Prayer- Food for the Soul



“Heavenly Father, are you really there? And do you hear and answer every child’s prayer? Some say that heaven is far away but I feel its close around me as I pray. Heavenly Father I remember now, something that Jesus told His disciples long ago ‘Suffer the children to come to me’. Father in prayer I’m coming now to thee. (Children’s Hymn)”

The child in the song “Child’s Prayer” has many queries about prayer. Just like other people, young or old, rich or poor, black or white have so many questions on why should we pray?  What then is a prayer?  Prayer is a voice that goes up to heaven – a voice of love, happiness, desperation, and sorrow. It is our means of communication to our Savior. It is our path to salvation – our way to ask for the forgiveness of our sins and to thank for the bounty we receive each day.

People all over the world have different places in worshipping God. Muslims visit mosques, Buddhists meditate in temples, and Christians go to churches. They may vary in traditions, cultures, beliefs, and languages but they have likeness as each talk to God. He is omnipotent; he hears all the heartfelt prayers uttered by men. He hears our desires, our struggles, our miseries and our gladness. Anything asked to Him is answered whether yes or no; “Ask and it will be given; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7)”

There is no secret and short-cut formula in developing a relationship to our Redeemer. Nor eloquence could bring us closer to Him. He hears what our heart desires and not what our mind dictates. A few words from a humble being are more acknowledged than an orator’s full of flowery words yet so proud.



As we continually pray each day, we will find ourselves drawing nearer to Him. Children should be taught to pray in humility. God only listens to those who are humble and have a mighty change of heart. The young man concluded the song with an answer to the child’s prayer, “Pray, He is there. Speak, he is listening. You are His child. His love now surrounds you. He hears your prayer. He loves the children. For such is the kingdom, the kingdom of Heaven.”

Dylan's First Step to Stardom

One lazy afternoon, I and Dylan woke up with my second nephew's (Gabriel) voice in the internet singing one of his fave song. The proud granny, lola Bess asked my sister to upload it in facebook. While the three of us were watching, Dylan suddenly created some bubbling sounds while giggling and waving his hands and legs.  The more we played the video, the more he became excited. I and Pangs decided to record his first attempt to singing and as proud mom and dad, we were at the background, supporting him as if he was joining a singing competition. With no further ado, here's my son on his first step to stardom.

The Many Faces - A Tribute to Teachers

Assumption's Academic Day 2010

(A Teacher's Entry 1) 

One day, a woman visited a fortune teller and asked him why he  told her years ago that she’d be  going to have many faces yet she has just become a teacher.

During my pregnant glory.

“My dear,” the old woman replied “you have many faces because you perform many roles towards your students. Aside from their parents, you are a great part in discovering their potentials.” The young teacher was enlightened for her calling.

Some has almost forgotten his/her oath as teachers and live each day teaching students as his/her bread and butter. Here are some reminders why each maestro should be proud of the “road” he/she has chosen:

Bonding time. Let's party!

It is very rewarding to have teachers whom you consider a friend. Someone you can confide to in the midst of your troubled days that are unselfishly willing to lend their ears listening to your desires and defeats.

Learning becomes more relaxed as teachers portray “motherly figure”. Although students have innumerable mistakes and lack of interest to education, their remarkable qualities of sensitivity and kindness have successfully nurtured everyone holistically.

How can anyone ever forget the “ohh” and “ahh” of the students as teachers become actors and actresses on their own stage at their own rights? The waves of their hands, their enunciation and pronunciation, and their gestures and postures stimulate the students’ interest to learn more.

Despite the busy schedule inside the classroom, they still manage to prepare lesson plans, compute grades, attend meetings, and write lesson reports. Over the years, they have mastered their secretarial skills even outside the classroom.

 

The best thing of being a teacher is that they become a part of the learning curve of the students. Henry Adam said, "A teacher affects eternity; she can never tell where her influence stops."  Teachers are mentors, instilling great values and wisdom, molding every individual in becoming a better citizen.

When you are a teacher, you become an amalgamation of characters both famous and unheard. You portray various tasks with great dedication. You become a confidant, a mother, a performer, a secretary, a mentor, and a boss.

Yet with these tremendous tasks at hand, few only recognize the extraordinary love and knowledge they share. Few have given recognition to them. Worst, some would curse their teachers for being punished on home works undone.

This Teacher’s Day may this be an opportunity to thank all the teachers in the world who are painstakingly doing their jobs at their utmost ability. I am indebted to my parents, my first gurus who firmly ingrained me the principles I needed and provided me the avenues for better living. It was until I become a teacher when I fully realized how heroic this profession is.

It is true that you will never find gold to this kind of occupation. But at the end of the day, teachers find total satisfaction and contentment in helping students reach their “future” through their inspirations and actions. That’s the greatest treasure.

Sea, Sand, and Stone

(A Traveler's Entry 1)
When my husband told me that he will bring me to his hometown I couldn't stop pulling the days of going back to the Philippines. My mind wandered as I compute the grades of my students. Upon stepping at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, I saw him with a bunch of roses welcoming me. Yes, at that moment I really said  “I am Home”.

Three weeks of vacation is such a short time so I tried to list all my activities.   Some says that gimmicks are well remembered if not well planned. Yet, my to-do-list was not followed as we decided to buy an air ticket a day before our departure. It wasn’t my first time to ride in an airplane though, but I was awed in the aerial view of our country. It is such a majestic creation, specially the islands surrounded with the vastness of the ocean. Up high, the sea is like a bed of diamonds, as the waves sparkle under the scorching heat of the sun.  

