Not in our Wildest Dreams

Ave Maria:-)

The degree that we impact people's lives is discovered powerfully in painful, abrupt circumstances...the kind that disrupts our peace and equilibrium...our "normal" pace jolted temporarily... In a week we can recieve notices of people getting sick :friends, acquaintances.. and we empathize with them and even more--- esp when it reaches higher scales of suffering (think Ebola plague... or visualize images of children , men women -casualties of war - suffering the wounds and traumas of war -- it is terrible to even just watch it on TV) 

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On the one end, we are grateful not to be there in the midst of these atrocities --- on the other end...one can feel --- it is a feeling similar to guilt --- that it has to be others on the recieving end of massive suffering... not you or me... makes us wonder , why are we spared Lord?

If indeed one could draw something good from this --- may it be  a greater remembrance of God's Merciful Help  --and the intercessory prayer mode aroused in us -- for we cannot help but be one with those who suffer --yes, even if they be of different race, creed , culture  ---  we are all human beings with a right to live a decent life ...  surely not a miserable dog's life.

But when the news we recieve will be of loved ones who pass away ... or who suffer serious illness ...an accident ..a mishap ... it is too close to home... and home is where our heart is.

The week that a dear aunt passed away ... her son also died ahead of her -- 2 deaths in the family ... not exactly everyday occurrence... that week ...there were also 2 elders in the parish who died .... I mention this because as i said death or illness or mishap.... prods others towards sudden remembrance , .... of that particular person and how he/she has affected us. 

And while silently mulling the passage of these relatives and friends .... recieved again news of a dear aunt taken to the hospital --- ICU --- no need for details , relatives know her... but now I must confess ..as the urgent call for prayers  was posted thru internet thru phone calls ...I didnt realize how she had impacted my life the last few yrs.... esp the last 2 yrs when she joined our Facebook 'club'.

We always hear people proclaim whether in a religious or corporate or secular setting : Beware the power of the word. Of course for Christians.. for us..this greatly refers to God's Word whether in Sacred Scripture or teachings of the church... but  in everyday life ... we release so many words from our mouth... from our communication whether spoken or written...even our mind harbors all kinds of words...you name it..we probably stored it in our mental file.

And we have no idea how it affects people... either we bless them or we wreck them hahaha.

And this dear aunt...bless her kind soul.. has only uttered words of encouragement ... consoling words for nephews , nieces...grandchildren...  affirmation ... counsel but not in a hardcore, authoritarian way -- just so subtle, gentle  -- and it makes her word even more powerful...Magaan ang datin:

 so entertaining. love it!

July 31 at 11:00pm · Like

Touching! Leave it to the little ones. That's why they are God's favorites!

July 31 at 10:57pm · Like

Have a great day Mahl and plenty more.

July 31 at 1:52am · Like

Be assured Butch. There is so much love floating around. And Ng Fe and Gani are now joined with their loved ones.

July 27 at 12:29am · Unlike · 1

love and hugs abounding.

July 22 at 2:52am · Like

Like so many in the family ..'was led to pray ... and then the crazy thing happened because : "Sweet Name of JESUS" .... I truly cried out to the Lord... no it was not bullying the Lord... but more of just a sweet realization of a loving bond with this dear aunt--- and can you believe it was maintained thru Facebook ---so Facebook has a redeeming value after all....    

I didn't know that even if we were separated miles away..that she gave me strength... tons of encouragement... in our last reunion  like the other elders she sent financial help for the reunion -- our other amazing aunt who also suffers from serious illness sent amazing help --when it should have been the other way round --- and really just remembering all these brings tears of gratitude to God --- for this is the way He reminds us of his ever present help and grace...Christ Himself moving... acting thru and in.. each one of us...praise and thank  you Lord.

I love how she would post positive comments.... be so hungry for the latest videos or pictures or any short story we could relate .... it was so uplifting ..thank you Tia ... you are getting another grand vacation.... have a splendid rest as your beloved husband children and apos take care of you. You probably hate resting.... have a sneaking suspicion you might be a workaholic --- but Jesus is giving you some time off so you can rest wonderfully.  You are loved.   Thank you for taking care of us in your own sweet way...  and for the healing that you bring..because love heals and you give us so much love....we are much too blest. 

So my dear friends... let us not grow weary... not be dismayed or doubt that our labours amount to nothing.

Jesus uses each one of us in a trillion equally valuable ways. We must sign up for his service and never think He can't possibly have any good use for us. 

I give praise to God to day because I learned humility from this particular aunt , I don't know why but that is how she affects me --- our uncles and aunts have assorted gifts -it's wonderful and I pray it rubs on us and the younger generation ... there are 2 aunts , one is solid Catholic..

and the other is born again and both are feisty in a good way ..they both dearly love Jesus ,  --- there is our uncle the only one remaining who is a good provider..and really hard worker .

.. now his children take after him.... we have another aunt in her eighties ..a catechist.... she is the sweetest thing ever... frail of bone structure but a rock of faith ---- she is also hilarious ....well they all are.

On my mother's side...my niece who has minor children of her own has sort of adopted....taken cared of her 2 nephews who lost their eldest brother and mother in the Yolanda storm .

... I see now how she has inherited her late mother Tessie's grit, strength and big heart ---- so my beloved Tessie too has impacted other people's lives --- I wouldn't have believed this in those yrs when we discoed and partied --- but see .... we all do learn how to love as Christ loves , his love transforms us..and we all do find out whether here or in heaven that we can touch the lives of others in a good way inspite of ourselves...hahaha..."Amazing grace how sweet the sound...that saved a wretch like me .."   song for all ages that one.... ... gotta go.... let's all have a great August,and humbly recieve the graces God deems essential for our service to Him..amen and amen and amen.a prayer for all...take care ...internet hug te mye