Pure Kindness

He who confers benefits will be aptly enriched,

And he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

---- Proverbs 11:25 ----

At the Ford Engine Plant in Romeo, where my husband, Bong, goes to work, Amy and Perla are the other two Filipinos.  Every day, as they go about their daily chores, they bring with them their donation cans.  Their cans and their Pinoy looks give it away, they are ready to accept donations for the typhoon Haiyan (or Yolanda) victims in the Philippines.  Some 500 people work in that assembly plant and everybody does not really know everybody.  But between the three of them, they gathered a good sum of help.  Bong tells me how he was touched by the kindness of each and everyone who had pitched in, even from people he did not even know.

 
At one point they had a collection which included a big bundle of singles.  So when Bong stopped for gas (he was tasked to be the sender and was carrying a big bundle of bills in his pocket), he asked the store clerk if he can exchange the singles for bigger denominations, while also telling him the story about the money. The clerk counted, 67 dollars. Without hesitation, he reached at his own pocket and added 3 more singles to make it an even 70, then gave Bong three 20's and a 10 from his drawer.  Bong left the store with a very warm heart.  When it does not become necessary to know who you are helping but still you do without hesitation, that is pure kindness.

This Christmas, many will be without homes, many will still be grieving for their loved ones who perished in that monster typhoon Haiyan, but this season brings us hope, and love shown from every corner of the globe has proven that kindness is not dead.  

Jesus is the reason for the season.  Merry Christmas!       

Let mutual love continue.

Do not neglect hospitality, for through it,

Some have unknowingly entertained angels.

---- Hebrews 13:1-2 ----

- no angel -

Beyond Pearls

How did this happen?  When we came here from the Philippines, we only owned five balikbayan boxes of things and five suitcases.  Now, we have so much things, more than half of them, we don't really need or use at all.  Oh, so much to clean up before we finally say goodbye to this house which was home to us for the past twelve years.  

To keep or not to keep, that was the objective as I was sorting out old files.  As I was doing this, I came upon this...

     

When one finds a worthy wife,

her value is far beyond pearls.

Her husband, entrusting his heart to her,

has an unfailing prize.

She brings him good, not evil,

all the days of her life.

She obtains wool and flax

and works with loving hands.

She puts her hands to the distaff,

and her fingers ply the spindle.

She reaches out her hands to the poor,

and extends her arms to the needy.

She watches the conduct of her household,

and eats not her food in idleness.

Her children rise up and praise her,

her husband too extols her, saying,

"Many are the women of proven worth,

but you have excelled them all."

Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting;

the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Give her a reward for her labors,

and let her works praise her at the city gates.

-------- Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 27-31 --------

This was the scripture Jas read at Mommy's funeral mass at St. Cyprian.  It has been a year ago and I can still remember Fr. Bill saying how my mom had been taking care of other people her whole life and suddenly she was on the other end, the one who needed to be cared for.  She used to tell me how she did not want to be a burden to anybody, and I guess God granted her that wish. 

The day we said goodbye to Mommy, After she was 
taken back to the funeral home, her temporary home,
until her flight back to Cebu.

God had entrusted my life to this angel I called Mommy.  She took care of me from the beginning of my life until the end of hers.  She molded me to be what I am today.  She taught me how to cook, how to sew, how to love, how to live.

When I was a little girl, I used to be very afraid of her because she was the disciplinarian in the family.  She had this distinct 'psssttt...' call that would just make me drop whatever I was doing to go answer that.  But as I grew older, she became more tolerant so I can be free to be whatever I wanted to be, not without guidance but with a lot of understanding and encouragement.  She spoke softly but hers were words of wisdom.  I once complained how I have ugly, wrinkly hands.  And she would assure me, "Beautiful hands are those that work".  Mommy was a worker.  She worked hard not for herself but for all those she loved.  She'd give everything she had for my dad, for us, her children and her grandchildren.  Her value was truly beyond pearls. 

 So vibrant on her 74th birthday.  Not a hint that
at age 75 she would be gone.

 

Tita Clavel, Ate Del, Tony and Anna flew from LA to Michigan

to surprise Mommy on her 74th birthday. 

I think of her everyday.  I miss her everyday.  But God's plan is bigger than mine.  Nine months after Mommy's passing, came to us a gift, a new life.  After her Lola, Jas named her Fae.  Meet our bundle of joy, Fae Olivia.  We fondly call her baby Peepay.  

