Cristina M. Gomez
"God is using your present circumstances to make you more useful for later roles in his unfolding story."
"God First Bro!"
Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10
Messages & Quotes by Cristina M. Gomez
On May 12, 2014 - the day of the fall, Cristina M. Gomez posted the following poem on her Instagram page:
“It happens like this.
"One day you meet someone and for some inexplicable reason, you feel more connected to this stranger than anyone else--closer to them than your closest family. Perhaps this person carries within them an angel--one sent to you for some higher purpose; to teach you an important lesson or to keep you safe during a perilous time. What you must do is trust in them--even if they come hand in hand with pain or suffering--the reason for their presence will become clear in due time."
Though here is a word of warning--you may grow to love this person but remember they are not yours to keep. Their purpose isn't to save you but to show you how to save yourself. And once this is fulfilled; the halo lifts and the angel leaves their body as the person exits your life. They will be a stranger to you once more.
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It's so dark right now, I can't see any light around me.
That's because the light is coming from you. You can't see it but everyone else can."
This message was posted by Cristina M. Gomez on May 2, 2014:​
Just finished a much needed run after my little ER trip last Friday and can I share something with you? As I was running with my small red earbuds tucked into my ears.. I began realizing the exquisite beauty that lay right in front of my eyes. The sun although scorching, granted me an inside look at its brilliant rays, which were peeking through the hazy, reddish gray clouds. The trees themselves were my audience cheering me on as I passed each one in a long stride. Then.. I stopped.
I took the buds out of my ears and just listened. I closed my eyes and could hear my heart vigorously beating to make sure oxygen was being delivered to my muscles, my exasperating lungs were in tune with my heaving breathing, and my feet just still. I proceeded to open my eyes, sit down, and open a book I had closed much too long ago, titled God is Able. The words on page 64 (where I left off) simply said, "God may have healed you of sicknesses you didn't even know you were carrying around." I thought long and hard about this, I even looked up at the setting sky for about 15 minutes or so. I'm not your typical religious person, but the words themselves struck a deep chord in my heart.
If you or someone you know may remotely be going through something and God may not seem like the answer to them. Acknowledge that He loved us at our darkest. But more importantly, let them know that there's loved ones always circling around, no matter how lonely they believe to feel. It's crazy because there are so many lonely people in the world, and yet when someone passes it seems that all that love for that specific person comes to light. So why not shed that light, that warmth, and relentless love to those who need it most? Yet hardly receive it? — feeling light.
The following message was posted by Cristina M. Gomez on: May 1, 2014
20 hours of working with my kids in after school care each week, 12 credits in teaching courses of Physical Education, Elementary Math, Elementary Science, and Intermediate Reading.. On top of the fact that I needed to complete 45 field experience hours total for these courses in a 5th grade classroom.. I managed to GET ON THE DEAN'S LIST! #hardworkpaysoff #hardlyslept #summerA #9credits #5classestillinternship #FIUgrad15
This message was posted by Cristina the day of the Miami Marathon - February 2, 2014:
Thank you to everyone who has talked to me before and after the run! Ahh okay so here's what happened, since many of you have asked how it was and I could only give you a short snippet.
It was 6:15 am and I was among one of over 25,000 runners from all over the world participating in the Miami Marathon (half for me). The first 5 miles I had kept my 9:50 pace, no problem I was pretty much trotting along, zooming by people and dunking water on myself at each water station to keep my momentum going.
Fast forward a bit and there I was passing mile marker 6 wondering then.. what I had gotten myself into... Out of absolutely no where... My legs gradually started to feel heavier and heavier and I wasn't even halfway done with my run. After repeatedly looking down at my shirt and praying to get through it I had finally made it to mile marker 10. Only 3.1 miles left, only a 5k left, not too bad, 30 more minutes! But you see, my body was being pushed to it's limit and I had hit the all too familiar Runner's Wall, something I dreaded (last year's race I hit Runner's wall at mile 13 so I was okay).
What is it? Depletion of glycogen storage manifested itself by turning into sudden fatigue and loss of energy. My brain was fine, but my legs felt like concrete blocks with each step. What I thought to be a 30 minute run turned into about 50 minutes. Now I was no longer passing anyone, people were passing me. I wanted to give up. I didn't think I would finish and my body cried to just stop. Walk it out past that finish line.. But I couldn't. I stretched my leg muscles for about 30 seconds each mile then and kept it going. I was pretty much running a little faster than a walking pace!!!! (I had someone speed walking next to me, eh) Then that beautiful "Mile 12" sign was in sight. I had one mile left..ONE MORE. That was enough motivation to pick up the speed and the cheering section of people repeatedly screamed "FINISH STRONG!!"
I guess my face clearly showed the agony and pain I was feeling but it helped.. tremendously. I could only think of how I needed to beat last year's time throughout the entire race, but you know what? That didn't seem much of importance. All the training leading up to this race, and finally doing it a second time around.. well it was all up to me to decide what I was going to do. I finally decided to tuck my headphones away and listen to the not so smooth rhythm of my tired feet against the black pavement. All I could think of was how people alongside me were walking. I mean we only had one mile left to spare. I guess it was kind of nice to know that I wasn't the only one struggling but even then I had made the decision to move a bit faster than my peers. Well, that last point 1 was the kicker. After looking like a deer in headlights, I finally heard the familiar roars of my family, the sweetest feeling of all. I thankfully crossed that lovely finish line and my exhausted feet thanked me, I could walk now!
Funny story. As warn out as I was, a student volunteer from UM caught sight of me and asked me to sit while he would get some water. The pain shot down my legs and they didn't cooperate much. I ended up having slipped in the process of sitting. (The wheel chair I passed a couple steps earlier didn't seem like a bad idea. Eh.) After being helped to my feet and being personally held up right, I was given my medal and the huge sign of "Food/Water" became a beautiful safe haven. (Stocked up on a granola bar, 3 oranges, a banana, and three bites of a bagel). After finding my parents, my legs still in shock, I finally plopped myself onto the grass and cried. I cried not only because of pain but because I finished. I'm not sure why this time around the half was much more difficult for me. You would think as a second timer, it would be easier, but hey I finished.
Like John Bingham said, "Crossing the starting line may be an act of courage, but crossing the finish line is an act of faith. Faith is what keeps us going when nothing else will. Faith is the emotion that will give you victory.."
In response to Louie Giglic's quote:
"God is using your present circumstances to make you more useful for later roles in his unfolding story."
Cristina M. Gomez wrote:
My God and my faith is not a place for the perfect, but a home for the wounded!
About her Father..... Cristina M. Gomez wrote:
"My Dad told me he'd sleep on the couch so I wouldn't have to and ever so quietly he whispered a soft sleepy "thank you" when I placed the sheets over hi.m. It's times like these where our roles have been switched. Although he's still my Superman, I've not become his Superchild. God is good Daddy. I know everything will be okay. As for now, I'm praying every night for you."
In response to the quote:
"Be a game changer; the world has enough followers"
Cristina M. Gomez wrote:
We are all born with 3 things: A mind, a body, and a lifetime. How you use the first two, determine the third. Ha! I remember when I used to sleep at night. Success doesn't sleep.
About Running Cristina M. Gomez Wrote:
Me and running don't always see eye to eye. Some days it hurts more than others, but that doesn't mean that I won't do it. I deal with it and I keep running because not everything that is good for you feels good..
About her Mother..... Cristina M. Gomez wrote:
To my first friend, to my first love, to my first kiss, to being a student Mom at 17, to loving me when you first discovered you were preggers, to making the decision and giving me life.....well I may never know all you've done for me. The endless hours you worked, the sacrifices made, the countless things you did to make sure I was safe and even prepared for life.....you surely put the "her" in hero!
About her Father.....Cristina M. Gomez wrote:
"And even at 21 I still see you as my hero, and yet still at 21 you still see me as your little girl in pigtails. I'm not ashamed to say I never met a man that was my Father's equal. #DynamicDuo".