28. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. His wife is a woman of great faith.
20 September 2020
May your fountain be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. (Proverbs 5:18)
Matthew 15
The Faith of a Canaanite Woman
28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
Matthew 15
22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”
23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
Faith. Had a short reflection earlier related to same top verse.
Quote
Is there somebody you know who is going through adversity? Pray for that person to keep on pleading with the request with God.
Unquote
Quoted above is something I wrote as closing for my reflection this 17 July 2020, the day my wife Marlou got a surprise with the "sweet sixty" zoom party, on her 60th birthday, orchestrated by our children, Vannie, Patty and Paolo, in connivance with me.
My wife has been with me from that "day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health."
I have been in better, worse, richer, poorer, good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, and my wife has always been there for me.
Marlou made sacrifice career-wise, left corporate work after working for 8 years, to be full-time wife, and hands-on mother to personally look after our children. That was, 5 years into our marriage, in 1989 after our youngest Paolo was born.
Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6)
During these years, a child’s newly developing brain is highly plastic and responsive to change as billions of integrated neural circuits are established through the interaction of genetics, environment and experience.
Optimal brain development requires a stimulating environment, adequate nutrients and social interaction with attentive caregivers. Unsafe conditions,
negative interactions and lack of educational opportunities during these early years can lead to irreversible outcomes, which can affect a child’s potential for the remainder of his or her life. (www.unicef.org)
I grew up with my mother at home full-time looking after us six siblings.
I could not remember back then if Marlou and I formally discussed about her being at home full-time when our children were growing up. I thought it just happened, and that was my preference given my family background.
She even made sacrifices when I was in famine and affliction, between 2000 and 2005, she doing physical work baking to make ends meet.
She was the one who talked with my youngest sister Ante and her older sister Ate Lilibeth, to borrow some big amount, and also with her eldest sister Ate Winnie for the monthly utility bills.
She was the one who was able to arrange the sale of our house to a "kinakapatid" that precluded bank foreclosure, and allowed us to pay off all debts.
My wife Marlou is a woman of great faith.
Proverbs 31
The Wife of Noble Character
10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Indeed someday, my children's children will say, wala ka sa Lolo ko, his wife is a woman of great faith. Amen.
PS. For married couples, adversity is part of it, for the groom did not marry the maid of honor, likewise, the bride did not marry the best man. God intended it to be that way, in thick and in thin (literally and figuratively), till death do us part. Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment