, celebrate Christmas "In Joy" anyway. 

Smile. Greet. Celebrate. Sing. Dance. Hear music. PRAY!

I wish you ALL a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The Pen.

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Elyssa Q. Castelo

Where's My Love?

(What's His Name?)

By Castelo, Elyssa Q.

The smell of gasoline and the sound of the brakes as each car passes by a narrow road by the window, grabbing a brown recyclable paper with their food. In front of me was my last customer before I ended my shift. I switched back to my normal clothes inside a small tiny room for the staff, as I took my bag and headed out.

It was night time, and the city wasn't busy because there were not a lot of people outside. As I walked down a path with a flickering post, I sat down on a bench because my feet were swollen from walking. Normally I would take the train, but walking will save me more money since I live alone and I need to pay my rent. And whenever I walk, I would always stop by the ocean just like those girls living in California, but not to bathe while it's sunny, but to clear my mind with the sounds whenever the water reaches the shore and the cold from the breeze.

It was quiet, when suddenly an insect with two pairs of colorful wings, a butterfly decided to accompany me and landed on my fingers that are resting on my lap. Butterflies are not only beautiful, but also have mystery, symbolism and meaning and are a metaphor representing spiritual rebirth, transformation, change, hope and life. It's funny when nature knows what we feel, as I stare blankly down on the shadows.

I stood up and continued to walk my way home, and as I walked barefoot on the sand, I saw the guy from before. He was then again standing there looking towards the end of the ocean, with the same clothes. But I noticed something different as I stood there like I left my body on the bench and continued along with just my shadow.

It was his eyes that were before filled with sadness but now, it was harder for me to read. And from afar he stood there and his presence gave me shivers as he slowly turned his neck and made eye contact with me. But then it hit me, on how he noticed me standing from a distance when he didn't notice me before as well as made eye contact that I seem to never have with other people. Who could he be? What's his name?

 (c) elyssacastelo2004

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Ika of My Heart - Last Chapter

 

 

  Story Last Chapter

"Ahah! You're mine again!"

He silently assured himself with his own words. He decided to carry his wife in his arms that made the bath towel around his waist fell to the floor.

 Ooppss!

Sorry readers, but I could not describe what's in there when the towel fell. I had only seen his rounded, hard butts while he carried his wife to their room. Neither could I tell more what happened next since they closed the door. Beside, the hanging sign said, "Don't Disturb."

Weeks after, it was morning again. Just like the other days, Ika went to the church.

"Thank you Lord for hearing my prayers. Both of us are changing little by little, going back to our old but better selves now. We are enjoying a happy married life again."

She was seated at a provincial church where the Community Prayer Group has spent a one week spiritual retreat.

She left the church after praying to feel the early morning breeze on the way to the retreat house.

"Ika! Are you ready? We are going back to the city!"

The prayer group leader called on her and went to join the rest of the group getting themselves into the bus. She nodded to the call and went as well.

Once they reached the headquarter at the city, each member made their own preparations and got themselves back home. 

Ika just took a taxi. 

As soon as she got off, she was surprised to see the house when the taxi stopped. She could not recognize it, so she looked at the house beside it.

"Yes! It is the same neighbor's house. Why is this house different? Is this my house?"

While she questioned herself, she looked intently at the house in front of her.

The house has a different paint. It was painted with pleasing but funny paints for her. The wholeness of the house was painted white, but filled with red hearts in medium sizes as if it was covered with wallpaper.

Then her attention was called by what was written on top of the store. It has a new name.

"Ika of My Heart"

Those were the words written. She laughed at it. She remembered the last words spoken to her by Iko before she left for the retreat. The moment came back to her mind.

"Promise me that your changes will go through."

She pleaded with her husband before she left. She was responded by his boyish smile, making himself look more charming to her, which made her fall for him from the beginning of their relationship.

"The only thing I can say, you are my heart."

Iko told her those words and kissed her. She kissed him too and confessed what's in her heart.

"I want our home and our life to be filled with your heart."

Saying those words like a child, her husband laughed with amusement and gave her his last words.

