THE GOOD SAMARITAN

I am on my way to the office.  I am at a gasoline station in Francis market, Malabon waiting for a cab.  This is already my third attempt..."san po kayo ?"  every time I said Makati, the taxi driver says "NO" At last the fourth cab courteously said "yes ma'am"  On our way to Makati I told  him a story told by my husband after the typhoon Ondoy... when hubby is on his way home coming from E, Rodriguez Quezon City on the day typhoon Ondoy caused havoc to Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon,  A taxi driver told him a story I will forever share to all taxi drivers. All roads were flooded then, this taxi driver saw this middle aged man near Red Cross  getting a taxi but all they did is ignore  him.  No wonder the man was turned down because all roads were flooded.  But this taxi driver, let us call him The Good Samaritan,  stopped and asked the man his destination.  Now the Good Samaritan is also having a second thought.  The man is going to a hospital in Binan, Laguna.  He has with him a bag of blood for his daughter who is in need of a blood transfusion because of  Dengue.So this is an emergency situation.  The man will not really ride a cab but all roads are flooded so there are no more trips in and out of Metro Manila.    And this is the biggest test...he only got five hundred pesos on his pocket to pay the Good Samaritan. When the Good Samaritan said " yes, I will take you there" the man was so happy that he almost saw a halo above the head of the Good Samaritan "you 're an angel " he said.  It is true that the man really need to bring the bag of blood to the hospital and he has to do it quick.  How often have you seen a man crying ?  Because according to the Good Samaritan the scene of the crying man made his hard heart a soft one.  He also needs money to buy food for his family but here he is nodding and taking the man to Laguna for five hundred pesos only.  When they reached the hospital, the man can't stop thanking him and saying sorry for the amount he gave.  And all he can do is smile and said its okay. As he made a U turn (still in Binan)  a couple waved to him...then Lo and behold...they want him to take them to NAIA.  "GOD are you here,  ganon KA ba kabilis rumisponde sa taong katulad ko?"  "ako na ngayon ang naiiyak sa tuwa" So on they went to NAIA.  When they reached NAIA and the couple alighted...the GOOD SAMARITAN received the biggest surprise of that day...the couple handed him Php1,500.00 and told him "thank you" "salamat po, salamat po " he also said.  When he left NAIA...pakiramdam niya hindi sumasayad and taxi niya sa lupa...pakiramdam niya nasa langit siya and he is the happiest person that time.  Why ?  because he has Php1,500.00 enough for his family's needs and this great and joyful feeling that OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN loves him. HE has all the richness in heaven which are also available to each one of us. Natutuwa SIYA pag gumagawa tayo ng mabuti sa kapwa natin...When have u been a GOOD SAMARITAN ?

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND

I woke up at 3am today and i heard somebody whisper to my ear "footprints in the sand". Why footprints in the sand ? i asked. "because i always carry you" i felt this overwhelming embrace as if i am a small child sitting on the lap of the FATHER...and what a feeling !!! i cried, tears of joy,tears of assurance telling me i am not alone. this warm feeling starting from my heart and then rushing down to every part of my body reaching the inner recesses of my being...i knew that's our FATHER IN HEAVEN.

How comforting it is to know that HE is always with us...because HE loves us...and HE cares for us...but most of the time we ignore HIM because we do not know. We do not recognize HIS voice. We are too busy with our everyday existence that we hardly remember why do we exist. GOD loves us and that HE created each one of us as a unique individual . HE is in each one of us. Sometimes i wonder...if HE is in each one of us, how come we treat each other indifferently. How come we hated people who do not conformed to what we stand for. How come we hurt each other. How come we don't care . How come we are selective with our choice of friends. How come we are only good and concern to those who are good to us. If our FATHER IN HEAVEN will only be in each of us...although its really a great effort to be good...then what a wonderful world this will be!!!

So i am committing myself each day today... and asking our FATHER IN HEAVEN to guide me in whatever ways HE wants...then making you a partner , people from all walks of life , to travel this journey with this in mind - that FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND is HE carrying us in the darkest day of our life.

UNWINE…UNWIND

My eyes were all red and swollen. I do not have the energy to        prepare breakfast for my family. I hated this feeling, but I can’thelp it. I hated myself for being so rude. I hated this unwine,unwind moment.

My hubby wanted to “unwine” after a hard week at work. So we bought him four bottles of beer and cooked him hotdog and squid balls. He went on sound tripping until twelve in the evening. This is his way of unwinding. Sleep time came…this is the hardest part…he wanted me put both my feet on his feet …he called this “dagan”. Hubby has an arthritis that bothers him every sleeping time. More often that not, I always submit to his request of “dagan” but sometimes, when I am also tired and not feeling well…I also say No. That night, I said No, so he began his litanies of undescribable words. Since I am so sensitive of hearing those words, I cried and outpour my feelings…”I am just tired and sleepy, I don’t want to be bothered !”

