Today is your birthday....... October 17, 2010.
In our beloved country, the Philippines.
The place where you were born and you died, fulfilling your purpose here on earth -- that of being a loving husband to my late Mom, and a doting father to us, your children.
BLESSED, JOYFUL, HAPPY BIRTHDAY ---- Dad! It's October 16, here in the USA.
How time flies! It has been twelve ( 12 ) years, since your Maker called you home last October 8, 1998. Nine days ( 9) days short of your 85th year.
I saw " that look " in your eyes, when we bid adieu at the NAIA Airport, in Manila
last August 13, 1998, to your " apo " ( grandchild ) one of the many, in your large brood.
My first grandchild, on my side of our family.
An only child, a daughter of my fourth child,
my first child to set foot on American soil.
A week before their departure, I had that deep, deep prompting
within my whole being to --- " CELEBRATE CHRIST MAS in AUGUST '98.."
We decorated the house, complete with all the trimmings, and we even had
a tall Christmas tree, and presents for one another. My kids, " your apos "
sang Christmas carols, gleefully, with much gusto, as my third child, my first son,
( one of two, ) played the piano.
It was the greatest Christmas celebration we have had, ever.
It was such a joyous, precious moment!
I did'nt know.. There never was an inkling in my spirit,
that that would be your " last Christmas " with us.
But did I see tears in your eyes, at the airport,
and in our home during the Christmas- despedida?
Did you remember my late Mom
and my other siblings, who's gone ahead of us
to be in the bosom of their heavenly Father?
I was thinking then, that it will take quite a number of years, for us to see
my daughter and her child, physically, in flesh and blood, anew.
Or were your tears, one of joy ? Was it a fulfillment of a long cherished dream
nurtured in your heart, for me?
I heard and learned of such term,
when I was growing up.
I was young, I was simply living my life,
or so I thought to the fullest.
I simply did'nt care.
You even said that America is not the only place
that God will bring me to fulfill a certain plan.. and a purpose
for my life. Because you said- God created all of of us, and
and you said---- God said, that everything He has created is " good."
You said that one day.. I will see the " yellow river" of China.
That one day, God will allow me to see the place where you grew up,
in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii.
It was through the generosity of of people whom you have loved so much,
Uncle Dan, your first cousin, and his pretty wife Auntie Vicky Carbonell,
who paved the way for us, to fulfill that dream. Ate ( elder sister) Flor,
and myself.
That lovely, exotic place, somehow made you into what you are,
because historically, your place was the seat of Christianity and Arts,
in the ALOHA land.
This is such a memorable place not only for you
but for us and your generations thereafter.
This is the place where you met the LORD JESUS, at the tender age of 7 years old.
Through the love, guidance and perseverance of some
Christian missionaries, who gave their lives to God
to spread His Kingdom of Love, to all nations.
You said that one day, I will trace my roots.
And it has come to pass, Dad.
It was Dan, Uncle Danny's son, his second child,
who painstakingly did the research
for all of us, up to our 9th generations.
That one day God will send me into the Mission field,
locally and in internationally.
To share the goodness of God's Love.
The God of the Bible. Your God..My God.
Our Father.
When the sliding doors closed..And I could no longer see them,
I cried a river of tears. The fear of the unknown, gripped my heart.
The fear of uncertainties. The how, the what , the when, or whatever.
You held me gently, in your arms, brushed off the tears in my eyes.
How I wished that their father, was with us..
But he has decided many years back,
that he has his own life to live,
and we are not a part of it.
You were there with Mom, when we have had that greatest blow of our lives,
the break-up of our family.
But I want to praise and thank God,
that He granted you and Mom more than 50 years of wedded bliss,
inspite and despite of..
In sickness and in health.
For richer or poorer.
Till death parted you.
I won the war, Dad.
Because I have two fathers defending me on all fronts.
My heavenly Father and you.
My Mom as our prayer warrior/intercessor.
our family, and all the many people, God has tapped to be with us,
every step of the way.
Yes, I did lose some battles,
and made costly mistakes.
But those were lessons learned.
To bring out the worst and the best in me.
To prepare me for my call.
It was Corrie Ten Boom, in her renowned book, the Hiding Place
that quoted: " WHAT IS THE PAST FOR?
IT IS IN PREPARATION FOR THE FUTURE WORK
THAT YOU WILL BE DOING FOR GOD,
WHICH HE ALONE CAN SEE AT THE MOMENT."
He was ever faithful to fulfill His promises, Dad.
Did'nt you tell me that? That God always keeps His promises?
You told me that when I was only 5 years old.
And I could'nt understand the many words that you said, then.
He promised me - that I need only to
keep still and He will fight those battles for me. ( Exodus 14:14.)
He said - that I don't have to fight. He bid me keep still, and know
that He is God. ( Psalm 46:10.)
Because He said - " I am the father to the fatherless, and I am a comfort to
the widows, the abandoned, the lonely. ( Psalm 68:5.)
I still see you everywhere... anywhere I go..
You taught me how to catch butterflies..
You even taught me to pick up flowers, bundle them up in my hand,
smell , enjoy it, because God made those lilies of the fields,
for me.. so I will always be happy!
You taught me to pick up stones, in my path, in our walks together,
at times with flowers,
and an ice-cream cone, all at the same time.
You taught me how to climb trees..
Showing me the strength and the weak spots of every tree.
You taught me to ride on bikes..
You taught me how to fly a kite.
You taught me to read books...
To read the lives of great men and women.
Whose lives have had deeper meanings.
And who did not live their lives for themselves, alone.
To forgive people when they hurt me.
To always take a second look.
Learn to say nothing at all, if good cannot be said of a man.
I saw you writing on your diaries.
And you encouraged me to write down everything
that happens in my life.. the good and the bad.
Because you said that every miracle of the Lord is worth recording.
So that my kids and their children's children could read it yet, on how
God has been so loving and faithful and so real to us in our lifetime.
He has a name, you said. His name is - ABBA.. My DEAR FATHER.
And to end every note, you taught me to write with this endearment---
I love you, Lord Jesus,
your beloved child, lynn
You taught me to honor His name.
To love, honor, and serve Him,
with all of my heart, my soul, and all of my resources,
( Deuteronomy 6: 5 -9 )
Little did I know, that this is the " Shema "' which means --- Hear O Israel!
Israel.. The place where He decided to live, died and resurrected.
in His earthly journey, to show us how to live and love.
No wonder that my second grandchild in the Philippines, a girl,
at her first sight of the chichirica flowers in our garden,
when I was teaching her to walk, her first spoken words, -
were -- " Abu," her " first flowers, " when I placed it in her tiny, soft hands.
Abu... A variant name for Abba.. Father, in the Chinese language.
The Christian Chinese calls their Father," Yeshu."
Nearest to the name of Christ Jesus in Hebrew --" Yeshua."
Your words came to pass, Dad.
Almost all of them.
The love and affirmation of a father.
You taught me many things, money cannot buy.
You taught me that John 3:16 is the " biggest key " on earth,
big enough to unlock and open --- heaven's door.
And the whole Chapter of Matthew 6..will serve me well,
till I grow old.. And it did serve me well..
Seeds planted...sunrise... sunset... the seeds grew..
And thru the different seasons of my life, I found all these to be true,
very, very, true....
When I boarded my plane bound for US- ---with my kids, and all those who love me,
and are close to my heart, waving their goodbyes, last October 14, 2008,
the uncertainties of what looms ahead were before me.
I was 64 years old.. How I wish that I was young and as innocent
as you are, just a six- year old boy, when your parents sought
greener pastures in another foreign land.
The US was in its deepest recession..a presidential election
was forthcoming, and seemingly all is not well in this Land of the Free, and plenty,
so they say.
I thought I saw you and Mom... waving your farewell, at the airport
on my departure. After all the well - wishers had left.
Tears fell from my eyes.
And I know..and I know.. and I know.
That all will be well ... because -----" GOD IS WITH ME."
I still miss you..and Mom.. so much.
Wish you were here with me. .But I know you would
want me to move on..
Kiss Mom and my sisters there, tell all of them I miss all of them.
Tell God, first of all that - I'm deeply grateful... that he gave you and Mom..
to me... to all of us.. as our earthly parents, grandparents to my kids, as well.
ALOHA!!!------- from the bottom of my heart!
I love you, Dad.....
your beloved child------- lynn... *<
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