I had a friend who is very kind, intelligent in both temporal and spiritual measures and has a faith in God unshaken. I once heard our bishop describe this friend as someone who is such a beautiful soul. Those 2 words are perhaps the highest form to express admiration towards someone. I’d like you to meet some of the beautiful souls I’ve been privileged to meet in my life.
Micah. She’s my youngest sister. She was just 3 then. We were riding at the back of our owner-type jeep and she was sleeping in my lap. It was very cold and since it’s a jeep, we could feel the cold wind from the outside. I took off my jacket and placed it over her to protect her from the cold. A little while after, I felt her hand tugging mine. She was pulling my hand towards the inside of the jacket I used to cover her so I’d be protected from the cold wind too. While I was trying to look after her, my little sis was trying to look after me too. Such kindness and care, that’s surely something warmer than a jacket.
Elijah. I used to teach the children in Church – Scripture stories, lessons, Church songs among others. Elijah was 7 during that time. He’s a hyperactive kid that’s always alert and on-the-go. Often, when I start telling a story from the Scriptures, he’d talk in his seat and tell the story from where I stopped – no details missed. After sometime, we split the classes and I started to teach 8-11 yr olds only. The split was made so that the older ones who can handle longer classes will be able to concentrate with the lesson while the younger kids do stuff that interest them more like drawing. Elijah still stole into our classes sometimes, only to give his big sister a really tight hug and a kiss on the cheek. I’m thinking Elijah would surely grow up to be a fine young man.
The primary children. One Sunday after primary (children) class, the children were out playing basketball (with a smaller ball I think). We were trying to stop them but you know children, they are BOSS . Then the ball got stuck on the left top of the metal ring of the basket. The children threw everything they had but none managed to get the ball down. They even asked helped from a father but to no avail. So I came to the rescue. I stood exactly below the ring, took off my right sandal and threw it straight up… And down went the ball… and oh my, did the children scream! They altogether rushed towards me to hug me. I stood there overwhelmed with their joyful screaming and awe. The inside me was saying, wow! you just looked uber-coool in front of these kids! But the more important part is that I felt their affection for me. With no inhibitions they hugged me. I cared for these children deeply and to have the chance to do something that will bring me closer to them and somehow have that feeling returned in a way is an experience I’ll always treasure.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
What’s inside my vault Part II
Family Values
In my family, there is another tradition that I miss - the mano-before-bedtime tradition. When we were young, we’ve been taught by mommy and daddy, that we should pray before we sleep and then make mano to them after praying, the off to bed. I really think it’s a beautiful tradition. However, its strength and weakness lie on the same precept – the family must be at peace before bedtime for this system to work. Let me illustrate.
There was one particular night when I had sama ng loob towards my parents because they scolded for something that I am not convinced is my fault. I felt bad about going over to them to mano while harboring this sama ng loob. So I had to reconcile within me, expand my understanding (I was in elementary then, still immature) of the situation so I could forgive them. Praying really makes one feel ok, that I learned for sure because after praying, I had the courage to go them and mano. I think my parents knew how bad I felt before that because their smiles were somehow brighter that evening and we all went to sleep with light and cheerful hearts.
In my family, there is another tradition that I miss - the mano-before-bedtime tradition. When we were young, we’ve been taught by mommy and daddy, that we should pray before we sleep and then make mano to them after praying, the off to bed. I really think it’s a beautiful tradition. However, its strength and weakness lie on the same precept – the family must be at peace before bedtime for this system to work. Let me illustrate.
There was one particular night when I had sama ng loob towards my parents because they scolded for something that I am not convinced is my fault. I felt bad about going over to them to mano while harboring this sama ng loob. So I had to reconcile within me, expand my understanding (I was in elementary then, still immature) of the situation so I could forgive them. Praying really makes one feel ok, that I learned for sure because after praying, I had the courage to go them and mano. I think my parents knew how bad I felt before that because their smiles were somehow brighter that evening and we all went to sleep with light and cheerful hearts.
What's inside my vault
In the movie Richie Rich, the contents of the secret vault of the richest family in the world were revealed. Surprisingly, the so-called treasures of the Rich family weren’t diamonds or jewelries or money – instead, inside the vault were mementos of their achievements and most unforgettable moments – Richie’s first bike, photo frames of Richie when he was but a small kid, his first step, his first baseball, his father’s first golf club, and similar stuff.
In my first attempt at blogging, I’ll let you in my own little vault – where my treasures are; treasures which I picked along the road of my life and managed to keep ever since. Indeed, I do not mean physical treasures, rather, teachings or experiences that I picked from the people around me, and helped mold me into who I am now.
My Legacy from my Daddy
There was a time in my high school when I feared my father’s expectation. Back then, I joined lots of contests and won half of them I think. Every time I won, my parents were very proud of me. I loved it when I come home looking casual and then I suddenly break the news, “I won!” and see in their eyes the undeniable celebration and pride. On the other side, I feared that they be disappointed if I lose. There was this one contest when my daddy was so sure I would win, and then I lost. I was so sad I couldn’t go home to tell them the result. I was afraid of disappointment. But headstrong as I always am, I faced my predicament head on. I went home and told them that I lost. Do you know what my father told me?
He put his arms around my shoulder and said, “ganyan talaga anak, ginawa mo naman ang best mo”. And from there came my father’s greatest teaching to me, do your best in anything, if you did your best, you’ll have no regrets no matter what the outcome is. But more importantly, I learned to never fear expectation, especially not from my family. Because in my family, there is no expectation, there is only sharing of joy in times of victory and acceptance in times of failure. Now I have a more concrete definition of a home. Indeed, a home is a place you can return to and would love to return to (got this one from Naruto J); a home is a place of refuge (this one’s from our Scripture study class). I’d say this with surety: my parents are the two people in the world that I will always need, I will always depend on, I can be independent of anyone else.
In my first attempt at blogging, I’ll let you in my own little vault – where my treasures are; treasures which I picked along the road of my life and managed to keep ever since. Indeed, I do not mean physical treasures, rather, teachings or experiences that I picked from the people around me, and helped mold me into who I am now.
My Legacy from my Daddy
There was a time in my high school when I feared my father’s expectation. Back then, I joined lots of contests and won half of them I think. Every time I won, my parents were very proud of me. I loved it when I come home looking casual and then I suddenly break the news, “I won!” and see in their eyes the undeniable celebration and pride. On the other side, I feared that they be disappointed if I lose. There was this one contest when my daddy was so sure I would win, and then I lost. I was so sad I couldn’t go home to tell them the result. I was afraid of disappointment. But headstrong as I always am, I faced my predicament head on. I went home and told them that I lost. Do you know what my father told me?
He put his arms around my shoulder and said, “ganyan talaga anak, ginawa mo naman ang best mo”. And from there came my father’s greatest teaching to me, do your best in anything, if you did your best, you’ll have no regrets no matter what the outcome is. But more importantly, I learned to never fear expectation, especially not from my family. Because in my family, there is no expectation, there is only sharing of joy in times of victory and acceptance in times of failure. Now I have a more concrete definition of a home. Indeed, a home is a place you can return to and would love to return to (got this one from Naruto J); a home is a place of refuge (this one’s from our Scripture study class). I’d say this with surety: my parents are the two people in the world that I will always need, I will always depend on, I can be independent of anyone else.
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