Time Gets Better With Age

Read through to the end, it gets better as you go!

I’ve learned that I like my teacher because she cries when we sing “Silent Night”.

- Age 5

I’ve learned that our dog doesn’t want to eat my broccoli either.

- Age 7

I’ve learned that when I wave to people in the country, they stop what they are doing and wave back.

- Age 9

I’ve learned that just when I get my room the way I like it, Mom makes me clean it up again.

- Age 12

I’ve learned that if you want to cheer yourself up, you should try cheering someone else up.

- Age 14

I’ve learned that although it’s hard to admit it, I’m secretly glad my parents are strict with me.

- Age 15

I’ve learned that silent company is often more healing than words of advice.

- Age 24

I’ve learned that brushing my child’s hair is one of life’s great pleasures.

- Age 26

I’ve learned that wherever I go, the world’s worst drivers have followed me there.

- Age 29

I’ve learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it.

- Age 30

I’ve learned that there are people who love you dearly but just don’t know how to show it.

- Age 42

I’ve learned that you can make some one’s day by simply sending them a little note.

- Age 44

I’ve learned that the greater a person’s sense of guilt, the greater his or her need to cast blame on others.

- Age 46

I’ve learned that children and grandparents are natural allies.

- Age 47

I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

- Age 48

I’ve learned that singing “Amazing Grace” can lift my spirits for hours.

- Age 49

I’ve learned that motel mattresses are better on the side away from the phone.

- Age 50

I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a man by the way he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

- Age 51

I’ve learned that keeping a vegetable garden is worth a medicine cabinet full of pills.

- Age 52

I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you miss them terribly after they die.

- Age 53

I’ve learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life.

- Age 58

I’ve learned that if you want to do something positive for your children, work to improve your marriage.

- Age 61

I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

- Age 62


I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catchers mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.

- Age 64

I’ve learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But if you focus on your family, the needs of others, your work, meeting new people, and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.

- Age 65

I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with kindness, I usually make the right decision.

- Age 66

I’ve learned that everyone can use a prayer.

- Age 72

I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.

- Age 82

I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch-holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

- Age 90

I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.

- Age 92

The Story of the Bible and the Diamond Ring

A married lady was expecting a birthday gift from her husband.

For many months she had admired a beautiful diamond ring in a showroom, and knowing her husband could affort it, she told him that was what she wanted.

As her birthday approached, this lady waited for signs that her husband has purchased the diamond ring.

Finally, on the morning of her birthday, her husband called her into his study room. Her husband told her how proud he was to have such a good wife, and told her how much he loved her.

He handed her a beautiful wrapped gift box. Curious, the wife opened the box and found alovely leather-bound Bible, with the wife’s name embossed in gold. Angrily, she raised her voice to her husband and said, ‘With all your money you give me a Bible?’ And stormed out of the house, leaving her husband.

Many years passed and the lady was very successful in business. She managed to settle for a more beautiful house and a wonderful family, but realized her ex-husband was very old, and thought perhaps she should go and visit him. She had not seen him for many years. But before she could make arrangements, she received a telegram telling her that her ex-husband has passed away, and willed all of his possessions to her. She needed to come back immediately and take care of things.

When she arrived at her ex-husband’s house, sudden sadness and regret filled her heart. She began to search through her ex-husband’s important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as she had left it years before. With tears, she opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. Her ex-husband had carefully underlined a verse, Matthew 7:11, ‘And if you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father, who is in heaven, give what is good to those who ask Him?’

As she read those words, a tiny package dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a diamond ring, with her name engraved on it — the same diamond ring which she saw at the showroom. On the tag was the date of her birth, and the words. ‘LUV U ALWAYS’.

How many times do we miss God’s blessings, because they are not packaged as we expected?

“If your gift is not packaged the way you want it, it’s because it is better packaged the way it is.”

“Always appreciate little things;
they usually lead you to bigger and better things.”

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched…
They must be felt with the heart.”

Almighty Father, give me a cheerful and grateful heart that never fails to recognize Your blessings regardless of what package they may come in. You know what is best for me dear Lord; teach me to trust always in Your Divine wisdom. Amen.

