No More Tears

Ave Maria:-)

It's the season of burol --- Filipino term for funeral wakes -- here in Manila had to attend 3...and then on the family front, right after a joyous reunion... we had to part with a young male cousin - Gani or Gunsmoke - his nickname ( he  couldn't attend said reunion ) ...and then a few days later his ailing mom, Auntie Fe also died. Poor Rafael and other members of the immediate family were on their  way to attend Gani's burial, they recieved the sad news that  Mama Fe was also gone. 

No matter how as Catholics..we believe and always bravely say that physical death is not a permanent good-bye but that it leads to the Eternal Life with Christ , yet  the human beings we are, with our faith as yet imperfect - we are greatly affected by the  seeming loss. There is grief, at times  the bereaved are inconsolable , fear and anxiety can also seep in especially if the one who died is a breadwinner or a rock   for the family....  when pain is so deep and the death is unexpected...anger is not an alien emotion. And we never quite know whom to vent the anger to -- to God...? to the departed loved one , as tho' he/she could help it..? or can we be angry at ourself --the ones left behind ...? anger is probably just another by-product of the pain and fear of what lies ahead for the ones bereaved.

Of the 12 brothers and sisters, we are blest that 5 remain to be guardians of a burning faith in God  and family love.. of core values painstaykingly passed on from generation to generation . the family is not without its warts , there are colossal weaknesses, faults and failings only God can heal and forgive ... but reliance on God's love sees us thru... perhaps the warts are our feeble excuse to recieve God's mercy and deliverance, after all did not Jesus Himself say that He came for sinners?

Our aunts and uncle are in their late seventies, perhaps the bodies are weaker, the hairlines receding.. the gait slower .. but in my heart I know the spirit remains vibrant and full of love. Always full of love.Thanks be to God.

Bear with my reminiscing .. it is because Tia Fe's passage reminds me of peculiar traits that run particularly among  the female siblings :

--- when they find the love of their life -- soul mate if you wish to call it --- they love fiercely, stand by their man thru thick and thin.... and I mean thru thickest and thinnest.

--- all of them have this certain way of playing sweet and coy .... really when they make lambing , you'd almost be embarrassed kay OA gyud kaayo oi hahahaha..... 

But don't let this lambing mode fool you into thinking it's all just fluff and no substance because like I said ..they will  fight for their love no matter what.

It's also a love that chooses to grow beyond romantic...beyond convenience ....  thru the years matrimonial grace seeps thru ......

--- so whether this be dear departed Tia Fe or Tia Eddie .... or dear Tia Dinday in  the U.S. or Tia  Litang , you will hear the familiar strain -- we have a Visayan term  for it -- iyat -- I don't think it has an  exact English translation... it is like flirty but  harmless..and the men are weak before such female  power hahaha. 

--- be it the male brothers or females -- everyone is blest with a healthy sense of  humor --- in their  times there was no need for off-color , green jokes -- the jokes  were more of wholesome pranks really   it was the type of humor that could lift  one's  burden ..and make you feel hopeful again ...surely that is   a God-given gift  -- it can only come from  innate joy ... a fruit of the Holy Spirit.  

--- makes me realize , one does not become joyful all of a sudden ..the joy has to  have a source ..and  now I know it springs from our grandparents Ramon and  Filomena thru whose hearts God  channeled his love.

--- I love how they, the brothers and sisters  loved each other . It makes me believe in God all the more. I love how they are not blind to each others faults but will try best to help a sibling rise above human weakness.

--- most of all I thank God that these gifts are not lost... that in our generation and God-willing  in the next.... there is the passing on of priceless inheritance....indeed the best gifts are the ones that are invisible to the human eye. 

In the last family reunion the 4th generation had an opportunity to get to know each other more and bonded .

... but there is a depth that they need to discover --they think it is just because of biological reasons that they like and love each other --- but really it is more than DNA -- and even a group of persons not related by blood  can experience this love --- we just need Jesus ...only Jesus. 

Tia Fe found her Totoy ....her husband with whom she raised 11 children (!) What a feat... Theirs was a colorful , dramatic marriage --- Tio Totoy in his heydey was almost moviestar handsome with the macho bravado to match his action star looks ... then they say Tia Fe looked like a doll in her youth... very pretty...I can't say she was the most beautiful as my other aunts will probaby read this and kill me if I write that hahahaha.

God is so good. He shared with us the gift of life. He gave us enough brains, a heart, a body , talents, abilities, treasure...time and opportunities to figure out what to do with this God-given  life.  Let us pray that before old age or failing health  catches up with us , we soon understand the purpose of this life. Our life is not simply for us to live  --- but it is a life lent to us so that in our own unique way we can impart the love of GOD - tell others God loved us so much   and draw others to this God who awaits us all in heaven.

It's when loved ones die that I am  all the more grateful , relieved that Jesus was sent to save us... I can' think of any single person  who died who was without sin ---   everyone  failed God and man in some way so  Jesus  is the One Who brokers for us God's complete forgiveness... and  thru Jesus we are assured of seeing , being with our departed loved ones in a place where there are no more tears. 

Dearest Gani and Tia Fe..thank you for all the love...the patience..the forgiveness you both silently gave us.... no more tears... no more tears ..Be Perfectly Happy Forever.
                

........................................ Meanwhile you and me still have to log our hours .... until the Boss says He wants to see us. Come...Let us walk hand in hand , journeying in faith... keeping Jesus ever before us. Good nite..... lovelots, te mye