Influx of tourists arrived at Caticlan Airport and the locals were hospitable. Good thing I was with the true-blood Aklanon excluding us with extra frees at the airport. On our way to Tangalan, Aklan, I couldn’t avoid comparing the place to Baguio City except of  course to the trees which the former have a lot of coconuts and the latter mostly of pines. As we traveled on the zigzag road, I didn’t feel any dizziness for I was captivated with the view below the cliff. As we reached the mainland and finally got home, I found a place of peace where  a wide rice fields surrounding the house. Mouth-watering dishes fresh from the sea which is half mile away from the house, were served later that day. Shrimps, squids, crabs, and first-class fish, which were quite expensive in Manila, were almost free there. My cravings were truly satisfied. 

Next on our destination was the famous Boracay. The view was so inviting so we spent the whole afternoon playing along the seashore amidst the heat of the sun. When we were tired we just decided to sit under the coconut tree embracing the serenity of the place.Every one on that island was blissful that you couldn’t even notice any problem on their faces.Men were shouting as they were para-sailing. Ladies screamed out loud as they enjoyed riding the banana boat.

We were ready to barhop when the sun went down. Dancing, fire-circus show, and other sea -sand activities sprang like mushrooms as the night grew deeper. As the shows went hotter and hotter and as we decided to party until the break of dawn, the rain fell on the island like cats and dogs.

 

On our last day, tatay toured us in Jawili - another place in Aklan. Our road trip to Jawili beach is compared to Quezon Province of the South, where numerous coconut trees welcomed us before we reached the place. The sand may not be as white as Boracay but it was great too. One of their pride is their Jawili falls also known as the Seven Basin Falls. Crystal water flowed from one basin to another. As I climbed high on the mountain the more I appreciated its beauty. 

Our final destination was Kalibo. We dropped–by on Aklan’s capital to buy some ‘pasalubong’ Our vacation was really awesome. It was indeed a memorable experience. Given a chance, I’ll go back there again...and again...and again.    

   

When Heart Betrayed the Lover

 (A Wannabe Writer's Entry 1)

He loved her though they haven't met. He visualized an imaginary lover based on her thoughts and ideas. He created a world were “both ends meet”. He made impossible possible by bridging the gap. He was, for the very first time, madly in love. Thrilled with such unusual feeling, he treated her as if she’s his.

She hated her life. She hated the years she spent searching for her soul mate but ended with very inconsiderate men. Then she found him. She found a place where she thought she’s “the center” – the reason why his world rotates. She fell from his spell. She was enthralled with his magical words transmitted in the cyberspace.

Then the so-called love brought them closer together. Morning greetings, up-to-date reminders, rubbish thoughts, undying endearments, and goodnight hugs and kisses (with muahs and tsups emoticons included) were never missed in a day. They surpassed more than 365 days of fleeting meetings and endless exchange of sworn love.

He became passionate but she became dry. Despite his strong desire to keep the fire burning, coldness covered her body searching and wanting for something more. He demanded more love but she was guilty of giving less. He offered a chance of rescuing the sinking ship but she refused of being saved.

He claimed her unfaithful. He believed that her falling apart was the cause of her infidelity. He blamed the other knight in shining armor for hindering the “might-be” happily ever after story.

She never gave a word. She never argued with those petty jealousies and quarrels. She knew she hurt him, but it was better then than later. She knew she tried but it wasn’t enough. She just realized it was better to betray the lover than be drowned in silent water. She realized that heart alone can not decide what is right.

Her heart stopped beating, so it ended.

This Is It

(A Wife's Entry 1)

The aisle was filled with petals of flowers scattered by little angels dressed in white. The pianist has played a melodious Canon in D while all eyes were on me. I could barely move my feet and my smiles were glued from ear to ear as I tried to move closer to him. He was waiting, waiting to become my husband.

 Each step I made towards him reminded me of how our relationship grew over the years. I remember how we met. I was a fresh graduate – a neophyte in applying jobs. It was my confidence that caught his attention. At that time he was recovering from his “near-yet-failed happily ever story.” He was snob and so was I. Every time we met seemed to have a collision of two strong positive and negative charged elements. But later on we proved that the Chemistry’s principle that “no two same charge elements attract each other” was wrong, cause we just did.

As I continued walking, I saw the guest clapping and cheering and that has somewhat brought me back to the memories of our sweet nothings. I have 3 failed relationships but it was him who changed my view about love. It is he who showed me that a woman is loved; that man should pamper her heart with care. It is he who showed me that a woman is precious; that man should exert more effort by giving her more time and attention. It is he who showed me that a woman is respected; that a man’s genuine intention is measured if he visits the woman in the house instead of clandestine meet-ups.

As I was drawing nearer to my groom, my tear began to burst as I had some flashback of the heartbreaking days of our lives. I moved to Thailand and that’s the most painstaking decision I’ve ever made. I was forced to leave the people I love just to earn more so I could bring my siblings to college. It took us almost four years to wait until all responsibilities were done and before we came up with the decision of tying the knot.

 
I took a deep breath, one more step and I was in front of him. As I looked back, I saw how long the aisle I walked was, just like our relationship that took years to nurture. That glimpse has strengthened my love to him. He held my hand, our eyes met and with conviction, we nod “This is it. This is really is it.” :)