Tommy’s Story

Rev. John Powell, a professor at Loyola University in Chicago, writes about a student in his Theology of Faith class named Tommy:

Some twelve years ago, I stood watching my university students file into the classroom for our first session in the Theology of Faith. That was the day I first saw Tommy. My eyes and my mind both blinked. He was combing his long flaxen hair, which hung six inches below his shoulders. It was the first time I had ever seen a boy with hair that long. I guess it was just coming into fashion then. I know in my mind that it isn’t what’s on your head but what’s in it that counts; but on that day I was unprepared and my emotions flipped. I immediately filed Tommy under “S” for strange… Very strange.

Tommy turned out to be the “Atheist in residence” in my Theology of Faith course. He constantly objected to, smirked at, or whined about the possibility of an unconditionally loving Father/God. We lived with each other in relative peace for one semester, although I admit he was for me at times a serious pain in the back pew. When he came up at the end of the course to turn in his final exam, he asked in a cynical tone, “Do you think I’ll ever find God?” I decided instantly on a little shock therapy. “No!” I said very emphatically. “Why not,” he responded, “I thought that was the product you were pushing.” I let him get five steps from the classroom door and then called out, “Tommy! I don’t think you’ll ever find Him, but I am absolutely certain that He will find you!”

He shrugged a little and left my class and my life.

I felt slightly disappointed at the thought that he had missed my clever line — He will find you! At least I thought it was clever. Later I heard that Tommy had graduated, and I was duly grateful.

Then a sad report came. I heard that Tommy had terminal cancer. Before I could search him out, he came to see me. When he walked into my office, his body was very badly wasted and the long hair had all fallen out as a result of chemotherapy. But his eyes were bright and his voice was firm, for the first time, I believe. “Tommy, I’ve thought about you so often; I hear you are sick,” I blurted out. “Oh, yes, very sick. I have cancer in both lungs. It’s a matter of weeks.” “Can you talk about it, Tom?” I asked. “Sure, what would you like to know?” he replied. “What’s it like to be only twenty-four and dying?” “Well, it could be worse.” “Like What?” “Well like being fifty, and having no values, thinking that drinking booze, seducing women, and making money are the real biggies in life.” I began looking through my mental file cabinet under “S” where I had filed Tommy as strange. (It seems as though everybody I try to reject by classification, God sends back into my life to educate me.)

“But what I really came to see you about,” Tom said, “is something you said to me on the last day of class.” (He remembered!) He continued, “I asked you if you thought I would ever find God and you said, ‘No!’ which surprised me. Then you said, ‘But He will find you.’ I thought about that a lot, even though my search for God was hardly intense at that time.” (My clever line. He thought about that a lot!)

“But when the doctors removed a lump from my groin and told me that it was malignant, that’s when I got serious about locating God. And when the malignancy spread into my vital organs, I really began banging bloody fists against the bronze doors of heaven. But God did not come out. In fact, nothing happened. Did you ever try anything for a long time with great effort and with no success? You get psychologically glutted, fed up with trying. And then you quit.

“Well, one day I woke up, and instead of throwing a few more futile appeals over that high brick wall to a God who may be or may not be there, I just quit. I decided that I didn’t really care about God, about an after life, or anything like that. I decided to spend what time I had left doing something more profitable. I thought about you and your class and I remembered something else you had said: ‘The essential sadness is to go through life without loving. But it would be almost equally sad to go through life and leave this world without ever telling those you loved that you had loved them.’” “So, I began with the hardest one, my Dad. He was reading the newspaper when I approached him. “Dad. “Yes, what?” he asked without lowering the newspaper. “Dad, I would like to talk with you.” “Well, talk.” “I mean . It’s really important.”

The newspaper came down three slow inches. “What is it?” “Dad, I love you, I just wanted you to know that.” Tom smiled at me and said it with obvious satisfaction, as though he felt a warm and secret joy flowing inside of him. “The newspaper fluttered to the floor. Then my father did two things I could never remember him ever doing before.. He cried and he hugged me. We talked all night, even though he had to go to work the next morning. It felt so good to be close to my father, to see his tears, to feel his hug, to hear him say that he loved me.”

