My Cup Overflows

“They came bringing to Jesus a paralytic carried by four men.” Mark 2:3

I think about all the people who have carried me to today. Of course my parents, my beautiful mother whose birthday it is today, and my father who loved my mother very much. They say the best thing a father can do to be a good father is to love his wife. We had a loving family, not perfect, with so many faults on all sides, but a strong Christian family. We have so many good memories. Even though we did not grow up with having the best materially, I actually thought we were very rich. After all if you are taught to be grateful and content, what more could you look for? 

My siblings were the best companions growing up, so much so I did not really need to go searching for friends. We always did things together. Our mother taught us to work and play together. Instead of buying toys, we would make things out of cardboard boxes and cut up catalogs, or draw, or make clay fingernails, and put towels on our heads to feel glamorous. 

Of course, there are my friends, classmates, my Korben family, my ate Lucy who is a saint, Jetro who is one big reason why my brother Robert is still alive, and relatives like Susan who is like a big sister to me and my auntie Cora who prays with me and my sisters every day. Then there are the priests who became my friends, and Bible study teachers, who would answer my questions about God and all my whys. 

All the brothers and sisters, my leaders in the big and small communities I have been part of through the years have been and are such effective examples of what a disciple of Jesus is. Now I am a covenanted member in Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon (The Joy of the Lord), and I will always be grateful to Jing, my sister’s first husband who passed away from melanoma. He invited me to Ligaya and I met my wonderfully sweet husband, Luigi, in Ligaya. Josh, my son, and his cousins, my brothers-in-law, are all so loving  and generous. Truly my cup overflows. 

So no, not only 4 people carried my “stretcher”, but a whole village. I am sure without the love, encouragement, support, and prayers of this whole village, I would be paralyzed with trauma, anxiety, riddled with angst and torn by insecurities. I am so grateful for all these people who have carried me to Jesus so I would be touched by Him and changed completely.

From my family scrapbook-