Given Grace Academic Excellence Foundation Inc.
Helping you from here to your dream
INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGES
A Girl's Dream
That tragic incident happened on October 11, 2011 exactly 18 days after her 19th birthday. God has lent us 19 years of her young, happy, colorful life. Young Given Grace had had a full life but short-lived. Gege, as she was fondly called by her uncles and aunties, Ate Given by her church mates or simply G by her classmates and friends demonstrated a high regard for learning. An above average student, she received several academic, non-academic awards from preschool to high school. She was always fascinated with the exceptional intelligence, especially in Math subjects. She could finish a book in one sitting as testified by the valedictorian on their HS graduation. We witnessed her passionate devotion to her studies during her third year in college. Her involvement in YSES, a school organization encouraged and pushed her to study harder and prepare better for her future career.
So zealous of learning, Given Grace would conduct a free tutorial class even for the church youth. She would always tell that when she graduate and had a good job she would assist the underprivileged youth to go to school. This dream she had started fulfilling. She would squeeze some amount from her allowances and share it to anyone she knew in need. She wanted other young people to acquire good education despite difficulties in life. Apparently, she was gifted with grace of giving.
But Given Grace is already gone!
Reliving a Dream
God is a great God, though it is quite difficult to comprehend His ways. Little by little, however, He is unraveling His purposes to us. The inner light is shining. As I keep listening, I continue to see the why of all the whys I have asked.
During those dark days and desperate hours of grieving, we were swamped with phone calls and personal visits. Love flowed into our hearts from our dear relatives and friends, fellow ministers and church members, school, media, government and community people. They came from near and far and condoled us with their prayers, words and gifts of affection. It helped us so much.
Upon Given Grace’ demise, God touched many lives, especially young people. Some were encouraged to live a good life. Some were reminded about the importance of the family. Many were challenged to surrender their lives to God after realizing the brevity of life. A great number determined to strive harder in their quest of education.
Given Grace’ dream can still live on. Her life can still challenge the young ones to reach for their educational dreams. We can relive her life’s desire by assisting students adequately to get through college. We can help the youth develop leadership. We can bring them close to their Creator so that they will remember Him in the days of their youth
Our Challenge
We deem it true, as Nelson Mandela believed, that “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. King Solomon laid it out: “Blessed are those who find wisdom; those who gain understanding (learning) for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold”. He reiterated it: “The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherish understanding (learning) will soon prosper”. Pr 3:13-14 ; 19:8.
Likewise, Victor Hugo stated, “He, who opens a school door, closes a prison.” Our youth need a school or learning that closes a prison of ignorance and poverty for their lives.
Let us get our lives together. Let us join forces and resources to help poor deserving youth to make their dreams possible. Let us reach them out and send them to school.
In a far-away land years ago, there was a father who was anxiously searching for her missing daughter. He was horrified when he finally found her dead mercilessly abused and abandoned in a ravine. In his deep agony, he managed to look up and vow, “O Sovereign God, in this very spot where my daughter was unjustly stripped of life, I will build you a church! What a sacrifice! An offering worth-emulating!
I thank God for giving us Given Grace to love. Now I am offering her back to God, and I do not consider losing her in returning her to Him.