“It was easier with my mother and little brother. They cried with me, too, and we hugged each other, and started saying real nice things to each other. We shared the things we had been keeping secret for so many years.

“I was only sorry about one thing — that I had waited so long. Here I was, just beginning to open up to all the people I had actually been close to.

“Then, one day I turned around and God was there. He didn’t come to me when I pleaded with Him. I guess I was like an animal trainer holding out a hoop, ‘C’mon, jump through. C’mon, I’ll give you three days, three weeks.’”

“Apparently God does things in His own way and at His own hour. But the important thing is that He was there. He found me! You were right. He found me even after I stopped looking for Him.”

“Tommy,” I practically gasped, “I think you are saying something very important and much more universal than you realize. To me, at least, you are saying that the surest way to find God is not to make Him a private possession, a problem solver, or an instant consolation in time of need, but rather by opening to love. You know, the Apostle John said that. He said: ‘God is love, and anyone who lives in love is living with God and God is living in him.’ Tom, could I ask you a favor? You know, when I had you in class you were a real pain. But (laughingly) you can make it all up to me now. Would you come into my present Theology of Faith course and tell them what you have just told me? If I told them the same thing it wouldn’t be half as effective as if you were to tell it.”

“Oooh.. I was ready for you, but I don’t know if I’m ready for your class.”

“Tom, think about it. If and when you are ready, give me a call.”

In a few days Tom called, said he was ready for the class, that he wanted to do that for God and for me. So we scheduled a date.

However, he never made it. He had another appointment, far more important than the one with me and my class. Of course, his life was not really ended by his death, only changed. He made the great step from faith into vision. He found a life far more beautiful than the eye of man has ever seen or the ear of man has ever heard or the mind of man has ever imagined. Before he died, we talked one last time. “I’m not going to make it to your class,” he said.

“I know, Tom.”

“Will you tell them for me? Will you … tell the whole world for me?” “I will, Tom. I’ll tell them. I’ll do my best.”

So, to all of you who have been kind enough to read this simple story about God’s love, thank you for listening. And to you, Tommy, somewhere in the sunlit, verdant hills of heaven — I told them, Tommy, as best I could.

- Rev. John Powell, Professor, Loyola University, Chicago

Almighty Father, give me the grace to open up my self to love. So that in doing so, I may allow You to find me — to heal me, to empower me, and to transform me more and more into the person You have destined me to be. Amen.

The Difference Between Rich and Poor People

This short story does not justify poverty nor condemn wealth. It just aims to show us a different perspective of life and tries to remind us to appreciate whatever it is that we are blessed with.

The Difference Between Rich and Poor People

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?”

“It was great, Dad.”

“Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked.

“Oh yeah,” said the son.

“So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father.

The son answered:

“I saw that we have one dog and they had four.

We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.

We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.

Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.

We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.

We buy our food, but they grow theirs.

We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.”

The boy’s father was speechless.

Then his son added, “Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.”

Isn’t perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don’t have.

Appreciate every single thing you have, including your real friends!

“Life is too short and real friends are too few.”

Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “yes.”

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

“Now,” said the professor as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things–God, your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions–and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else–the small stuff.”

“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.”Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first–the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked.. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.”

Take care of your parents…

Another one of those inspiring articles being passed around through emails. This is worth reading.

And please do realize that the best time to show our love to our parents is now.

In this short but moving story, a simple man tells how his booking an air ticket for his father, his first flight, brought emotions and made him realize how much and how often we take for granted our parents.

My parents left for our native place on Thursday and we went to the Airport to see them off. In fact, my father had never travelled by air before, so I just took this opportunity to make him experience the same. In spite of being asked to book tickets by train, I got them tickets on Lufthansa.

The moment I handed over the tickets to him, he was surprised to see that I had booked them by air. The excitement was very apparent on his face, waiting for the time of travel. Just like a school boy, he was preparing himself on that day and we all went to the airport, right from using the trolley for his luggage, the baggage check-in and asking for window seat and waiting restlessly for the security check-in to happen.

He was thoroughly enjoying himself and I, too, was overcome with joy watching him experience all these things.