"Madame, your wish is my command."

She closed her eyes at the memory, breath deeply with happiness and ran into the house.

As she closed the door, the hearts of the house danced Travolta. 

And they lived happily ever after.

The End.

(c) bbayonito20/bethbciar

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hank you for reading!

Ika of My Heart - Chapter 5

 

 

 

Story Chapter 5

"There's a change in her."

Iko was saying to himself while looking at his wife in his sexiest look. He smiled to himself, enjoying what's happening between them. The more he stared back at her, the more he enjoyed the view.

His wife's face was bright. She seemed to be at peace. Something that brought back her beauty to his eyes. He smiled to himself quietly, admiring the beautiful woman in front of him.

Ika was not looking at him, but she could sense her husband's eyes observing her intently. She stayed eating her food with a noticeable sexy manner as to how she handled her fork.

Iko, on the other hand, kept watching her with a grin at the corners of his eyes and lips. Enjoying the savour of his oysters.

He stopped his eyes at his wife's lips. They were without lipstick, as they never need any. They have always been pinkish, inviting and it was the first thing that called his attention to her.

The color of her eyes were complemented by the dress she was wearing. She wore a white stamped with red little hearts dress, sleeveless and with a V neck shaped that almost exposed what's inside it. Something that made a click in his imagination, and most of all, between his legs, as if wanting to dance Travolta's Saturday Night Fever. Then he remembered their first dance that made him shake his head smiling to himself.

He finished his food. Filled up with the delicious lunch, he stood up without a word and went to the bathroom. He took his bath.

Ika was left astonished, finishing her food at the table. She felt sadness and disappointment. She could not understand the reaction of her husband.

"Did he not understand that I am waving white flag of surrender?"

She questioned herself that made her tears fall out of self-pity and lost pride, feeling humiliated. She, anyway, cleaned up the table. Before washing the dishes, she went to close the store. She did not feel like working. She went back to the kitchen to wash the dishes. 

On her mind, she would later take a walk to have fresh air and hope to release all her heartaches unto the air and come back as if nothing had happened.

She was almost finished with the dishes, with her mind submerged unto her thoughts, when she suddenly felt some caress of an embrace around her waist.

At the same time, her husband's lips have already landed on her neck. She quickly washed her soapy hands. She was with her back to him and when she turned around, her lips were caught by Iko's lips.

He has won over her and made her surrender herself unto his arms. She realized how much she loved him, her knees weak and about to fall.

What was happening to her was felt by Iko. He had eyes closed when he kissed her. He opened his eyes and he saw tears falling from his wife's closed eyes. He enjoyed it. Smiling, he felt himself a conqueror.

"Ahah! You're mine again!"

He silently assured himself with his own words. He decided to carry his wife in his arms that made the bath towel around his waist fall to the floor.

 

To be continued...

Ika of My Heart - Last Chapter

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Jessica Alexa Bayonito

 

 

The Greatest Gift

By Jessica Alexa Bayonito

 

How is it that Christmas is different

Now, than it is like before?

All I know were food, drinks and parties

And beautiful presents from the stores

 

Wrappers no longer excite me

And ribbons have lost their charm

No gift ever truly satisfied me

Though they cost a leg and an arm

 

So I sat down one day and remembered

The true story of Christmas day

There's no reindeer, nor elves nor Santa Claus

Just a Child in a manger with hay

 

He came, with no pomp nor commotion

There He lay, as humble as can be

The Lord became such a tiny, tiny human

For one day, He'll save sinners like me.

 

All along I thought I was doing great

'Till I saw the depths of my sin

Now I understand why the angels sing "Gloria!"

For this Child is the Savior King!

 

Now I know this Christmas will be different

For He is the reason, after all

He's my Gift, wrapped in swaddling clothes

because it's Jesus, the greatest Gift of all. 

 

 

 

  (c) lexxxabayonito

 

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Ika of My Heart - Chapter 4

 

 

 

 Story Chapter 4

"Are you okay? Is there anything we can do to help?"

