Wednesday, May 28, 2008

I mourn your passing

He has been getting weaker and weaker for the past few days. Eating less than usual, then not eating at all, and turning his head away when we attempted to make him drink or even wet his lips.

It was to no avail. His journey was about to end.

He tried to fight the weakness that his age had brought him. He tried to rise and rise again, sometimes succeeding but often tumbling down again. And all I could do was try to make him rest and just lie down.

He began to reek of death. His mouth foaming with blood. His legs covered by stains of his own vomit. I could not bear the idea that he was in such a state. Though queasy of stomach, I wiped away the smelly stains on his face and legs. I had to. With tears streaming down my face. Because I see him in pain.

I thought he would not last the night. I wanted to be there when he finally breathed his last.  I didn't want him to be alone when it happened. I stayed awhile. 

I saw him finally fall asleep, quite peacefully. I tried to make him comfortable so that the cold would not enter his body. But in my mind, there is a battle raging. Should I allow his suffering to continue and just wait for the natural course of things to take place? Or be merciful and let him be given the injection of death? 

For many minutes, I cried for him. For the suffering that he is going through. For the long years he had lived. For missing my family who is not with me to cry for him. For the possibility that we could all die alone. 

In the morning, he was still hanging on. But getting much weaker. He could only partially lift his head. And I heard his pitiful whining. For what exactly, I did not know. Maybe it was a mixture of everything? For the pain. For the helplessness. For the inability to rise again. Or maybe he was bidding his goodbye? Or asking me to help him and end his troubles?

That was the last straw. With my voice breaking, I called the one who could give him rest. And when they finally arrived, I asked them to be gentle to him. And asked for an assurance that he would be buried well.

For more than 15 years he was a constant presence in our house. He had his good and bad side but he had become a part of the family. And I am happy that my last gift was that I did not prolong his pain.

And what made me happier and contented? That we need not die alone. That we have a God who is always there to comfort us to our last breathe. And if we do die, we wake up to a better place. To go to heaven. To finally be done with pain and suffering. To remain in the embrace of a loving Father.

Goodbye Darius. Though you do not have a soul, I am praying to finally see you in heaven.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

One liners from RIck Warren

Got this from Mark Batterson (www.evotional.com) who got it from Rick Warren.


Beautiful and true!


"Every conflict is the byproduct of immaturity." 
"You cannot have control and growth." 
"Art needs a frame." 
"Be a proponent of the new not an opponent of the old." 






"If you wrestle with a pig you'll both get dirty." 
"Define yourself or others will." 
"Bless those who curse you." 
"Separate fact from opinion." 
"Hurt people hurt people." 
"Insults are insecurities."








By the way, welcome me back to the online world!!! Thank you God!!! (and Kuya Cris from Globe.. hehehe)

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

To realize (forwarded by a friend)

To realize
The value of a sister
Ask someone
Who doesn't have one.

To realize
The value of ten years:
Ask a newly
Divorced couple.

To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.

To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam.

To realize
The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a still born.

To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.

To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize
The value of one hour:
Ask the lovers who are waiting to Meet.

To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize
The value of one-second:
Ask a person who has survived an accident.

To realize
The value of one millisecond:
Ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics.

To realize the value of a friend:
Lose one.

Time waits For no one.
Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when
you can share it with someone special.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Waaaahhhhh!

No dial tone for the last 6 days!!!!

Meaning no DSL for the last 6 days!!!!!

C'mon Globe! Do your work!

Waaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Words and hearts

Words are powerful. Written or oral, they are our tools of communication.

They can incite feelings of passion. They can destroy a person’s future.


Endearing words from a man can soften a woman’s heart. Words of hatred may create a war that can last many lifetimes.


But how do we form our words?


I believe that words springs forth from our hearts. They reflect what has been planted in our souls. They are fruits of the nourishment we give to our minds.


A beautiful child becomes hideous if lewd words are common to his mouth.


A pretty girl becomes ugly when curses are released from her lips.


The most handsome man becomes intolerable when only insults are spewed out from his mouth.


A famous or rich person may be ostracized if words of grievance or lies are his constant utterance.


A loving mother would not constantly torture her kids with words of negativism. It would be hard to respect a father who only bellows out insults to his children. It would be difficult to listen to men of God when all they have to offer are doomsday predictions.


If our eyes are the windows to our soul, then words are mirrors of our hearts.


I have been a recipient of painful words. I know how a heart can suffer from unjust accusations.


I have learned to temper my words. It is not easy though. I still fail many times. I still purposely and unwittingly cause a sting or two in innocent and guilty hearts.


Fortunately for us, each day brings a new beginning to change. To be an envoy of hope and encouragement. To let others know through our words that we are followers of the King and His Son.


Our words mirror our hearts. We should mirror Christ.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Pour me comprendre par Veronique Sanson

Pour me comprendre 
Il faudrait savoir qui je suis 
Pour me comprendre, 
Il faudrait connaître ma vie 
Et pour l'apprendre, devenir mon ami, 
Pour me comprendre, il aurait fallu au moins ce soir 
Pouvoir surprendre le chemin d'un de mes regards 
Triste mais tendre, perdu dans le hasard 

Je l'ai connue toute petite 
Dans les bras de sa grande maman 
Dommage, dommage, j'aimais tellement son visage 

Pour me comprendre, il faudrait savoir le décor, 
De mon enfance, 
Le souffle de mon frère qui dort 
La résonnance, de mes premiers accords 
Pour me comprendre, il faudrait connaitre mes nuits, 
Mes rêves d'amour, et puis ces longues insomnies, 
Quand vient le jour, la peur, d'affronter la vie, 

Il y a peut-être quelque part 
Un bonheur dont j'aurait eu ma part 
Dommage, dommage, j'aimais tant certains paysages 

Pour me comprendre, il faudrait la conaître mieux, 
Que je ne pourrais 
Il faudrait l'aimer plus que moi, et je vous dirai, 
Que je n'y crois vraiment pas, 
Pour me comprendre, il faudrait avoir rencontré 
L'amour, le vrai, vous comprenez le grand amour 
Et savoir qu'après à quoi sert de vivre encore un jour 

Lion Chaser Manifesto

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshiping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away.

Chase the lion.

In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson (www.evotional.com)