Fae Olivia Taylor, born Sept. 2, 2013

- no angel -

Life Chain

If my people, who are called by my name,

will humble themselves and pray and seek my face
and turn from their wicked ways,
then will I hear from heaven and
will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

- 2 Chronicles 7:14 -

Thirty-five years ago "Roe vs. Wade' legalized abortion in the United States.  This was the outcome when two women lawyers were seeking the right for a homeless, 22-year-old single mother Norma McCorvey, pseudonym Jane Roe, to terminate her third pregnancy.  By the time the decision was handed down, Roe would have had that child whom she put up for adoption.  The prosecuting district attorney, Henry Wade, himself coming from a family of seven children, never lost a case until 'Roe vs. Wade', but his cause remained.  Up until now, the battle is to educate women about the dangers of abortion and the right to life.  In the 1980's, McCorvey finally revealed her true identity.   Converted into Catholicism in the 90's, she became an active pro-Life advocate saying, "I believe that I was used and abused by the court system in America. Instead of helping women in Roe v Wade, I brought destruction to me and millions of women throughout the nation." 

Last Sunday, daddy Buddy, Bong and I stood in that cold and windy fall day to express our support for the sanctity of the human life.  Together with  some of our St. Cyprian family, we joined the Life Chain to bear witness to God's forgiving kindness. 

I am my Father's humble servant and I love Life!

-  no angel -
 

Road Trip

But I said, "I have toiled in vain,

I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity:

Yet surely the justice due me is with the Lord,

and my reward with my God."

-------- Isaiah 49:4 ---------

Five hours to Chicago on a Friday afternoon. It was hot and humid and we were crammed inside Bong's little Mercury Sable. Lourdes, Chit and Maley shared the backseat with all the other things that we could not fit in the trunk. Nothing could stop us, not even the dreaded traffic that was awaiting us once we get to the Chicago area. This road trip was meant to be! Off we went to the CFC-FFL Conference. We let God be our strength!

I drove the first half... one stop at a rest area for a bathroom break and a very late lunch. Thank God for HFL sisters, Lourdes & Chit, we can never go hungry because they always bring food... we can never have bad breath because there is always some fresh breath gum ready in their purses.

After we fillep-up our gas tank just before entering the state of Illimois, Bong took the wheel. Time for my nap you would think... but oh no, I was tasked to look at the map, look at the road and make sure that he can follow where the GPS directs him to. "Stay on this Hi-way", I told him. "No, we have pay toll", he insisted. "But that's for another hi-way", my voice was now raised a wee bit. "After the toll gate, we would still be back to that same hi-way", said he very confidently. No more argument... now, where's that same hi-way? Blame, blame, blame... argue, argue, argue... why do we bother to let the GPS guide us but yet we do not heed? Hmmppp!

To make the long story short, we found another way to our destination, but instead of the original plan to evade the downtown traffic, we found ourselves dashing off into it. I got tired of arguing, I just prayed that we get there safely --- getting there on time was no longer an option anyway. Finally! Our exit! We were just waiting for our turn to merge into the local street at the stop sign when we were suddenly jolted by a thud. Oh great! Almost there, and now, more delay. We were rearended!

It tturned out to be a very quick settlement. The other driver apologetically owned the fault. He was going to take care of that big damage to his car.... we would take care of the little scratch on ours.

We got to the conference, not on time for the opening, but we accomplished the first objective --- to be there. Victory! We toiled not in vain. And God gave us our reward --- the rest of the wonderful conference experience.

My God is now my strength.

--- no Angel ---

I am a SHEEP

Truly, truly, I say to you,
he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep,
but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.
But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep.
To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hears his voice and
he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
When he puts forth all his own,
he goes ahead of them and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him,
because they do not know the voice of strangers.
------ John 10: 1-5 ------

awesome photo taken by my awesome son Thaad

Soaring gas prices, whew! When I had to bring my car to the dealership for a recall, it took them more than a month to get done with it, and so they paid for my rental car. Bong chose the Ford Fiesta for me and boy was I really glad! 36 miles to a gallon of gas compared to 23 on my Windstar. I was very pleased indeed.

Second day into my pleasant driving experience.... Off to work I went with my Sirius (something I did not have with my Windstar) Christian music station on, I drove by an elderly gentleman by the entrance ramp onto I-275. I was just done with my morning drive habit, that is about 12 miles of praise and worship before I get into the freeway and then I am ready for my day's challenges. A red plastic gas container in one hand, this guy was waving at me with the other, signaling that he needed a ride. Not giving it a second thought, I stopped... Ooopppsss.... In short, I gave the guy a lift... might be my first challenge of the day.

