108. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. As for him, our souls find rest in God alone.

6 February 2021

Compliments for Unsplash website for the photos.

Rest. We escape to get it, yet it escapes us.

A Sabbath - Rest for the People of God

Hebrews 4

10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.

For today's passage as above, the related reflection I had back 14 October 2017, I have used as insert in my 18 September 2020 blog, so I will just refer to it here briefly in the last part.

I would instead dwell on today's passage by relating to my conversation with two people very recently, people I have seen or talked with last more than 25 years ago.

The first one is the wife of a former boss of mine, now a widow after her husband, my former boss, passed away early last year at age 72, if I am not mistaken.

The second is a neighbor of ours way back in the 1970's, now also a widow at age 82, visually impaired due to diabetes complication.

The first widow I mentioned above, I learned is one year ahead of my eldest sister in the same high school. She responded to my fb friend request and my fb post giving tribute to my former boss (I joined fb just late last year). My boss and I were recipients of a special team award at the company; I referred to him as gutsy and I was privileged to have worked with him.

Rest, as in today's passage, for my former boss I pray for his eternal rest with the Lord, and comfort and strength for his wife and family in their time of grief.

My former boss left the company in 1999, at age 52, while I left the company 2 years earlier, at age 37. My conversation with his wife was via messenger voice call, and she sounded with light countenance. Our conversation lasted for more than an hour. We recounted memories of her husband and latter part I shared about my midlife crisis in 2000 - 2005 being out of work when my children were to start college and God's amazing grace sustaining me through severe affliction.

The second widow, our neighbor way back, is like a younger sister to Inay my mother, and the former we call "Mommy", with her eldest daughter same age as my younger sister next to me.

It must be back in the early 1980's when I was in college, I was home and I got to know "Mommy" collapsed (already due to diabetes) and I rushed her to the hospital.

Our recent messenger voice call happened when her daughter, who is taking care of her, sent me via messenger a website link.

After some exchange of text messages, I asked if I can call and be able to talk to "Mommy". "Mommy" sounded with light countenance, and the conversation lasted for more than an hour. Towards the end, I asked if I can pray, and I prayed for healing for "Mommy" and for comfort and strength for her daughter who is taking care of her.

In Psalm 68 (A Psalm of David), verse 5 says, "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling."

Then here is part of Psalm 62. A Psalm of David. (niv.mit.edu)

1 My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.

2 He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.

6 He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

These I would also like to share.

Psalm 34. Of David

18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 147

3 He heals the brokenhearted

    and binds up their wounds.

I am sharing this blog with the two people I mentioned above and my prayer is that they find comfort and solace in God's Word.

The Lord Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

Rest. We escape to get it, yet it escapes us.

My soul finds rest in Christ alone.

For brevity, click here for link to 18 September 2020 blog.

One day my children's children will utter, wala ka sa Lolo ko; as for him, our souls find rest in God alone.

Be blessed.

Maraming salamat.