As they were about to go in for the security check-in, he walked up to me with tears in his eyes and thanked me. He became very emotional and it was not as if I had done something great but the fact that this meant a great deal to him.

When he said thanks, I told him there was no need to thank me.

But later, thinking about the entire incident, I looked back at my life.

As a child, how many dreams have our parents made come true? Without understanding the financial situation, we ask for football, dresses, toys, outings, etc. Irrespective of their affordability, they have satisfied all our needs. Did we ever think about the sacrifices they had to make to accommodate many of our wishes?

Did we ever say thanks for all that they have done for us?

Same way, today, when it comes to our children, we always think that we should put them in a good school. Regardless of the amount of donation, we will ensure that we will have to give the child the best — theme parks, toys, etc. But we tend to forget that our parents have sacrificed a lot for our sake to see us happy, so it is our responsibility to ensure that their dreams are realized and what they failed to see when they were young, it is our responsibility to ensure that they experience all those and that their life is complete.

Many times, when my parents had asked me some questions, I have actually answered back without patience. When my daughter asks me something, I have been very polite in answering. Now I realize how they would have felt at those moments.

Let us realize that old age is a second childhood and just as we take care of our children, the same attention and same care need to be given to our parents and elders.

Rather than my dad saying thank you to me, I would want to say sorry for making him wait so long for this small dream. I do realize how much he has sacrificed for my sake and I will do my best to give the best possible attention to all their wishes. Just because they are old does not mean that they will have to give up everything and keep sacrificing for their grandchildren also. They have wishes, too.

Take care of your parents.

Prayer for a Happy Death

By Corazon C. Aquino
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 07/10/2009

Almighty God, most merciful Father
You alone know the time
You alone know the hour
You alone know the moment
When I shall breathe my last.

So, remind me each day,
most loving Father
To be the best that I can be.
To be humble, to be kind,
To be patient, to be true.
To embrace what is good,
To reject what is evil,
To adore only You.

When the final moment does come
Let not my loved ones grieve for long.
Let them comfort each other
And let them know
how much happiness
They brought into my life.
Let them pray for me,
As I will continue to pray for them,
Hoping that they will always pray
for each other.

Let them know that they made possible
Whatever good I offered to our world.
And let them realize that our separation
Is just for a short while
As we prepare for our reunion in eternity.

Our Father in heaven,
You alone are my hope.
You alone are my salvation.
Thank you for your unconditional love, Amen.

Eternal rest grant unto the soul of our beloved Former President Corazon C. Aquino, oh God;

and let Perpetual Light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace. Amen.

What Kind Of Daddy Do You Have?

… prayers …

I am so moved by this week’s article of Bo Sanchez that I really had to share this with you. You may want to visit his website and subscribe to his weekly Soulfood Letter that will surely nourish your soul and help you become a better man or woman for God’s greater glory.

I pray that this article would bless you in a lot of ways.

And as Bo always says, “May your dreams come true!”

http://bosanchez.ph/what-kind-of-daddy-do-you-have/

What Kind of Daddy Do You Have?

by Bo Sanchez (full article)

A college student in Manila called up his Mom in the province.

“Mom, I need money,” he asked. “Can you send money over please?”

“Sure,” the mother said. “By the way, there’s a Math textbook you left here at home. I’ll send it over with the money.”

“Uh, oh yeah, Ok,” her son answered.

His mother sent the money and the book.

Later that day, the father asked his wife, “How much money did you send?”

She said, “I sent two checks. One was a P1000 check and the other was a P100,000 check.”

“What?” cried the father in shock. “That’s huge!”

His wife smiled. “That’s okay Honey. I taped the P1000 check on the cover of his Math textbook. I then inserted the P100,000 check somewhere in chapter 25 of his Math textbook. Believe me, he won’t find it.”

Your relationship with God is like a Math textbook. Because I believe the biggest blessings of God for your life are in “chapter 25”—when you go beyond the surface and go deeper in this relationship with God.

My goal today is to bring you to chapter 25 in your relationship with God.

Let me tell you how.

I want to start a new series today I’ll playfully call, OMG! If you don’t know what that means, LOL. (For those my age who didn’t grow up with chat and IM and facebook: OMG! means Oh my God and LOL means Laugh out loud.)

