This is who we are.

A lesson from Peter & my Lola G.

Many of you know my mother’s story. She was adopted at birth from the Philippines by a U.S. military family and had no contact with her biological family for over 50 years. In 2019, she took a DNA test and found that her biological mother, five siblings, and many other extended family members live right here in the States, in Phoenix and Portland.

The first time my mom (third from the left) met her biological mother and siblings.

Having the opportunity to meet our new-to-us family has been an incredible and unexpected gift. We have been immersed into the Filipino culture in many ways—namely, the food! My Lola G (Lola is the Filipino name for grandmother, G stands for Gima) has taught us how to make lumpia, pancit, adobo, and other delicious dishes. One that was new to us was a common Filipino breakfast dish, fluffy eggs and garlic rice.

You have to remember that before they came along, we were just a regular ol’ southern, American family. For breakfast, we like to eat pancakes, waffles, monkey bread, cereal…give us the sweets! When my oldest sister said she was a little unsure about the fluffy eggs and garlic rice, my Lola G told her in her thick accent, “You will eat it, and you will like it!” This has been an ongoing joke and oft-quoted statement in our family ever since. She wasn’t being bossy—she was just confident! We’re Filipino, so of course we will like it! It’s who we are!

Recently, I was studying 1 Peter, and when I read Peter’s exhortation in chapter 1, it immediately made me think of the fluffy eggs and garlic rice story. See if you can spot Lola G in this passage. ;)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. 5 You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials 7 so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. | 1 Peter 1:3-7 CSB, emphasis mine

Peter reminds the dispersed and persecuted Church of God’s great mercy and their incredible salvation—their new birth, their living hope, their imperishable inheritance. He reminds them that it is God’s power guarding them until the day Jesus returns. And then he tells them confidently, “You rejoice in this…”

Peter isn’t commanding them to rejoice (his first command doesn’t come until later in his letter); he isn’t bossing them. He’s telling them what they naturally do as God’s chosen people. Even though they suffer, even though they grieve, even though they face various trials, even though their faith is tested…they rejoice in the great mercy God has shown to them, in the new life they have been given, and in the imperishable inheritance awaiting them.

Just as Lola G was confident that because we are Filipino, of course we will like the fluffy eggs and garlic rice, Peter was confident that because they were saved by God’s mercy and given a living hope, of course they would rejoice! Why wouldn’t they? Why wouldn’t we?

I’ve been so stirred by these four words over the last couple of weeks.
You rejoice in this…

Even in the disappointment,
even in the unknown,
even in the heartache,
even in the hard seasons,
what else is there to do but to rejoice in our salvation and all that it entails?
Surely we won’t lose hope or give up. That is not who we are.

This is who we are:

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. | 1 Peter 2:9

And for the record, Lola G was right! We now look forward to the mornings when fluffy eggs and garlic rice are on the breakfast menu. On our most recent visit, I sat by the stove to watch how Lola G gets her eggs so perfectly fluffy. And the amount of garlic she put in that rice…*chef’s kiss!*

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For funsies, a few more photos of our family.

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So glad you’re here, friend. Thanks for reading. Share if it encouraged you or you know someone who could use the encouragement. And one last reminder: REJOICE!

—Linds.