Hi! I'm Sonia. I'm so glad you are here. There's a story in the Bible in John chapter 4 about a woman with a broken past. That's my back story, but then that woman (and this woman) met Jesus. This blog is a glimpse at the"now story". Welcome to John4Four. Thank you for taking the time to read! I hope it blesses you.
My dad was born and raised in Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 I have to put the flag here (you know how proud Puerto Ricans are of the flag!). He signed up for the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and did two tours in Vietnam. He was in the Marine Corps for twenty years and retired as a Gunnery sergeant (GySgt). I was born on a military base in Twentynine Palms, CA, the oldest of three girls, and we lived on a few military bases while I was growing up.
My dad has been retired from his second career, his second career also in protecting the community. That’s what I know to be true about my dad, serving and protecting his family, community and country.
My dad went through boot camp only speaking Spanish. He was not bilingual then but successfully completed bootcamp and was a US Marine through and through.
I wanted to write this post to let you in a little bit to see a family man, a hero in so many ways, front and center.
He and my mom (who was born and raised in Uruapan, Michoacán in Mexico 🇲🇽 -there’s another flag for you because I have to represent both!) met in Oceanside while my dad was stationed at Camp Pendleton & the rest is history.
There’s lots of life that happened between then and now, but I have to tell you that as a daughter, I am so proud. So proud of all the things my dad has accomplished in his life and instilling a love for this country 🇺🇸 (and that’s another flag we love in our home) and sacrifice, service and the freedom he fought for.
I spoke with my Dad on Friday night, and we did some online shopping for some new baseball caps for him as birthday gifts. The ones he chose said “USMC Vietnam Veteran” and they had to be camo, of course!
So to my dad, this proud daughter says, “Happy birthday, Dad! Thank you for loving all of us and giving us a life we could be proud of! 🙌🏽🇵🇷🇲🇽🇺🇸 God bless you, Dad!“
“Monster In Law” Premiere (Stock Editorial Photography)
Happy Wednesday, friends. How’s your week so far? Mine’s alright – lots of things swirling around in my brain already, some great and some not so great, but overall this is the them today: HURT. I am Christian. I became a Christian almost eleven years ago. So when I am thinking about how I processed being hurt before I became I Christian, I just remember never dealing with it. I just walked around with the open wounds in my life and my choices led to adding to my pain. I was living my life just trying to survive and functioning out of a constant myriad of pain. Back then, the pain turned into hardness and numbness. I became more and more cynical, more self- sufficient, more unforgiving, more controlling, more selfish and more and more closed off to true relationships. That’s what survival meant for me then. The hurts of unattended heartbreak made me an untrusting woman and eventually led to immense control issues.
I know…this is a heavy topic for a Wednesday morning, but I was reading the news last night and came across the latest headlines about JLo and how she is now with Ben Affleck. I understand that this might be a publicity stunt or something fabricated like that (putting this in here for my husband who constantly reminds me not to believe everything I read in the news – I get it LOL), but just the fact that she has been married three times, engaged four times and has had numerous boyfriends, leads me to believe this former Fly Girl is looking for love in all the wrong places. Seriously, she just got out of a long term relationship with ARod and now she’s with Ben, and it’s “Againiffer”?! She seems like the woman at the well in the Bible in John chapter 4, doesn’t she? (You can read the story here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%204%3A1-26&version=NIV).
No judgment here, I promise! I can relate – obviously – my blog’s title should clue you in that I know a thing or two about searching for love and ending up hurt until you find yourself at a well under the scorching sun, filled with shame. So, what I have learned about “hurt” since becoming a Christian? Well, the biggest thing I’ve learned is that there is actual healing that leads to wholeness. There really is, but there’s one catch, and the catch is you have to be willing to admit the hurt and surrender it. I totally get that surrender is a complicated term, especially nowadays, but it is true.