For the next five weeks, I want to help you get to know God more—which will deepen your trust in Him. And the more you trust Him, the more you’ll be open to His blessings for your life.

I’ve met a lot of people who don’t trust God because they don’t know Him. They’re confused with misrepresentations of who God is.

Here’s what I learned: Your problems are big because your God is small.

Before Anything Else, God Is Daddy

I just arrived from the US the other day.

It was my shortest trip ever: Four days!

But I had to do it.

I was there to meet a very special man who was a spiritual mentor to Presidents, Kings, Prime Ministers, and other heads of government. In other words, he disciples them to follow Jesus. He’s awesome.

This spiritual giant has been working in the United Nations for the past 25 years. Each month, he holds 30+ face-to-face meetings with heads of government, ambassadors, and other high-level officials, guiding them how to lead their country using the Bible.

So for three whole days, I sat around his table (we were just four students—myself, two bishops, and a secretary general) to learn one thing: How to disciple Heads of States. It was mind-blowing.

So on my way back, I felt very important too.

I mean, how couldn’t I?

I spent three days with a guy who takes phone calls from Presidents and Prime Ministers before he has breakfast. How cool is that?

But the moment my plane landed in Manila, everything became clear to me. I knew the first Heads of States I would meet.

That entire day, upon arriving from the airport, I spent time with the two Kings who’ve conquered my heart since I saw them: My two boys—ages 9 and 4.

Together, we did very high-level, critical, world-changing, life-altering work.

We drew robots and airplanes.

We played with little cars.

We played a video game (I lost, as usual).

We jumped around the coach.

Why did I spend the entire day with them?

Because I believe that before I’m a preacher, writer, leader, missionary, and businessman, I’m a father.

And I suspect that God will say the same thing. This is just my personal opinion. I think before God is supreme judge and king of kings of the entire universe, He’s a Father. That’s why when someone asked Jesus, “Teach us how to pray,” He answered, “Say this: Our Father…”

The original word that Jesus used for “Father” is Abba, which doesn’t really translate to Father but Daddy or Papa. It was what a little baby would call his father.

But as I played with my boys yesterday, I began to think of all the other children who don’t experience what they experience. And I believe that one of the reasons why we don’t know God as Father is because of the wrong fatherhood we’ve experienced.

Specifically, I thought of four of my friends: Emmanuel, Grace, Dulce, and Fides. I’ve changed their names to protect their privacy.

But unfortunately, their stories are true.

Invisible Fathers

My friend Emmanuel’s father was a lawyer. Later on, he became a judge and was promoted all the way to the Supreme Court.

Emmanuel was proud of his father. But when our conversations became intimate, he’d tear up, and tell me that he rarely saw his father. When he woke up, his father was rushing out for his breakfast meetings. In the evenings, his father wasn’t home yet.

Emmanuel grew up knowing his father was an important man doing very important things. But as he grew up, he realized he wasn’t one of these important things his father did.

Years later, Emmanuel came to know God in a personal way. Yet for years, he wondered how important he really was in God’s heart.

Autistic Fathers

Some fathers are physically present at home.

But they don’t engage their kids.

Instead, they’re wrapped up in their own world. Either watching TV or surfing the web. That’s why I call them autistic fathers.

Many years ago, I met Grace. She told me that as a child, her goal in life was to make her father smile at her. Because he never did.

Oh, she would find him laughing with his barkada.

But never to her.

One day, she came home with very high grades on her report card. In her heart, she hoped that perhaps today, he would smile at her.

But when she gave him the report card, all her father did was look at it for two seconds, grunt, tossed it back, and went back watching TV.

Not one word of affirmation or appreciation.

Her little heart was crushed.

For years, Grace had a hard time imagining that God was pleased with her. She always imagined God having a perpetual frown on his face.

Cruel Fathers

Dulce’s father is the most barbaric father I’ve ever heard of in my life.

When she was 3 years old, he raped her.

Years later, she always had this nightmare of her head being pushed into a toilet bowl. She realized why. Because her father warned her not to tell anyone of the rape or he’d drown her in the toilet.

