great ordinary happenings

It’s a Tuesday! And one of my assigned blog days, so here I am. You know, getting into this blog fad has really been something unattainable for me, as I have imagined this would take too much time which I’ve felt I’m short of. But then, I have decided, in fact have begun this, thus I have made a system – so help me God.

And it’s the day before Valentine’s Day – Happy Valentine’s in advance, in case I cannot be here tomorrow….. I’ll try though, as you can see, I have not done my work today, so I have to make up for this!

My sharing: Of today’s Mass reading, I’m struck by the verse from Genesis 6:18 – “but I will make a covenant with you. Go into the boat with your wife, your sons, and their wives.” That was God speaking to Noah when He was going to send a flood on the earth to destroy every living being, as the people became so evil to the point that He regretted having created them (Gen. 6:5-7), and only one man, Noah, pleased the Lord God.

I take note of the married sons’ obedience, and adherence to their old father’s admonition, I imagine even since the beginning of the making of the huge boat that was to be their haven of safety during the flood. Thus they were part of Noah’s blessing, that of being saved from the deluge.

Married sons and daughters have the attitude to totally exclude their parents from whatever major decisions they make, as it is truly God’s will also, or so we think. For isn’t it in His Word that when one marries he leaves his home, lives with his wife, for now they are one (Gen. 2:25)? However, if we look around, the practice of close, loving families is to consult, or at least confer, not just with the parents but with siblings who are around, on critical issues in life, may it be just to inform or to hear their points of view, but after some exchange of ideas, of course, the couple concerned decides what to do. Getting others’ assessments of a situation, listening to trusted friends’ opinion of how they look at things, sometimes saves a person or his family from unnecessary woes, much more expense. So why not listen also to the parents and co-family members? For all you know, God is sending a message through them for you.

In Noah’s case, even if his sons were already married, they were saved with him in the boat, as it was God’s command to Noah, and they obeyed their father. So this is something to reflect on for married children. Could it be that God has sent messages for you through your parents, but that you haven’t given them a chance to convey them to you as you are not anymore communicating, much more you don’t confide to them some major decisions in your life? Me as a parent, I’d say it is the right of children to do their thing, provided it’s not evil, for if this is so, this is the time that parents should interfere, through advices and giving guidance. If they don’t listen, we don’t impose, we can only pray for them!

Our assurance as parents is the way we bring our children up to be good Christians, loving, open, generous (especially with their love and care) – all else we lift up to God in prayer.

As to our family of three cutes (hehe this, I refer to our Tres Marias*) and two Edwin’s** (namesake of their Dad), we cannot ask for more, we have so much to thank God for – and we, parents, can only constantly lift them up for God’s protection, provision, wisdom, and good health to be extended to them abundantly.

*Our Tres Marias are: “the first cute”, Maria Socorro or Cookie, now a mother of three
“the love cute”, Maria Carmela or Carey
“the cute”, Maria Lourdes, or Daisy, their first baby coming soon…

**Our sons are: Edwin Joseph Jr. or Jojo, a father of three
Anthony Edwin, or Tony, still aspiring to be a father (tama ba, Ton? )

My day:
- attended the 6:45am Mass
- proceeded to market to buy fish, squid, veggies, etc.
- attended the formation meeting of the CMS (Carmelite Missionaries Secular), the third order (for lay people) of the Carmelite Misssionaries

Filed under: Bible sharing, family, parenting