Quite frankly, I came from a family that is not ideal.  My parents were always fighting. This is probably the reason why I have spent most of my time outside our home... if I may call it a home. I was either with my friends drinking with them or I was with my girlfriend...

As a family, we didn't even manage to come up with a decent photo album. With what we have, you will rarely see me in there. But try going to my friends' house, open their albums, chances are... you will find me there. I am almost always present in all of their celebrations, be it birthdays of my friends, wedding anniversaries of their parents... even birthdays of their pets! I was there... always there.

That's why most of my friends were always saying that I am a great friend. But the same thing cannot be said to me as a brother... and as a son. I agree. I can't complain. I just did not spend time with my family.

But one particular incident had changed all these...

It was Sunday evening in September of 1998, I was cooking when someone knocked on our door. "Knock! Knock! Knock!" It was my cousin Ritchie. "Wait, almost there!" I answered. "What's the rush? Why you're in a hurry?", I asked my cousin. He said, "Come with me, let us go to the hospital... your mother is in a coma! Upon hearing the news, I felt numb. I didn't know how to react. My mother had a stroke. It was the baddest saddest news I have ever heard.

On our way to the hospital, I was trying to pacify myself, but inside of me, I was trembling... my mind was flying... how I wished I was just dreaming!

Finally, we arrived at the hospital. I slowly opened the door where my mother was confined, and there... in all reality, I saw my mom, lying unconscious with all those life support system... It just crushed me seeing her in that situation.

Suddenly, flashback of memories came to me. I remembered the times she used to treat my wound whenever I suffered an accident and never said... "Thank You". Those countless times I have hurt her feelings without even uttering... "I'm sorry". The January 15's that have passed without saying... "Happy birthday". These memories plus a lot more made me realize that I am not yet ready to let go of my mom. I have yet to say "Thank you", I have yet to say "I'm sorry", and I have yet to let her know how important she really is to me.

I prayed hard, really hard for her recovery. Perhaps I can say that it was the first genuine prayer I have ever had.

Probably in answer to our family's collective prayers... the blood clot that was found on my mom's brain had been removed without having to undergo surgery. It was indeed a blessing and it couldn't have arrived at a better time as we were already running out of fund. Few more days have passed and we have decided to just go on with her recovery at home.

After two years of agony within the family... my mom had recovered! She was able to walk and talk again although she was no longer the same. But still it was more than enough for all of us.

This particular episode in my life had taught me a big lesson... that there are far more important things in life other than just drinking and playing around.

Likewise, it made me realize that I can maximize the use of my time in spending it with my family, in developing myself so I can be useful to more people and most importantly... I can use my time in serving and glorifying God.

Friends, I have made my turn and has no intentions of returning back. How about you? Will you still wait for your "turning point" before making that change? Or are you going to use my turning point to your advantage and make that change... now?

The choice is all yours.