Prose

I remember a time when my Mom asked me to play my song on her phone. After playing it, I jokingly asked her, "So now, you love hip-hop?" She frankly replied (well, she's an Ilocana, so it's very natural that she would), "No, I hate [hip-hop]. I only listened to this song because it's your song."
 
That's how I realized how relationships affect the way we value things. Sometimes, we value something not because of what we experienced from it but because of the person who has it or gave it - much like my song which my Mom forcefully listened to. Sometimes, it's not the objective appreciation of something that makes us value it; sometimes, it's the relationship that we have with the one who has or has given that thing.
 
And that's how I found out why I'm still loving this life in spite of its harsh realities. You see, I have experienced many bouts with depression. With those, I faced many disappointments, failures, losses, feelings of hopelessness, etc. and yet I'm still holding on to life. Why? Because I love the God who created it. And I love Him because He first loved me even though I don't deserve even His mercy at the first place. And that love was demonstrated when Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve on the cross so I can be forgiven and be saved.

You see, it's everything that we know about life that makes us value it. If we truly know what life is, where did it come from, and what it is for,  we will know how we should value it. And if you know that life is all about God, that He created it, and it's very purpose is for you to experience God's love - a love so sweet that when you have a taste of it, you can't help but love God back - it will help you value your life.

- Shim'onai :D