He asked my name. I told him. He asked if I can drive him to where his car broke down on him. Sorry, that is out of my way. He asked if I can drop him off at a gas station instead. That, I can do since there's a gas station right afte I get off the freeway. He asked if I can spare him a couple of bucks to pay for gas because all he had was some loose change he found in his car. Okay, as soon as we get to that gas station, That was probably the longest 10-minute drive ever. I was uncomfortable and I was not talking, except when asked. Finally, the gas station.... I dropped him off, gave him the last few dollars that I had in my wallet and we said our goodbyes.

It was a relief when I saw all those familiar faces at work. I told them about my adventure.... or mis-adventure. They reminded me of the dangers of my action. Yeah, I was a fool but I also felt sorry for that seemingly helpless stranger. It was Freddie (he is another story to tell) who put some sense to my doubting little mind. "You have a good heart, Casilda. Maybe it was God who made you do what you did. Maybe you were listening to God telling you to help that guy", he tells me. And that was enough for me. God is my shepherd and I am His sheep.

I am pleased. I am BLESSED.

- no angel -

Prayer Power

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen.
For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Through faith we understand
that the worlds were framed by the word of God,
so that things which are seen
were not made of things which do appear.
---- Hebrews 11:1-3 ----

Childbirth by Ceasarean Section was a frightening experience. Yet, each time I went through the procedure, the prize always amazingly weighed down the fear. Jas... Gem... Thaad... my precious prizes! It was not very long ago that they ran to me for comfort, that they came to me for answers, that they hid behind me for protection. Swift fly the years... they are all grown up now and I have an empty nest. I worry about them everyday but I trust that my prayers go with them... Pray, that's what I can do for them... what else can a mom really do?

Every prayer I say is heard, I do not doubt. Everyday is a miracle, I rejoice. Every life is a gift, I give thanks.

What is left of Gem's car after her rollover accident on I-96 on that snowy Saturday afternoon on her way back to Grand Rapids. She walked out of the mess unharmed. An answered prayer, a miracle, a gift. Praise be God!

Checking on Gem in Grand Rapids. Picture taken by Clay, the friend who came to her rescue.

FAITH, JOY, THANKSGIVING...

- no angel -

Black Angel

For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish,
disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures,
living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
But after that the kindness and love of
God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to his mercy he saved us,
by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Which he shed on us abundantly
through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
That being justified by his grace,
we should be made heirs
according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:3-7

No luck... the weather did not permit the launching of the space shuttle...
but not the picture taking. (Jellus is in green & white shirt beside me)

Orlando, Florida... our summer getaway! Together with our friends, the Madrids, the Aspirases, the Espinosas and the Doromals, vacation was made more fun. One day, we decided to make a side trip to Titusville, home to the Kennedy Space Center, to watch the launching of a space shuttle. I really did not care too much about it, but since everyone else thought that this might be the only chance to witness an event like this, then off we went... packed lunches and all, we drove a little over an hour. Parking was not easy to find, people scurried towards the water's edge for a perfect spot to watch that shuttle leave earth. Even in the humid summer heat, everyone, young and old, was eagerly waiting... waiting... waiting... until the announcement came off a loudspeaker from somewhere.... "NASA has canceled the launch because of the bad weather..." Suddenly, rain poured so hard, everyone was rushing to their vehicles... and so ended our launch watch, in vain. But the reflection to this blog's passage from the the Holy Book is not the failed shuttle launch...

In the midst of all the hustle and bustle, an older man, dressed in a shiny black gown and wings, pretending to be a 'black angel', was busy telling passers by how Christians are like cannibals... eating Jesus' body and drinking His blood. And Jellus (Espinosa) being Jellus, who could not just keep still, spoke his mind. He reminded the guy, "it's not real body nor real blood..." until one of the other kids started pulling him away lest a big debate might ensue. I walked away from the guy mumbling how stupid he was. Jellus, as young as he might be, was trying to defend his faith... why didn't I, and the rest of the other Christians who were there?

According to Father Bill, eating His body and drinking His blood, is a "metaphor of something bigger". When Jesus referred to the bread and wine as His flesh and blood, He was also referring to the reality of Himself. He is real, as significant as the bread being broken and the wine being poured, He gave His body and blood so that you and I might live. We repay Jesus with our good deeds... but is this enough?... or is standing up for our faith the better payment?

Only by His MERCY and GRACE are we all saved!... I have HOPE!

- no angel -