102. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. The Lord has given him a crown.

25 January 2021

1 Timothy 5

4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.

Let me share my reflection 7 October 2017 which I have updated.

"Grandchildren. Children’s children are a crown to the aged. (Proverbs 17:6)

1 Timothy 5

9 No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, 

10 and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.

Let me make the connection between grandchildren and a widow.

Marlou and I recently spent a weekend in Lipa to visit my mother-in-law. We went to Lipa New Hope Church for the Sunday worship service.

From the back, I can see the petite figure of "Nanay" (Lola) standing about 4.5 feet. I saw her first time in 2004 when we started attending Christian church. I cannot exactly recall how I became close to "Nanay". 

After the service, I approached her, and I said she reminds me of one grandmother on my mother's side whom we call "Nanay Unti" from "maunti", Batangas term for "maliit". 

I asked her, ilang taon na po kayo? Sagot niya, 92, walumpo na apo at apo ko sa tuhod. 

Ilan po ang anak nyo? Sagot niya, sampu. Eh, ang "Mamay" (Lolo) po? Ay, sampung taon pa laang (for lang) ang bunso namin, namatay na ang asawa ko, she replied.

The short of the story, the grace of God for "Nanay", a widow, all long years and the blessing of so many grandchildren. Amazing!

I told her, I am not sure if I will reach 70.

"Lord, "Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children (Proverbs 17:6), and as I ponder on this, I thank You for the privilege of having been entrusted with three children and a crown, a grandchild, especially today on Vannie's (our eldest) birthday. The life of "Nanay" is a reminder to me of Your faithfulness, towards a widow, and for that matter, for everyone who puts his trust in You. I am assured, Lord, You will never leave me nor forsake me (Joshua 1:5), that "You will be my God through all my lifetime, yes, even when my hair is white with age. You made me and You will care for me. You will carry me along and be my Savior." (Isaiah 46:4, The Living Bible) Lord, I praise You and give You thanks, this I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.""

Before I dwell on the crown the Lord has given me, let me venture a little, trying to imagine the life in general during the times "Nanay" was bringing up her family as a widow.

Say "Nanay" got married at age 20, with 10 children born in 2-year gaps, became a widow when her youngest was 10 years old, then she must be a widow at age 50.

Being 92 in 2017, "Nanay" was born in 1925, that means she became a widow about 1975.

I looked up the dollar exchange rate in 1975, it was about P7.00 to the US Dollar.

My father who passed away years ago, was also born 1925.

Let me say, during the good old days, life was less complicated than nowadays. 

Yet, given "Nanay's" predicament, the grace of God is indeed very evident in her life, especially the blessing of a big family, an average of 8 grandchildren and great grandchildren combined, with her 10 children.

As for me, in October 2017, my wife Marlou and I had one grandchild born March that year to our eldest daughter Vannie.

Before going further, I had serious illness twice, severe depression around 2004 and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome in 2008. It's by the grace of God that I am still alive today, now with 5 grandchildren.

In 23 December 2020, Marlou and I celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary, and I compiled the first 31 blogs into a devotional e-booklet which served as anniversary token and Christmas present to family and friends.

As to grandchildren, here is what I had in the introduction in the said booklet.

"Writing this devotional is a privilege in Christ, and it is dedicated to my children's children, their children to-be and succeeding generation of my family. I am 60 years old, with  three married children and five (5) grandchildren, eldest born March 2017, Julia Rebekah Giliw, then Pierre Johan, Eisha Paris, Rapha Lionel and Josiah Giting, youngest born March 2020."

Here's a photo collage by Marlou which I put in the cover page of the booklet.

Lord, "Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands. (Prayer of Moses the man of God, Psalm 90:10, 12, 14-17)" Amen.

One day my children's children will say, wala ka sa Lolo ko; the Lord has given him a crown.

The Lord crown you with blessings. Amen.

Maraming salamat.