Prof. Victoria AJALA

It is late evening. The orange glow of the sunset streams into Grandma’s cozy sitting room. The smell of fresh tea fills the air. Tony sits near the window with his notebook, while Grandma, with a smile that carries both wisdom and wonder, looks thoughtful.

 

Tony: Grandma, you look unusually joyful tonight. Something tells me you’ve discovered a new secret.

 

Grandma: (laughs softly) Ah, Tony, you’re right. Today, I realized something that humbled me deeply. For eight months, a rare gem has been beside me, and I did not see her for what she truly is.

 

Tony: Who is this gem, Grandma?

 

Grandma: Vero.

 

Tony: (smiling) Auntie Vero? She’s always around. But what did you discover?

 

Grandma: (leans forward) For a long time, I thought I was a writer, turning my reflections, prayers, and challenges into words. But then, Vero came. I would share my thoughts with her, sometimes broken, sometimes incomplete, and she would return them to me as living stories. Not just stories, but visions full of color, reality, and depth. She has this gift of widening what I whisper into a world that others can feel and see.

 

Tony: (eyes widening) That sounds like magic.

 

Grandma: Not magic, my son, but grace. I began to ask myself: How could I sit beside such treasure for months without recognizing it? How often do we sit beside greatness, but blindfolded by familiarity, we fail to see?

 

Tony: Hmm. That means, Grandma, God sometimes hides His gems in plain sight.

 

Grandma: Exactly! And when He opens your eyes, you are overwhelmed with gratitude. Today, I asked Him: “Lord, who am I that You are so good to me? Why do You surround me with such unique and wonderful people?”

 

At this point, Grandma begins humming softly:

 

“All Things Bright and Beautiful”

 

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.

 

Tony: (joining in) That hymn fits perfectly, Grandma. Truly, people like Vero are among the “things bright and beautiful” God has made.

 

Grandma: Indeed, Tony. And this is a lesson for life: open your eyes to the gifts God has placed in the people around you. Some of us pray for miracles while ignoring the miracle seated at our table. Some seek wealth while the wealth of knowledge, friendship, and divine grace sits quietly beside them.

 

Tony: (nodding) Grandma, that’s powerful. So, it’s not only about finding treasures in books or faraway places, but also in people God sends into our lives.

 

Grandma: Yes. And when we recognize these treasures, we must honor them, nurture them, and let them deepen our journey. I see now that Vero is not just a friend; she is a co-journeyer. She makes my voice louder, my vision clearer, and my heart fuller.

 

Tony: (smiling warmly) Grandma, your story makes me think: maybe we youths too need to slow down, look around, and recognize the Veros in our lives, mentors, friends, parents, teachers. If we ignore them, we may miss God’s way of shaping us.

 

Grandma: (clasping her hands) That is wisdom, Tony. Life is not only about what you achieve alone. It is about what God achieves in you through others.

 

 *Lessons for Life & Community*

 

For the Individual (especially the Youth):

 

Treasure the people God places around you; they carry answers to your prayers.

 

Friendship is a divine channel of inspiration and growth.

 

Recognize gifts in others, it deepens humility and gratitude.

 

 *For the Community:*

 

A community that honors one another’s gifts thrives.

 

Neglecting one another’s uniqueness leads to poverty of spirit.

 

Gratitude builds bridges; ingratitude builds walls.

 

 *The Right Model:*

 

The Body of Christ Model (1 Corinthians 12): Every person is a unique part of the body; when one is honored, all are uplifted.

 

True solidarity begins when we discover and value the gifts in others.

 

Jesus’ Model of Companionship: Even Christ surrounded Himself with disciples, showing that life is shared, not lived alone.

 

Tony: Grandma, tonight you’ve taught me that friendship is more than fun—it is divine.

 

Grandma: (smiling) And you, Tony, are also my treasure. Never forget this truth: God hides gems in people. Do not live blind.

 

 

Grandma and Tony rise together, singing softly:

 

“What a Friend We Have in Jesus”

 

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer.