New year

This post is 4 months overdue. :(

Year after year, there are news of children dying due to stray bullets during the New Year. Some of them playing, some watching the fireworks, some just sleeping in the presumed safety of their homes then BANG! Dead.

Senseless, yes. But it still happens! Why? Because some idiot (drunk or sober) thinks it's cool to go on bragging about their weapons and shooting in the air without any thought that what comes up definitely must come down.

It breaks my heart to see news like this, especially since I've become a mother. I dread the mere thought of losing you both, more so if it will be through something as sudden as this.

If you decide to become gun owners, though I strongly discourage this, may you be responsible.

If you personally know anyone who is a victim of stray bullets, may you show compassion and empathy, and pray for their strength and forgiveness.

I love you both.

Palm Sunday

This year, since Dad has survived his bout with GBS, he has agreed to join the church activities as an apostle.

This a list of many firsts for dad, and for me as well. Lolo and lola brought me and tito pancake pretty much inside the church and with Couples For Christ activities. But, usually during the Lenten season, we'd just stay at home and go to church only to hear the Easter mass.

As I've said, dad has agreed to become an apostle for our local parish in Pacita, the Sto. Rosario Parish Church. Here he is with the 11 other guys on the first time that they were all gathered together. This was before the Palm Sunday mass.

Remind Yourself That You’re A Saint Within

One day, a teacher asked her students in class to write the names of the other students on a piece of paper.  "And leave space between each name," she instructed.

       When they finished, the teacher said, "Underneath each name, I want you to write the good things you see in that person."  Immediately, the kids busied themselves with the task and took the whole class to finish it.

       The teacher took the papers home and collated the material.  On one piece of paper per child, she wrote all the positive qualities written by their classmates. 

       On the next class, she handed out the papers to the kids.  They were very happy to read the letters.  "Wow, am I really this person?" some of them gushed.

       Many, many years later, the teacher received a phone call.   One of her former students, who had become a soldier, was killed in battle.  Would she want to attend the funeral?

       She went and saw many of her former students condoling with the bereaved family.  As she stood beside the coffin, looking at the lifeless body of a young man in uniform inside, a middle-aged woman approached her.  "Are you my son's grade school teacher?"

       "Yes," she said, "you must be his mother.  My deepest condolences."

       "I'd like to show something to you," the mother said. "My son had this inside his wallet when he died."  She pulled out a worn-out piece of paper.  It was obvious that it had been folded and unfolded many times. 

Even before it was opened, the teacher already knew what it was.  It was the piece of paper that contained the list of positive qualities his classmates saw in him.  Kept and read all through the years.

       By that time, her other students had gathered around both of them.

       A young man beside the teacher said, "Uh, I carry mine wherever I go too."

       A woman from behind said, "I still keep mine.  It's in my diary."

       Another man said, "I display my list on my desk at home."

       Another woman said, "It seems like all of us kept that paper all these years!"

       The teacher was moved beyond words. 

       Why would a simple piece of paper mean so much?

       Because here's the truth: Life can be rough.  At various time, it can even be cruel.  Every time we fail, every time we receive criticism, every time we get rejected, we doubt our worth.  We doubt our goodness.

       We are very desperate for love.

       We need to love the saint within us.

       Friend, love yourself. 

       Each day, celebrate your positive qualities.  Celebrate your goodness.  Celebrate your beauty.

       Thank God for how wonderful He made you.

Love the sinner and the saint within.     

      

       May your dreams come true,

     I love you.

(Story from the Chicken Soup series)