I am in a season where deep hurt is a very present reality – just when I think I have forgotten about it, I am struck with a memory or see a photo or something pops up on social media, and I remember…oh yeah, that’s right -there’s the pain. I got hurt, very badly. Thankfully that’s not the end of this blog post. The very amazing thing about being a Christian is that healing is possible – true healing, not like the little instagram quotes that you read one minute and forget the next. My healing process means that I am honest with God about what I am feeling. I journal about it. I am in therapy over it. I talk about it with my husband and only a few trusted friends (if and when I need a sounding board so I don’t toilet paper anyone’s house). I look to God’s Word over it, and most of all these days, I have hope in it. Hope that God will change me more into the whole version of the Sonia that He created. I already see glimpses of this wholeness. Even though the sting of it will pop up, the solidness that is anchoring me to the truth and love of God is indescribable. I just don’t have words for that part of it. I wish I did. I wish I could tell you what this new found strength and trust in the Lord feels like and looks like, but I will say this: you have to be in it to know it, and I invite you – if have never experienced the healing power of Jesus Christ accept it today. Accept Him today! If you want prayer over this just send me an email: sonialvsJesus@gmail.com, and I promise I will pray (and probably cry) with you.
So to all you former or current FlyGirls, Jesus is standing there at whatever old well (or boyfriend) you are staring at, and He is saying “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” (John 4:26 NIV) I pray you don’t miss the opportunity of a lifetime for the healing of all that hurt.
With all my heart, Sonia
P.S. I put the salsa version of “The Blessing” song here since we are all about the Latinas today with JLo & all. Please enjoy and give yourself some room to dance!
This is the blog post message tonight, Representative Scalise’s speech today as he returns to congress. Please watch the whole thing to hear the miracles that took place in his group setting the day when he was shot and then hear the miracle in this group setting as he delivers a powerful message about our Almighty God, the power of prayer and the unmatchable power of love.
As I reflect on this speech it gives me hope in how we, as a group of people committed to serving one another and empowered by the Holy Spirit, can help others in need in Mexico, Puerto Rico and places still in desperate need in the states. Together we can and that’s the power of group settings when the focus is on the greater good for humanity.
Psalm 62:8
Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.
Good evening! I didn’t get to post last night because one of us in our household had a stomach bug (it was not me), and there was a late night trip to pick up some medicine. Okay, it was Mario. He’s doing a lot better today, but I heard there’s a stomach bug going around so be sure to drink lots of fluids and get rest (I’m talking to myself here too). On top of that I’ve been texting back and forth with cousins in Puerto Rico and discussing with family here about a trip we had planned for Christmas and New Years to go to Puerto Rico. We had the tickets paid for and plans in place to stay for three weeks. That was before Hurricane Maria. I am not upset about the trip as much as I am heartbroken for my family there. The texts I’m getting are heavy hearted, and I wish I could be there to help pick up the pieces.
I am grateful they are all alive, but my heart aches for them and what they face now. I love my family. I love that island. They have my heart. It struck me how this family of my dad’s across the ocean is such an important part of me. I couldn’t sleep Tuesday night and what little sleep I did get was restless. The island was being pummeled, and I was here safe in my bed. I know they’re a resilient people with a fierce faith in God so I am hopeful for them, but the control freak in me wants to be there so bad, and that is hard.
With cousins in Puerto Rico, December 2014
With all that said, tonight is about being grateful for family, for having roots and connection throughout life and caring for one another even though you’re miles apart. I am praying for the rebuilding process and for hope to burn in their hearts in the midst of the damage. Here are some photos from the family in Puerto Rico, and as I pray and look at these beautiful memories, I know God is faithful and near and will show Himself mighty to save.
Psalm 34:18 (NLT)
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
With all my heart,
Sonia
Gabbie and me. Fajardo, Puerto Rico 2008
New Year’s Eve 2008. Cousins
Mario and me. El Yunque Rainforest, Puerto Rico 2006
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