The following day, hubby began hugging and kissing me. Its his way of saying “I am sorry” This is what I admired from him…he is really so sweet. Then I’ve come to realize I also have my shortcomings. I am so sensitive but am so insensitive of hubby’s feelings.I remember an article I read in a book entitled GIVING THE LOVE THAT HEALS by Harville Hendrix and Helen Hunt – “Refraining from criticizing your spouse and feeling his pain instead isn’t just a “good thing to do” When something is just a good idea , our dedication is conditional. We do it if its convenient, or it feels good, or it’s easy.” We are selective of the good deeds we ought to do. Yes, if it will make us feel good about ourselves then we do it. But if it is tiring and will not give us any good feelings then we decline from doing it. This is what I did to hubby.

I believe each of us is responsible for doing things not because we will feel good about it but because it will help and will make the person concern feel the love of God. No ifs, no buts,just keep on doing good things and keep on loving even the unlovables. This way we will prove to everyone that LOVE IS GOD and GOD IS LOVE !!!

MOM

Typhoon Egay is coming…classes are suspended. Mom is going home to Laguna. I promised I will accompany her in buying her television courtesy of my sister Ket’s credit card. Unfortunately I can’t come with her because of the typhoon. But the sun is up, there is no rain. THANKS BE TO GOD ! Flood is still knee deep in our place in Obando, Bulacan due to the last typhoon Chedeng and Dodong and if rain will continue to pour…oh my, where shall we all go?

It is already late when we decided to go. But mom is already at the Tritran bus terminal in Buendia. She was surprised when we texted her and told us she will wait for us in the bus terminal. So my daughter and I hurriedly left and proceed to buendia. There we met mom...she was with that big smile…sa wakas, mabibili na ang television!!! On our trip to Laguna, we had a terrific bonding. Why terrific? Niki, my daughter, my mom and I were all asleep.

And so we reached waltermart and bought the television mom had been longing to have. Its been six months since her television retired. At her age (mom is already 65) the television is her great companion. This makes her laugh, cry and even jump for joy especially when its Eat Bulaga Itaktak Mo portion.

Sad to say, Dad left Mom ( to join our Creator) last June 25, 2006. Mom is living alone now, very far from us. She can’t leave Laguna, she still has a mission to fulfill there. She is a church worker – a mass commentator and overall president of their Fatima block rosary. She had already multiplied an extended families in the place. And all of these Godly worksmade her survive and cope up with the emptiness of losing Dad.

On our way home (my daughter Niki and i) I imagined Mom traveling alone from Laguna to Obando, Bulacan. She visited us three times a month. And every 26^th day of the month , I accompany her in buying her seven kinds of medicines for her maintenance. Mom is diabetic and a stroke survivor. In fact this is the second time I visited her in her place ever since Dad left her. Why so very seldom ? Why can’t I be the one to visit her instead? It is because of my heart ailment…I do not want to tire myself also. But mom is getting old. Now she is having a hard time walking because of her rayuma. We had already reached bicutan and mom still bothers me. Ahhh…this time I have to store strength and courage to be the one to visit and bond with her. Our Gracious GOD will sustain me with all my needs. I will do this for Mom but most of all for HIM. Because this is my way of thanking HIM for giving Mom to us. HE IS A WONDERFUL GOD!!!

ANG SAPATOS NI KUYA

“Ma, twg k s cel ko nw na po” txt ni Niki. So I called her and these are her words …”Ma, pagbaba naming ng jeep sa monumento, nagtataka si kuya kasi para daw siyang naka-tsinelas, kaya po pala…tanggal na ang suwelas ng sapatos niya!”
“ o, anong ginawa mo? I asked. “sasamahan ko na po siya na bumili ng slipper sa Gotesco Grand Central, papautangin ko po siya. Pero di na po ako makakapasok, dalawa lang po ang klase ko at di na po ako aabot. Papasok po si kuya ,ako nap o ang mag uuwi ng shoes nya.” I thanked GOD for these blessings…ang dalawa kong anak di nag iiwanan, bagkus nagtutulungan. Oh I am so proud of them.

It is very common between siblings to always have friction especially with my two kids,,,they always argue even on trivial matters. But I am so thankful that at times like this…wherein they need each other…they extend each others arms and come to the rescue. This is how I wanted my children to be – to grow with compassion in their heart. To know GODLINESS … and that no matter where and when and in whatever situation lalabas at lalabas ang kagandahang asal na ito. Because I believe it is deeply rooted in their hears. These are the beautiful things GOD HAVE CREATED that I long to impart to them . GODLY things on which they will continue to live by even I won't be around anymore. I can be rest assured that these good deeds will be passed forward today, tomorrow and all the days of their lives. PRAISE OUR GRACIOUS FATHER FOR THIS UNENDING LOVE…