Death is Temporary, Heaven is Permanent

Just want to share this Kerygma reflection. 

It's the same prayer I have as Ms. Dina Pecana: 

"Help me to believe that You love him more than I ever could, that with You, Dad is happy and at peace.”

FINAL HEALING

“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”— Mark 9:24

“Death is the final healing,” Fr. Martin shared in his homily at Dad’s wake eight years ago. My mind believed it because death ended Dad’s suffering and pain. But death ended his life, too. I could no longer hold his hand as we sing Ama Namin at Mass, or take a stroll with him around the park, or embrace him whenever I’m afraid. Dad is gone, and my heart refused to believe it.

Denial is a curious thing. While it comforted me from the stark reality of Dad’s death, it also prevented me from grieving. I didn’t shed a tear when Dad breathed his last at the hospital, nor during his wake, nor at his burial. I told myself that he was away on a trip and would be home soon, until I saw his golf shoes, clubs, and bag by our front door, the usual place where he left his stuff. As I cleaned them, only then did I cry and mourn his absence. I told God, “Dad isn’t coming back but I know he has gone home to You. Help me to believe that You love him more than I ever could, that with You, Dad is happy and at peace.”

It no longer hurts to remember Dad. Only a lingering sadness remains and a hopeful longing that someday, Jesus will let us see each other again at the homecoming in heaven. Dina Pecana (dina.p@shepherdsvoice.com.ph)

Reflect: “What is there to do when people die — people so dear and rare — but to bring them back by remembering.” (May Sarton)

Lord, I do believe; help my unbelief.

St. Cristobal Magallanes and Companions, pray for us.

Mama's Life Lessons

- Ang bait nagagawa lang.

- Wag kang makakalimot sa mga kapamilya at mga taong gumawa ng kabutihan sa yo. 

- Keep your fingernails and toenails clean kasi dyan makikita kung malinis ka sa katawan.
- Wag mong iiwanang may sabon ang mga plato at baso na hinuhugasan mo.
- Mag-iingat ka habang hinuhugasan mo ang bibig ng baso or mangkok, nasugatan na ako dati dahil nabasag yung hinuhugasan ko.
- Kapag nagbubukas ka ng de lata, siguraduhin mo yung takip ay matanggal. Kapa kasi naiwan mo yung takip sa lata pwede ka masugatan.
- Boggles - naglalaro tayo ng may nakasalong bimpo sa takip ng boggles dahil magigising si papa kapag inalog natin
- Sa pagpili ng mapapangasawa, dapat hindi lang mapagmahal...dapat mataas din ang pangarap at bibigyan ka ng security.

Happy Father's Day In Heaven (2017)

I Wish You Enough

08-May-2016

Happy mother's day Mamsie Maribeth... Our time together is just never quite enough but I know somewhere in heaven you are smiling. I love you forever. 

Can you feel me when I think about you?

Can you feel me when I think about you?  

I miss you Mamsie Maribeth every second of my life. 

(Maribeth M. Quizon ~ 06Nov64 - 21Jan11)

The Little Mermaid and The Papa's Girl

I just finished watching my most favorite Disney movie, "The Little Mermaid" in Disney Channel. It's funny because it made me cry all over again.
I remembered first seeing this movie from Ate Yan-yan (my cousin) in their betamax player and instantly it became my all time favorite Disney movie.
Perhaps it's because Ariel, the main character, was so loved by King Triton (her father) and he reminded me so much of my Papa. The scene where King Triton embraced Ariel during her wedding day and brushed her face always makes me cry. Papa used to say to me that maybe "he would die" if it's time to give me away on my wedding day. But he passed away when I was 18 years old and he never got a chance to be in my wedding.
I'm thankful that I didn't forget him. Even the minutiae of memories.
Though it's seldom that I post something about Papa in my facebook posts, it doesn't mean I don't think about him or remember him anymore.
I remembered Papa:
- As a loving son to his parents especially to "Ina" (mother).
- As a sweet "Kuya" (older brother) to his siblings.
- A poet & likes to write love letters to Mama.
- He was a disciplinarian & a bit strict to my brother, Archie, because he wanted him to be more responsible & eventually take his place as the protector of family when he is not around.
- He used to call me sweetheart & kissed my hand like a princess whenever I bid him goodbye.
- He wanted me and my brother to be sporty. I remembered him teaching me how to play basketball but I'm not really the athletic type. He bought us badminton & table tennis paraphernalia.
- He taught us how to eat "isaw" (barbecued pork intestine) but asked not to tell Mama that we ate it 😁
- People person.
- Smoker but occasional drinker.
- An artist. He used to sketch us using pencil.
- Good in direction. He worked as a credit investigator in a bank. He said he knows all the shortcuts in Bulacan and promised me that we'll go on a road trip when he was still in good health & still driving.
- He was good in general information and history.
- He was an avid fan of Robert Jaworski and Ginebra Team.
- Chess player, loved playing nintendo games like battle city & galaga. He was also hooked with brick games.
- A dog lover
- A good cook
- Movie lover. His favorites were Die Hard installments & Braveheart (he admitted he cried when he saw this film) but he didn't like sci-fi films.
- Music lover. He made me believe that "Aubrey" by Bread was "Arbie" (my name) so whenever I hear that music playing I felt so special.
- Has fear of heights.

The list goes on but I can say he's the best father in the world. My own version of King Triton.

Thank you Facebook memories...

Thank you Facebook memories. I can remember my Mama's smile especially when there are times that I seems to have forgotten. 
Looking back, I am now amazed that she could even smile at all. 
She fought her illness with every ounce of her being. She fought a good fight. 
She relied on the people around her to take care of her. 
Perhaps the most rewarding thing that I did for her is bathe and dress her, comb her hair, read her stories when she can no longer see...the same way she did to me and my brother when we were younger. 

We lost our greatest source of human love, encouragement and strength.

The pain was so great that sometimes it felt like I would cease to exist.

Questioning God just made me feel emptier. But I knew it would be a disappointment for her if I let my grief to stand in the way of her dreams for me and my brother. 

I have to make a choice. I chose to keep my faith in God and trust His greater purpose. 

I chose to let my mother live by honoring her memories and living her legacy.