The young woman asked her as she caressed her back.

Ika turned around to respond before wiping her tears and left.

"Thank you for the concern. You have helped me already."

The couple looked at each other. Nothing she said made them understand what she meant. So they just took her words as is. They smiled and bade her goodbye.

Ika went home and was quiet the whole day. She submerged herself into deep thinking.

Iko was still sleeping when she arrived home. The night before he had his happy hour with drinking affair friends. It was already midday when he woke up with a hangover. As usual, he would wash his face first before leaving the room.

He found Ika in the dining room. He seated himself in his usual chair and reached for the newspaper. He was offered coffee by his wife, telling him with a smile to have it to take away his hangover, before eating lunch.

Iko's eyes went big with surprise as to how his wife was behaving towards him that day. He was expecting tantrums, cries and sometimes insults from her as it had already become normal to him since he lost his job. That particular day was different. Fortunately he managed to respond nicely.

"Thank you."

He said almost whispering to himself.

He took the coffee offered to him, pretending to be reading the newspaper even without him realizing it was upside down. 

His eyes were following her movements while he pretended to be unmoved by the changes. Of course, Ika was aware of it. She saw him reading an upside down newspaper. She just smiled quietly to herself.

"He noticed me."

She told herself happily. She then went to the kitchen and finished preparing their lunch.

Iko realized he was holding wrong his newspaper when his wife disappeared into the kitchen. After a while, his wife came out getting the table ready.

His eyes went big again as he realized the food prepared by  his wife. It was his favorite!

"Oysters!"

He almost wanted to shout and grab his wife to hug and kiss her, but he held himself. His wife, finally, finished preparing the table.

They were alone. They ate quietly. The children were still at school and later in the afternoon would both be back home.

Iko was enjoying his lunch which included a soup he was sipping with sound. A sound that sounded sexy to Ika's ears as she felt the scrutiny eyes of her husband on her. 

"There's a change in her."

Iko was saying to himself while looking at his wife in his sexiest look. He smiled to himself, enjoying what's happening between them. The more he stared back at her, the more he enjoyed the view.

 

To be continued...

Ika of My Heart - Chapter 5

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Ika of My Heart - Chapter 3

 

 

 Story Chapter 3

 In her dream, she was furious like a troubled Shrek, breaking and growling her anger against anything her hands could find. She looked around her, she had no idea what room she was in.Then came her mother.

 "What are you doing?"

 Her mother asked.

She knew it was her mother. The same familiar voice she heard several times in her dreams.

 "What do you expect, mother?"

 She responded with anguish in her voice.

 "I gave up everything for him! I had a promising career, and a beautiful life until he came into my life!"

 Before she could add more, her mother interrupted her.

 "But it was you who changed first!"

 She was startled with her mother's words. She did not expect them. But she continued talking.

"You need to wake up! Wake up!"

It was a strong wake up call from her mother that in her real life, she shook up and woke. She was breathing hard when she did. She went to look for a glass of water, drink and put herself back to sleep. 

The next day, she unlocked the door of the store. The day passed like a normal day for her, doing her mother and wife responsibilities, only this time without saying a word. Her husband came and left. She did not have any idea where and the least she cared about it.

In Ika's mind stayed what she dreamt about. She had been thinking what her mother meant. Her mother died before her twins were born.

When her mother still lived, she had been her guidance counsellor. They had a good relationship. She could be herself with her, without worries about her change of moods. She was patient and understanding. But terminal ailment took her life away that devastated the family. She stayed in the country after she died, while her father and brothers preferred to live abroad.

It was her mother who taught her about God. She used to come with her to church. They prayed together, lit candles during birthdays and special prayers. Once again, she found herself inside the church, missing her so much.

Praying to God to let her understand her mother's message, she decided to stay seated for a while after praying. She heard a couple whispering to each other on the chair at her back.

"Let's get married."

A young man's voice whispered.

"I don't want to. You might change."

The young woman responded sweetly.

"What are you talking about?"

A question that sounded irritated from the man, then a deep breath came from the woman.

