values | Vision it Out w/ Gail S. Montero

Let those eyes teach us what we have to learn.

Pls Read God’s Silent Message: MK 8:27-35

“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me” — Jesus

Have you ever tried looking into the eyes of a child?

I was with many of them for the past five Fridays batch after batch. It awed them when I emphasized that I was in front of them because “iCare”! There was joy in their smiles upon discovering that we have Seven Srengths/ Character Traits we, Filipinos are good at: [1]pakikipagkapwa-tao; [2] pagpapahalaga sa pamilya; [3] kagalakan at pagpapatawa; [4] pakikibagay, madaling sumunod, at pagiging malikahain; [5] puspusang pagtatrabaho at kasipagan; [6] pananampalataya at pagiging maka-diyos; & [7] ability to survive – yet, I personally felt unhappy breaking to them the reality that we also have Seven Weaknesses/our common tendencies to do the extremes: [1] extreme personalism; [2] extreme family centeredness; [3] lack of discipline; [4] lack of initiative; [5] colonial mentality; [6] kanya-kanya syndrome; [7] lack of analysis.

There was “something” in their reactions when I illustrated: “7 Strengths minus 7 Weaknesses =0”! Could it really be that we, Filipinos are already of “zero character”?!? I then strive to sustain their innocent positivism by telling them that there’s a lot they can personally do to make themselves ON-GUARD for HOPE.

Happiness unbroken! Their eyes sparkled and laughter echoed upon sharing the PERSONAL MEANING of the SELF-SYMBOL that they have created; proudly posted each on their gallery for presentation and eagerly retrieved it afterwards – assuring me that they will keep it deep within their hearts until they grow more matured.

As I ended last Friday giving such series of Values-Formation Seminar among the pupils in the entire Cabuyao District, God is sending me this very clear message in today’s Gospel:

We may have the authority to facilitate life each time, but there could be

NO BETTER TEACHER THAN THE LOOK IN THE EYES OF A CHILD!

And as I share this experience with you Brothers & Sisters, may we then challenge ourselves to grab each CHANCE TO SHAPE THE FUTURE with the lessons we could humbly learn from each child. May we be more accommodating to RECEIVE JESUS while we recognize that we are not “the greatest” just because we have the authority to be one – for God wants us to sanctify our initiative to empty ourselves of pride – a way to really influence inspiration by the heart. #sunset

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“Would we know someone, ever done something intense out of love?”

Somewhere, we would search for an answer, but in the Gospel of John 15:9-17, Jesus yearns to make us understand that such LOVE which others say they haven’t experienced is just within reach –- yet, we hardly recognize.

“Once, a baby asked God, “They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?… who will protect me?” God answered: “Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you. Your angel will LOVE YOU AS I DO & defend you even if it means risking her life.”

Such God’s answer eased the baby’s worry and for the last time asked: “God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel’s name.” Then God said, “You will simply call her, ‘Mom’.”

Wow, such God’s line: “Your angel will LOVE YOU AS I DO & defend you even if it means risking her life”. MOMs pala are angels in disguise. They are tasked to do everything for the child to feel loved.

It has been that LOVE which made them train their kids to live the values that would make them dignified persons. It has been that love which made them correct and even reprimand each time a child disobeys and does things under peer pressure & other not so good influences. It has been such love which made them still reach out even when kids do not appreciate their every effort; and the more, it is such love which made them bear every sort of pain until their physical health suffers.

God could have been so happy if every child would recognize how His assigned angel has done her task so well. But sad, that sometimes, it would take a story like this for a child to realize:

“Hello Operator, does Heaven have a phone number? Mommy went to Heaven, but I need her here today,

my tummy hurts and I fell down, I need her right away. Operator, can you tell me how to find her in this book?

Is heaven in the yellow pages, I don’t know where to look.

I think my daddy needs her too, at night I hear him cry.

I hear him call her name sometimes, but I really don’t know why.

Maybe if I call her, she will hurry home to me. Is Heaven very far away, is it across the sea?

She’s been gone a long, long time she needs to come home now!

I really need to reach her, but I simply don’t know how.

Help me find the number please, is it listed under “Heaven”?

I can’t read these big big words, I am only seven.

I’m sorry operator, I didn’t mean to make you cry,

Is your tummy hurting too, or is there something in your eye?

If I call my church maybe they will know Mommy said when we need help that’s where we should go.

I found the number to my church tacked up on the wall. Thank you operator, I’ll give them a call.”

Whew!!….be worried if this short story didn’t make you cry. I read it twice and I shed tears thrice. Only to realize that a Mom’s task does not end. She missions out not only to “bridge every child’s needs” but also to the father of their kids.

If we will only read between these lines and allow the message dig deep within our hearts, we would never have to search elsewhere for an answer. In gratitude, we’d rather do something that would make her feel how much we hope not to give a heaven’s operator a call. Instead, we would give HER the warmest HUG and whisper our heart out:

“THANK YOU, MY ANGEL IN DISGUISE!

I THANK GOD, HE GAVE ME YOU!”

…and so, since Mother’s Day is near,

can we not honor every STRIVING MOM we know, specially ours whom Heaven-sent?

If you’re a “child” who came across this, have you been blessed with this post?

If yes, let’s make the world know thru your comment here, how much we feel for our Angel in Disguise 🙂

Credits to http://www.boardofwisdom.com for the short stories.