For the next ten years, for the slightest mistakes (such as a spilled glass of milk), her father would whip her with his belt until blood flowed. When he was lashing her, her mother would tell him, “Don’t hit her below the knees!” So that the wounds would be covered by her skirt.

He would then grab her ankles, hang her upside down, and bang her head on the floor. He would do this for thirty minutes until she stopped crying and was a lifeless rag in his hands. He would do this each week for ten long years.

Here’s the absurd fact of this story: Until the day he died, her father was an elder and deacon in church. To everyone else, he was an angel. Upon arriving home, he was the devil incarnate—and no one knew.

Dulce is now an adult but suffers massive physical, emotional, and spiritual torments. She has gone through 9 surgeries in various parts of her body. Her doctors discovered micro-strokes in her brain, caused by the head banging she suffered as a child. But her emotional pain was even more severe than her physical pain.

I’m happy to say that Dulce enjoys an intimate relationship with God. God has healed and continues to heal her. But it took years of healing and learning to trust a tender loving Father.

Unfaithful Father

Fides was still a small child when she saw her father walk out of their house carrying his suitcase. At that time, she didn’t know that he was abandoning her, her mother, and her two brothers for another woman.

Unlike her brothers who rebelled and got into drugs, Fides became even more obedient. She became even more responsible. Her school grades shot to the moon. Everyone praised her for being such a good girl.

Later on, Fides realized she blamed herself for the separation of her parents. Inexplicably, she believed that if she were only a better girl, her father would have never left. And for years, she secretly hoped that if she became that better girl, perhaps her father would come back.

For years, Fides’ relationship with God was also about buying His love. She would always try to be good to try to please Him—so He would love her. She had this constant fear that if she made one mistake, God would abandon her too.

May The Real God The Father Please Stand Up?

For many Christians, it’s so much easier to pray to Jesus. After all, He died for our sins. He’s the sweet one. The Father was the mean guy who sent Jesus to die on the cross.

And for many Catholics, it’s so much easier to pray to Mother Mary than to God the Father. Because they believe Mary is more merciful than God. If you can’t go through the front door, go to the back door—Mary has the key.

Which is utterly preposterous.

We have these difficulties because we don’t know who the Father really is.

The Father and the Son are one. And Mother Mary is a beautiful reflection of God’s love for us.

May the real God The Father please stand up?

I changed the names of our four real-life characters. I chose each name deliberately to show you who God the Father is: He is Emmanuel, Grace, Dulce, and Fides.

Daddy Is Emmanuel

A tribe in Africa had a very scary manhood ritual.

When a boy turned 12, the entire community gathered around him for this once-in-a-life-time chanting and dancing ceremony. The elderly women painted red die on his face. His mother gave him a beaded necklace. And the tribal chieftain handed him a long knife with a carved wooden handle.

By nightfall, he was blindfolded and led by six men into the middle of the forest. Once deep inside, the men left him. Alone. In total pitch darkness.

The instruction was simple. Survive until dawn, and he gets accepted as a real man in the tribe.

But the young boy knew very well that the forest was an incredibly dangerous place. It was the home of tigers. Snakes. Bears. Hyenas.

And so for the entire night, this scrawny little 12-year-old boy was now all alone in the forest. The entire night, he held his knife trembling in his hand. Not for one moment could he rest. Try as he might, his eyes could see nothing but shadows around him. In his imagination, every little sound—even a leaf swaying in the wind—was a wild animal ready to pounce on him at any moment.

The whole night, he could hear his heart pounding in his chest.

When his terror overwhelmed him, tears ran down his cheeks. He wanted to shout, “I’m just a little boy! I’m not ready yet to be a man!” But who could hear him now? He was all alone.

But after many hours of fighting his fear and exhaustion, his eyes could see more clearly. Dawn was approaching. The first shafts of sunlight pierced through the thick canopy of leaves above him.

That was when the little boy felt something move behind him.

In terror, he turned around.

And there, standing tall on a rock behind him, was the towering figure of a fierce-looking man holding a long spear.

The boy shouted, “Daddy!”

The father smiled.

“When did you arrive?” the boy asked, “Are you here to pick me up?”

