Tribute to Tatay: “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15)

Life Through the Spirit

Romans 8

15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 

16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

Written on Father's Day 2019

Abba (ab-bah), meaning “Father”, used as term of tender endearment by a beloved child.

The original of this I wrote 31 August 2017:

My memory of Tatay, I was around him when I was a boy. Unlike my older brothers who would be out playing basketball, my built was small for my age so I would stay home often. Picoy punta ka sa ilalim ng jeep at lagyan mo ng langis ang transmission, Tatay would fondly call me; he was called Ofring Taba, with a namesake who was slimmer. I would be around him when he put up a big portable transformer near the kitchen for the whole house because voltage was fluctuating in the evening and the fluorescent bulbs were flickering. He wanted the surroundings well-lighted. He was diligent, principled, at work he was vice president of the labor union. He was around for me during events in school; he came along when I was starting college in Manila.

He was a high school graduate; he started as a teacher, then became a policeman, Inay would tell us he left the service kasi ayaw niya ng tong sa sugalan. I would say he must have been spiritual, and that he prayed although I did not see it; he sent us six children to a Catholic school one time or another. He was later a head operator at an oil refinery, and trainor in refinery operations for college graduates, trainees who would later be hired. I saw in him what I would say was mentoring his trainees outside the classroom, even handling some pasaway.

Tatay

I had a chance to pay tribute to him along with Inay and Daddy and Mommy, my in-laws, when each couple went up the stage to put a medal on Vannie during her high school graduation. He was well regarded by his siblings, being the eldest, he allowed them to choose which farm lot to take as inheritance, and he took what was left, Inay would  narrate to us. His birthday is August 3, Inay's is August 15, my siblings and the grandchildren celebrated their birthdays having lunch together over the weekend. I offered a prayer after we finished lunch.

He was 79 when I became a Christian at 44; and he had already developed Alzheimer's. I would greet him with a hug like with Inay, I could not clearly share my faith and instead gave him a large text bible.

Lord, Abba Father, You indeed blessed me with having Tatay as my father. Please bless me that I will be a blessing to my children. This I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.