Talk to Link

How do you react on calls coming from the guidance counselor of your child’s school asking you for a Parent-Teacher Conference even if the giving-out of cards is still due next month? Will it also crush your heart discovering the rather problematic behavior of your child, while to your mind he or she is behaved and obedient? I can only imagine the pain traveling from your brain down to your spine and vice-versa. As parents admitting to ourselves that we were remiss in disciplining our children is difficult because we have lived by the notion that, “we cannot harm our children”. But have we really not led our children to harm’s way?

As a teacher I have many times come across students who lived dual lives. In the home they seem to be “cool” and cooperative but as soon as they reach the school, they change roles and start to display a type of behavior quite the contrary to how they conduct themselves in their respective homes. While some choose to not attend school on a regular basis (even if parents thought that they are in school; thus continue to give their daily allowance), others end up bullies. In my many years of teaching experience most of those who received disciplinary actions have problems in the home. Suppressed and repressed emotions are the common culprits. 

Communicating with our children is important. It will do them good if we talk to them or discuss family matters with them. Being mum on situations that concern them will only make matters worse. Even if preoccupied with work, we need to ask our children how their day was. If it sounds more like a fishing expedition, let it be. What matters is knowing how our children spent their day.

Involving our children in family decisions and listening to what they have to say are essentials to teaching them responsibility and respect. When we parents allow our children to be healthy contributors to family matters, they develop confidence. 

Ephesians 6: 1, commands the children to obey their parents in the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 on the other hand, instructs the Fathers,(or parents)to not exasperate their children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

The Voice (A Sonnet)

It was a rainy day when I saw you;

You walked with grace and stood tall in the haze;

The pleasantness of your face radiated;

Magnetized me many meters ahead.

Clouds of confusion rumbled and jumbled;

A crazy well of emotions overflowed.

"How can I stop this?", that I asked myself;

Embarrassing it would be, If this persists.

So, I sat down, looked away and sighed;

I closed my eyes and  counting how I tried;

Hoping that by then, you're already gone.

Then I heard a voice calling out my name;

I looked around and there you were standing;

You smiled making me breathless and beaming.  

Enough

When you told me you’re leaving

I can’t help but wonder.

I asked you, where would you be?

You didn’t answer, you just looked away.

I asked you again, “How long would you be gone?

Your lips were tight then you cried.

I got even more worried

When you said not a single word

My heart felt like exploding

So heavy was its pounding

When you said, “Set me free.”

I asked myself, “What did she say?”

So many questions ran in my head.

But none I was able to ask

I even wanted to say to you “Don’t joke around."

”So I hugged you instead and begged you to stay.

But you pushed me away and said, “This is enough.”

                          And then you went away..

Kamulatan

Kabataan ikaw nga ba ang pag-asa

Ng bayang lugmok na sa problema?

Ginagawa ng mga nakatatanda tila

Wala ng saysay at di na naghihimala.

Kaalamang huwad namayagpag

Puso at kaluluwa di makapalag.

Materialismo at kapaguran sinalamin

At siyang naging pamantayan natin.

 

Ano pa’t mga kabataan

Sa ganitong kalagayan nasanay.

Kabuluhan ng buhay ay sinukat

Sa mga bagay na lumilipas din ng sukat.

Hindi masamang umunlad

Kung sa paglago ay di tayo lalayo

Sa katotohanan na ang Diyos ang nagbibigay

At may kakayanang bumawi maging sa lahat ng bagay.

Dalangin ko na maimulat natin

Sa kabataan na sa hinaharap ay iiwan din natin

Pagkilala sa Diyos na lumikha at dakila

Buhay nila ay lulubos at magiging malaya.

Not by Might!

Do signs really work? Long before I accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior I would always associate objects, words spoken, and even the people that I meet with my future. For so long, I was deceived into believing that my dreams could come true. Silly as they might be, I embraced all such things. I started interpreting dreams of people as well as mine, and said words to people as if  I was blessed  with the ability to see their future. I believed in the magnanimity of my thoughts because coincidentally some of those that I interpreted came true and those that I have blessed received what they hoped for. What did I generate from it? Arrogance and pride which led me to false hopes and disappointments. 

So are signs really true? I tell you they are not, but Jesus is! How deep we know Him will lead us to what we should be and what our future would be like. Nothing and no one in the flesh in this world can give us joy and security. Only Jesus can. Read God's word, meditate on it day and night and you will discover and uncover what We who believed Him are capable of doing. 

"Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord, "

Zechariah 4:6. 

On Getting Old

When parents become difficult and hard to understand, that is when we have to give them extra grace. Hard as it can be but if possible similar as what Jesus endured for us in the CROSS. Love your parents. They are not useless, they are just old! Truth: All of us will be.

Hurt and Love in Action

Hurt and love are action words. They have to be shown or given.  Opposed as they may be but they always work together. Literally and figuratively they make the pattern of human relationships complete. Without them we would not learn so much from life. So be happy if you feel these, it makes your existence more meaningful.  For the overcomers, congratulations; wisdom you have gained. For the nurturers, forgive to be free.