The father said, “Before you arrived last night, I was already here. I stood guard, protecting you the whole time. I never left you for one moment, my son.”

Daddy is Emmanuel—which means God with us.

Friend, I don’t know what darkness you’re going through right now. Perhaps you’re praying for your child who is on drugs. Or your husband is having an affair. Or you’re having financial problems right now. Remember that in your darkness, God is with you. He will never leave or abandon you.

When you’re in pain, God embraces you and feels your pain. He weeps with you. Because Daddy is Emmanuel.

Daddy is Grace

When I think of Grace giving her very high report card to her father—and all he did was grunt—I remember my own experience with my report card.

When I was in grade school, my report card had red marks. (At least, it was colored. Yours was just black and white.) Because I failed in Math and Pilipino.

That day, I went up to Mom and showed her my report card.

All she said was, “Show it to your father.”

Gulp. Oh boy. I walked up to Dad and gave it to him.

He read it, nodded his head, and handed it back to me, and said, “Son, just study some more.”

No spanking. No scolding. No disapproval.

He then said, “Let’s eat.”

That’s why for the rest of my academic life, I kept failing. (Hehe.)

I guess Dad knew that my brilliance wasn’t in academics. It would bloom elsewhere. (Ahem.)

I thank God for having parents who loved me whether I performed in school or not. They just loved me, period. Unconditionally.

Daddy means Grace. Grace means gift.

Two weeks ago, my son Bene came up to me and showed me his Math exam. He was sad because out of 100 points, he got 92. I couldn’t help but laugh. Because if I got 92, my mother would have fainted. Because when I was a kid, out of 100 points, I would get 36. One time, I got 28. I would show those test papers to Dad. And all he’d say was, “Just do better next time.”

Grace means “free gift”.

Here’s my point: You don’t have to please God so that He loves you. He loves you as you are. He accepts you totally.

I don’t care what sin you committed. I don’t care how many times you’ve done it. God loves you and will forgive you of your sins. It will be this love that will bring you to repentance and a new life.

Because Daddy is grace.

Daddy Is Dulce

Dulce means sweet.

I believe God is the sweetest Daddy in the world.

A few years ago, I was in a preaching tour in the US.

I remember one big event. After the last song, I was signing my books. There was an unusually long line of people who wanted my autograph. In front of me were four ushers telling people to wait for their turn.

That was when someone ran past the long line of people, squeezed himself in between the ushers, and ducked underneath the table. He then climbed on my lap, handed me a bottle of water, and said, “Please open, Daddy. I’m thirsty.”

Bene was four years old at that time.

Obviously, I stopped signing books and opened his bottle.

How could Bene do that? Because he was my son and I was his Daddy.

He was confident that I wouldn’t reject him. He knew that I loved him more than the entire world.

This is what Jesus meant when he taught us the “Our Father”.

Like Bene, we too can run to God, climb on his lap, and ask for what we need.

Because Daddy is dulce.

Daddy Is Fides

I like to believe I’m a good father.

But I’m nothing compared to Dick Hoyt and his love for his son Rick.

In 1962, while baby Rick was in the womb of his mother, he was strangled by the umbilical cord—causing a lack of oxygen in his brain. He suffered cerebral palsy and couldn’t speak or control his arms or legs.

As an eight month old baby, doctors told Dick and his wife Judy to place the child in an institution. “Because he was going to be a vegetable all his life,” they said. But the parents refused and brought him home. Dick promised that he would try to give his son as normal a life as possible.

Fast forward today: Dick learned that Rick loved sports. After a lot of pain and exercise (Dick wasn’t athletic), he pushed Rick in a wheelchair in a 5 kilometer run. After the Run, Rick said that while he was in the race, he didn’t feel an invalid.

That was the start of a great adventure. Today, this father-and-son team has participated in 66 marathons and 229 triathlons.

While running, Dick would push his son in a wheelchair.

While swimming, Dick would pull him in a rubber boat.

While biking, Dick would carry him at the front of his bike.

When I watched the life of Dick and Rick Hoyt, I saw a glimpse of God’s love. This is the Father’s love for you.

I don’t know about you, but I must admit that I’m handicapped in many areas of my life. I’ve got weaknesses I still battle to this day.

But in this adventure called life, I’ve experienced my God pushing me, pulling me, and carrying me in his arms.

I know God does the same to you.

Fides means faith. The root word for faithfulness.

God has faith in you. He believes in you.

Daddy is fides.

Next week, I’ll talk about God as Leader.

May your dreams come true,

Bo Sanchez

Without Seeing You (lyrics by David Haas)

I can’t help but be moved by the message of this song. Perhaps, this is what faith in an ‘unseen’ God really is all about.

From the website where I got the lyrics:

This poignant prayer reminds us to have faith even when it is easier to doubt. As the risen Jesus uttered to Thomas: “Blessed are they who have not seen, and yet believe.”

Without Seeing You

music and lyrics by David Haas

Without seeing You we love You.
Without touching You we embrace.
Without knowing You we follow.
Without seeing You we believe.

Verse 1:
We return to You deep within, leave the past to the dust.
Turn to you with tears and fasting, You are ready to forgive. (Refrain)

Verse 2:
The sparrow will find a home near to You oh God.
How happy we who dwell with You, forever in Your house. (Refrain)

Verse 3:
For You are our shepherd there is nothing that we need.
In green pastures we will find our way, in waters of peace. (Refrain)

Source: http://www.hangad.org/pages/ministry/recordings/songs.php?action=viewsong&song_id=00062

Cast-Down Sheep

Here’s an article I’ve read from my daily devotional – Our Daily Journey. I find it very inspiring so please allow me to share it with you. As you go through it, you may ask yourselves two questions:

First, what has caused me to be in a cast-down position? Is it pride, thinking I could do things on my own? That I do not need a Shepherd at all? That my strength is sufficient for me to survive the dangers and struggles of life? Is it groundless fear or useless anxiety? Resorting to nonsense panic at the smallest thought of discomfort, pain or hardship?

And second, how will I trust the Shepherd to restore my soul? It is hard to lay down and entrust myself to a God whom I cannot see. But this is the very same God who has breathed life into my very being. The One who knew me and cared for me when I was still in the darkness of my mother’s womb. The One who had plans of greatness for me even before I was born.

At a certain point in our lives, we all have to admit that we are cast-down and acquaint ourselves with the pains of falling before we discover the real Source of our strength. Yes, falling down isn’t the end of it all. The Shepherd is there to lovingly help us get back on our feet. We just have to let go of our pride, fears and anxieties and allow Him to soothe our pains and rejuvenate our souls.

Please do share your valuable thoughts. God bless you!

From “Our Daily Bread”

Phillip Keller, in his classic book A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, gives a striking picture of the care and gentleness of the shepherd. When David said, “He restores my soul”, he chose language that every shepherd would understand. A sheep is built in such a way, that if it falls over on its side and onto its back, it is very difficult for it to get up again. In this position, it flails its legs in the air, bleats, and cries. After a few hours on its back, gas begins to collect on its stomach, the stomach hardens, and the sheep suffocates. This position is called a cast-down position. A cast-down sheep needs a loving shepherd to restore it.

To restore a cast-down sheep takes time. The first thing a shepherd does is massage its four legs to restore circulation. Then while calmly reassuring the sheep with his voice [yep…a sheep recognizes his shepherd’s voice], he gently turns its over, puts his hand under the sheep’s belly, lifts it up, and holds it so it can gain equilibrium. When the shepherd feels that the sheep can stand on its own, he lets the animal go and watches it take a few faltering steps. He has restored a cast-down sheep.

What a picture of what God does for us! When we are on our back, flailing because of guilt, grief, and grudges, our loving Shepherd reassures us with His words. With His tender hands, He lifts us and carries us until we’ve gained spiritual equilibrium.

Jesus wants to restore your soul. Let Him remove your guilt, relieve your grief, and replace your grudges. If you’ve been “cast down” for any reason, He’s the only one who can help you get on your feet again. He is your confidence, joy, peace, and strength.

Blogger’s note: Apologies for the insufficient citation especially as to the author of this article. As of this reposting, I do not have the copy of the devotional.