Wordless Wednesday
The Importance Of Fathers (Happy Feast Day, St. Joseph!)
March 19, 2011
4.15 am Manila Time
Sharing with you again today’s reflection from the Sabbath and Didache. Happy Feast Day of St. Joseph! 🙂 Thank You Lord for choosing, calling and equipping Honey to be the father of our two kids! We are far from being perfect parents, but Your perfect love and grace will see us through!
IMPORTANCE OF FATHERS
It is very easy to underestimate the role of a person in the life of another, particularly when it comes to that of our fathers. The role of the mother as important is a “given” as she carries her child in her womb for nine months before usually having a major role in the formative years of the child as well. However, there seems to be something that works against the roles of fathers in today’s society. So many of the pressures of society have a negative impact on the father’s role including the long hours at work and the pressures on men to be “one of the guys.”
It is important for us to recapture the essence of the role of the father if we want to give our children a well-rounded formation, particularly in their early years. I look back to my own childhood, which was not perfect, but the majority of my early memories are with my father: playing while he worked in the garden or did whatever he happened to be doing. I remember myself just hanging around, probably getting in the way more often than not, but having a great time doing it. As I got older the relationship evened out a bit, meaning I was able to contribute more to whatever we were doing up to the point of being considered an equal. I remember countless discussions about politics, morality, economy, sports and other issues that we had as we worked together. I recount this to say that I think it was all essential to my self-worth today. I am secure in who I am because of the acceptance I got from my father. Yes, others did the same, including my mother, teachers, close friends and relatives, but the multitude of memories I have indicate that it was my father’s acceptance and approval that I sought the most, and thankfully received as well.
As we celebrate Joseph’s life today, we honor the foster father of Jesus and the role he played in Jesus’ life. Let us pray that we can rediscover and be committed to the important role that fathers play in their children’s lives.Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL
Reflection Question:
What was my experience of my father as a child? Do I feel that it was lacking? Is there anything I need to talk to someone about this?
Jesus, help me to be grateful for the gift of my parents. Help me also to be a good parent to my children should I have any.
CARING FOR A GOD WHO CARES
Joseph, her husband, was a righteous man. – Matthew 1:19
Imagine with me if you can… let’s go back in time and travel to Nazareth.
Put yourself in the shoes (or sandals) of Joseph. Imagine you are the earthly father of Jesus.
The reason for all creation was born in your midst.
You are tasked to protect the very God to whom you pray for protection. You will be providing for the needs of the Great Provider.
As your son’s first teacher, you will teach Him everything you know. You will teach to the God who knows everything.
You will carry the one who carries the whole world in His arms.
You are going to play hide and seek with God who sees everything.
You will put to sleep someone you hope never goes to sleep.
You will be able to make God laugh.
These are some of the wonderful things
Joseph did to his Son, Jesus.
Think: Jesus says that you can do all this to Him if you do them to the least of your brothers. Arun Gogna ()
REFLECTION:
What would you feel if you were given the chance to be the father or mother of Jesus?
May I never forget that whatever I do to others, I do it also to You, my Lord and my God.
5 Tips For A Happy Married Life (Happy Anniversary to us!)
5 years ago, I said “I do” to the man I know God chose for me. Before God and about 200 friends and family members, we committed to love each other and stick by each other for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, till death (others would say DEBT! hehe) do us part.
It’s been 5 years of lots of ups and downs, trials and triumphs, joys and pains. We were blessed with a honeymoon baby and 3 years after, with a baby conceived on mission! The first 5 years of our life together (engaged to married couple) were spent on mission, as our humble offering to God for all His goodness.
Of course, our married life has not been a bed of roses all the way. Just as with anything else in our lives, there have been some thorns (well, to be honest, LOTS of them! LOL!). But it is safe to say that we at least know how to have a happy married life (now all we need to do is implement and live out all we’ve learned! hehe). Here are some tips for married couples, engaged couples, couples who are considering marriage, and singles who wish they were couples but haven’t been able to find THE one yet:
1. Love triangles are the BEST. But only if God is at the center of the triangle. Hubby and I learned this through our community and saw this in action in our parents’ lives. With God, any couple can stand united through all unimaginable things. PUT GOD AT THE CENTER OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP. He should be your no. 1 and NOT your spouse.
2. Quality time is important. Quality time does not necessarily mean QUANTITY time. When hubby and I got married, we thought that we’d have at least one year to relish our newly married life, especially since my ob-gyne said it may be hard for me to conceive since I have a polycystic ovary. But lo and behold, God’s plans and ways are different – we got married January 7, Timothy was born October 10!
Married life after having a baby is so much more different. A lot of times, I was guilty of putting the kids’ needs over hubby’s, giving only my “left-over” time to him. I realize now that that should not be the case. HUSBANDS AND WIVES SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE QUALITY TIME TOGETHER EVERY DAY. It could be a quick chat over breakfast, or a late night gab session while nursing the baby. You could watch your favorite DVDs while the kids are asleep, or pray together before you both leave the house for work. What is important is we MAKE TIME.
3. The power of touch can do wonders. In Gary Chapman’s , the various ways and means of communicating love are explained. I for one, being a licensed physical therapist, believe in the healing, affirming, soothing and relaxing power of touch. I highly recommend touching your spouse every day, in little ways. Hugs, kisses, pats on the shoulder, brief back rubs, holding hands, even simple “high fives” – all of these help show how much we love and care for the other. TOUCH YOUR SPOUSE TODAY IN THE MOST LOVING WAY YOU KNOW HOW. And do it every day henceforth. You’ll see a difference in how you communicate and relate to each other.
4. It ain’t over till it’s over. Here, I am referring to the “discovery” and “getting to know you” stage. This doesn’t stop once you’re already married – in fact, it should continue until “it’s over” i.e. your marriage has ended naturally meaning one of you has already passed on. GET TO KNOW YOUR SPOUSE EVERY DAY. Ask him questions, pick each other’s brains out, get to know her current favorites, discover each other’s new favorite hangouts or hobbies. It ain’t over till it’s over. 🙂
5. Forgive and forget. Let go and let God. There will never be a lack of misunderstandings, tension, conflicts or disagreements in our married life. After all, as one author puts it . God made men and women different for a purpose. The challenge for married couples is to understand these differences, forgive each other’s faults, forget each other’s failures, and let God take control.
I am by no means an expert on love and marriage. But being in Couples for Christ has helped my husband and I a lot in our married life (and even in our lives as young adults and single working people). In fact, these past 5 years of marriage have been greatly enriched and blessed by the Lord through CFC. Thank You God for Your grace! Now we only have to apply all we’ve learned every day.
How about YOU? Do you have tips that you’d like to share? Pls. feel free to comment below. Praying for you!
Honey, my love, so sweet
Today is my husband’s birthday. Yep, we’re born in the same month. 🙂 Cute no? hehehe.
There were a lot of times in our life as a couple that we thought we wouldn’t be able to make it. When we first met each other waaay back in 2001, we had no idea our lives would never be the same again. I still remember our first meeting through a friend. There were no sparks, it wasn’t love at first sight (for me at least, hahaha). I will admit though that I found myself thinking that he was cute (yes, Honey, you can gloat over this later!), but I didn’t entertain the thought that anything would come out of it! Who would have known huh?!
And now, after 9 years of being in a relationship with my Honey (they actually call him Honey at home, hehehe), whom I now fondly call Bebs, 4 of which have been as husband and wife, 5 years of being mission partners, and two adorable kids, I want to take this opportunity to proclaim to the world how wonderfully blessed I am to have him in my life.
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| God’s gift to me |
To the man who has added more love, laughter and common sense into my life – my best friend, partner, critic, supporter and prayer warrior – thank GOD for the __ years He has given you. I’m so blessed to have been part of your life for the past 9 years of it! ♥ I may fail to show it at times, esp. when things get hectic with the kids, but I want you to know how much I thank GOD each and every day that He allowed us to meet that fateful day in PUP. 🙂 I can’t imagine how life would be without you in my life. Thank you so much for being my constant cheerleader and prayer partner, especially in my recent adventures as an aspiring mompreneur and writer! Thank you for supporting and joining me in my breastfeeding, babywearing and homeschooling advocacies and adventures! Thank you for taking the time to be Teacher Papa to Tim, and taking care of Rysse whenever I need to work or write or join my mommy-related activities! I love you!!!! Happy happy blessed birthday Bebs! ♥ You will forever be my Honey, my love, so sweet! hehehe.
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| Papa and his princess |
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| Very huggable! |
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| Praying before learning time 🙂 |
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| Teacher Papa and his student |
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| Honey and his angels |
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| Supportive dad at Moms on the Floor |
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| My partner in life AND in mission |
God is in my heart. – Tim, 3 yrs 5 months old
Earlier (well yesterday, strictly speaking 🙂 we were having dinner at a local fast food place (if you can call it that! LOL) after having a Lenten Recollection and Confession (which was the BEST part for me!). Sr. Christelle Zabalerio, MM, was with us.
Tim was being his usual playful won’t-sit-down-coz-he’s-too-excited self when suddenly he knelt down on the floor, made the sign of the cross and prayed “Lord, please help me, Amen.”
At first we thought he was kneeling because he saw something on the TV which was placed above the counter. So we asked him about it…
“What are you doing Kuya Tim?”
“I’m praying to God.”
“God? Where is He?” (Again we thought he’d seen an image or picture of God or something similar on the TV).
(Then, to our delight Tim replied.)
“God is in my heart.”
Aaaawww… *sniffs* What a blessing you are to us dearest Tim!
The conversation continued:
“Who taught you that?”
“Papa.”
Double aaawwwwww…. *sniff sniff sniff* tears of pride..
THANK YOU LORD FOR MY HUSBAND, WHO STRIVES TO BE THE BEST PASTOR, PROTECTOR AND PROVIDER FOR OUR FAMILY.
AND FOR TIM, WHO IS YOUR DAILY REMINDER OF LOVE, PATIENCE AND JOY FOR US ALL.
And of course, FOR RYSSE, OUR ANGEL BABY.