"Your attitude. Now you're sweet and kind. Someday you might change."

There was a minute of silence between them. Then the man spoke again after another deep breath came from him too.

"How about me? Should I not worry that it might be you who would change?"

Another silent moment.

Whatever the young woman might have responded, Ika was not able to hear it. She suddenly burst into tears.

The couple was interrupted by her. She caught their attention. 

"Are you okay? Is there anything we can do to help?"

The young woman asked her as she caressed her back.

To be continued...

Ika of My Heart - Chapter 4

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Jessica Alexa Bayonito

 

 

A Song of Gratitude

By  Jessica Alexa Bayonito

Thank You for the life, my Lord

That I live to see today

Thank You for the air I breathe

And the wakefulness to say:

Thank You Lord for my eyes that see

and the hearing in my ears

Thank You Lord, that You are God

Who shatters all my fears

Thank You Lord, that though I'm weak

With Your strength I'm standing strong

And even in my days of doubt

You're still with me all along.

I praise Your name, Lord Jesus Christ

For You died to set me free

And thank You for Your message of love

For all the world to see

Thank You Lord for the fount of courage

And the grace to make it through

I'm saved through faith in You, Lord Jesus

I am nothing without You.

 

I thank You Lord, for everyday

And all the things You do

But most of all, Lord God most High

I'm thankful I have You.

 

 

 (c) lexxxabayonito 

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Ika of My Heart - Chapter 2

 

 

 

Story Chapter 2

 "Where is your father?"

The girls looked at each other with a sad face. No one responded to their mother. They just turned their looks outside the window of the store. Then their mother followed their eyes.

 There was her husband, asleep on top of the table full of beer cans. With his friends, he had been drinking since ten in the morning.

Blood ran to her head and she left to go somewhere. Her mouth in a spout, anger in her face as it could be read in her eyes.

The twins stayed inside the store and waited first to see what their mother was going to do. This time, their mother came back with a pail of water in hand. Before, their mother will just go straight and hit their father, shout her anger and insults unto him.

 Her patience ran out again and fury took over. She filled up a bucket of cold water as she believed it would be the best to wake up her lazy and useless husband.

She threw the water on him that made him fall from his chair. But it worked. He woke up.

"What the fuck!"

He snarled at her. She was already with both hands on her waist, standing firm like a general.

"You freaking drunkard!"

Her husband struggled to stand on his feet. The cold water woke him up but it did not take the effect of alcohol from his veins. He held himself up against the table so as not to fall.

Inside the store, he saw that the twins were still there. Both had tears already in their eyes. So he decided not to make things worse for them.

"Got to school sweethearts. This will be over soon. Don't worry."

The girls smiled and wiped their tears. Then they prepared themselves to go.

"Goodbye Dad."

Her husband just waved to dismiss them.

The scene between them made her blood boil. In her mind ran the thought of how her husband could be sweet to their children and not even paid attention to his problem. His drinking problem that he knew drove her crazy .

She took out all her insults and pains from inside her, threw them like venoms spitted on her husband's face. Iko suddenly looked at her firmly. A strong, intimidating and fierce look.

"Stop it or I will break your mouth!"

It was a strong command coming from a devil as interpreted by her thoughts. She got scared and stepped backward. But she did shut up her mouth.

The rest of the day she had been so quiet. The whole day and night she stayed attending the store. She locked herself inside it. The children and her husband never said a word, and just left her alone to her own dilema.

The evening arrived and she was still at the store. Until it was closing time. She decided to sleep in the little bed the store has. 

The store is like a mini house. It has its own toilet and little private room.  The business was good, busy the whole day. She managed to attend all customers by herself. So when the night arrived, she was exhausted and she fell asleep easily.

She had a dream.

It was her mother shouting at her after hearing loud noises of things thrown and breaking on the floor.

In her dream, she was furious like a troubled Shrek, breaking and growling her anger against anything her hands could find. She looked around her, she had no idea what room she was in. Then came her mother.

 

To be continued...

Ika of My Heart - Chapter 3

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