67. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. He calls God “Abba, Father.”
24 November 2020
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.”
Here is something I originally wrote 31 August 2017, polished 3 September 2017, and also posted 2018 on Father’s Day.
“Abba (ab-bah), meaning “Father”, used as term of tender endearment by a beloved child.
Tatay’s birthday is August 3 and we celebrated it over the weekend. I am advancing on the verse for my devotion.
From Ronald Warren, http://www.faithgateway.com/dads-are-earthly-mirrors-of-heavenly-reality/#.WadMAxkRXqB
... all fathers are created to imitate God’s goodness (Matthew 7:9-11). ...when children hear their father utter, "Dear Heavenly Father (Abba Father)”, it is winsome rather than worrisome.
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 events in school; he accompanied me going to Manila when I started college; I first stayed at his Ninang’s place.
He was a high school graduate; he started as a teacher, then became a policeman, Inay would tell us he left the service dahil ayaw niya ng tong sa sugalan.
He was later 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.
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.
I had a chance to pay tribute to him and also to Inay and to Daddy and Mommy, my in-laws, when each couple went up the stage to put a medal on my eldest daughter during her high school graduation.
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, something I was not used to when growing up; I could not clearly share my faith and instead gave him a large text bible.
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. For his birthday and for Inay’s, August 15, we, my siblings and our children celebrated their birthdays having lunch together over the weekend; I offered a prayer after we finished lunch.
“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.””
(When you click the faithgateway link above, which I came about in 2017, you will notice it is dated 19 June 2020; it must have been reposted on the occasion of Father’s Day.)
I said above, I would say Tatay must have been spiritual, and that he prayed although I did not see it.
A praying earthly father is a picture of a son affectionate with the Heavenly Father. (Galatians 4:6)
I recovered, my children hear me pray, in thanksgiving.
In the good times and bad
You are on Your throne
And you are God alone.”
You are on Your throne
And you are God alone.”
After I recovered, I would hug Tatay and Inay, my father-in-law and mother-in-law, everyone in the family; I was not expressive and affectionate growing up. It became spontaneous for me, in gratitude to “Abba, Heavenly Father.”
My children's children will someday say, wala ka sa Lolo ko; he calls God “Abba, Father.”
May you be blessed. Amen.
Maraming salamat.
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