ROOTS AND WINGS FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY
December 20, 2010 at 3:52pm
Dear Rein,
Time flies fast. It seems only yesterday when we heard the loud cry of a cute little girl at the operating room of the Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City at about 6:18 in the afternoon twenty four years ago. You were the center of attraction at the nursery room at that time being the biggest and the heaviest baby born on that day, Dec. 20, 1986. You weighed 8.1 lbs but I forgot the exact number of your length ( sori i don't have your birth certificate right now ). The more you became the center of attraction when you were left at the hospital for a two-week photo therapy session because of an A-B-O blood incompatibility or the RH Factor. After two weeks, your Dad and I were so happy to bring you home. Your presence broke the silence in our house and your cry, giggles and laughter brought joy to our family. Not long after, we found out that you were afflicted with a congenital heart disorder. Philippine Heart Center for Asia became your second home as we visit the hospital regularly during weekends for your check-up and Dr. Wilfredo Lopez became your second parent who looked after your health conditions.
But in God's grace, you grew up and went to school. I was so proud when you graduated with the 2nd Honors award in the pre-school and eventually delivered the farewell address during your graduation day. When you were in the grade school, I could still remember how hard you tried your best to speak in straight English as you talk to your classmates who were mostly foreigners and English-speaking. You looked so cute then and very , very smart. I knew you had your happy student days in International Christian Academy (ICA) with all those friends, certificates and medals except during those times when you were not allowed to join your PE classes due to your heart problem. We felt the pain and so despite all the fears and worries, your Dad and I have decided for you to undergo the cardiac surgery and correct whatever was there to correct and take all the chances for you to live a normal life. True to His promises, God never left us. Our merciful God provided all our needs during the surgery and gave you a brand new life!
Truly God works in ways we cannot see. Your sickness paved the way for you to learn how to play chess and won awards for yourself and for your school. I couldn't forget the time when you played for your school against 5 other international schools and eventually went home with the Grandmaster Award for the ladies division. You were so young then but you were really a good strategist. Chess is a mind game and a game full of strategies. And I was very hopeful that you'll grow up making the best strategies for your own life.
Before you finished your secondary course, I have witnessed how you have handled one of your biggest disappointments in your life so far - your failure to go to UP Diliman. I can still remember those tearful nights - nights when you were trying to question God why He didn't give what you were praying for. But months later, God gave you His reply. He gave you a 50% scholarship at the Southville Foreign Universities with the opportunity to study and work in the United Kingdom. Not even in our wildest dreams had we thought of this opportunity. But God is so good to make impossible things possible for you. Without earning dollars, we were able to pay your schooling in dollars. Without earning sterling pounds, we were able to pay your tuition fees in pounds. It wasn't easy, I know. But God made the way and provided us with all the channels for His blessing.
In college, we were so apprehensive that you might not be able to comply with the requirements to maintain your scholarship especially with regards to attendance. However, we were surprised how strongly motivated you were to report to school even when you were sick. Reports also reached us that you have directed your cousin (Kuya Dick) who was driving our car at that time, to counter flow the traffic just for you to be in school on time. Knowing that you were such a sickly child, we never expected that you would finish your associate diploma in HRM with a perfect attendance award coupled with the academic excellence award. We were your proud parents at that time as you marched up the stage and got those awards and your diploma. Later, we found out that it was not only your desire to finish school that kept the fire burning but you also started to fall in love with a certain guy in your school.
Few months after your graduation, you left for the Isles of Man in UK together with the guy you first fell in love with. It was tough for us to accept the reality that you've grown a bit older already. You can manage to fly and live alone in a distant shore.
After two years, you came back with more dreams in life. But fate wasn't kind enough for you then and gave you another blow - the end of the 3-year relationship with your first love. You became bitter but better and stronger . The experience made you even more goal-oriented, realistic and practical. You attempted to run the school but, true enough, it was not your passion. And you decided to go back to UK.
Back in UK, you studied and worked hard. You had your share of fun and laughter and of pain and sadness as well. You have met both the good and the bad people there. You have met also the love of your life ( Joe again ? ). We all tried to battle against loneliness. Thank you to the advanced technology that we have now. We can talk and see each other almost everyday through the cell phone and the internet which somehow lessened the burden of loneliness that we've been experiencing. And slowly, your dad and I have learned to accept and appreciate these things that we now see in you.
First, your roots have grown bigger and longer. They now held you firmly to the ground. No simple storms in life can easily uproot you. Your family and your experiences have nurtured those roots to become firm and strong and prepare you to face the challenges in life ahead of you. Your dad and I will forever water those roots with love and care for them to remain firm, nourished and strong for you. No amount of difficulties and pain will ever stop us from doing it. You are all that we have and we will do anything for you. That will be our first gift on your birthday today.
Second, we saw how adventurous your heart had become . You aimed high and we really have to look up to see your dreams in life. The path that you have to travel towards success seemed so long and winding. We know, however, that life is not all the time a bed of roses. It has many thorns that can make your journey difficult and painful. The snow may fall heavily and you may find it difficult to bring your feet above the ground. Your pretty little feet may have grown tired standing the whole day on the front desk, serving all your clients still with a genuine smile . Your feet may be too weak and short to take you to the road of success. So today, on your birthday, your dad and I are giving you our second gift: the wings to fly to take you to the places where all your dreams will become a reality. You now have your freedom to choose what is best for you in the years to come. With that freedom comes along our trust and faith in God and in you ; that the former will guide your path and that you will submit yourself to God's leading.
God bless your heart, Rein as you turn 24 today.
With love, hugs and kisses,
MOM AND DAD
Time flies fast. It seems only yesterday when we heard the loud cry of a cute little girl at the operating room of the Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City at about 6:18 in the afternoon twenty four years ago. You were the center of attraction at the nursery room at that time being the biggest and the heaviest baby born on that day, Dec. 20, 1986. You weighed 8.1 lbs but I forgot the exact number of your length ( sori i don't have your birth certificate right now ). The more you became the center of attraction when you were left at the hospital for a two-week photo therapy session because of an A-B-O blood incompatibility or the RH Factor. After two weeks, your Dad and I were so happy to bring you home. Your presence broke the silence in our house and your cry, giggles and laughter brought joy to our family. Not long after, we found out that you were afflicted with a congenital heart disorder. Philippine Heart Center for Asia became your second home as we visit the hospital regularly during weekends for your check-up and Dr. Wilfredo Lopez became your second parent who looked after your health conditions.
But in God's grace, you grew up and went to school. I was so proud when you graduated with the 2nd Honors award in the pre-school and eventually delivered the farewell address during your graduation day. When you were in the grade school, I could still remember how hard you tried your best to speak in straight English as you talk to your classmates who were mostly foreigners and English-speaking. You looked so cute then and very , very smart. I knew you had your happy student days in International Christian Academy (ICA) with all those friends, certificates and medals except during those times when you were not allowed to join your PE classes due to your heart problem. We felt the pain and so despite all the fears and worries, your Dad and I have decided for you to undergo the cardiac surgery and correct whatever was there to correct and take all the chances for you to live a normal life. True to His promises, God never left us. Our merciful God provided all our needs during the surgery and gave you a brand new life!
Truly God works in ways we cannot see. Your sickness paved the way for you to learn how to play chess and won awards for yourself and for your school. I couldn't forget the time when you played for your school against 5 other international schools and eventually went home with the Grandmaster Award for the ladies division. You were so young then but you were really a good strategist. Chess is a mind game and a game full of strategies. And I was very hopeful that you'll grow up making the best strategies for your own life.
Before you finished your secondary course, I have witnessed how you have handled one of your biggest disappointments in your life so far - your failure to go to UP Diliman. I can still remember those tearful nights - nights when you were trying to question God why He didn't give what you were praying for. But months later, God gave you His reply. He gave you a 50% scholarship at the Southville Foreign Universities with the opportunity to study and work in the United Kingdom. Not even in our wildest dreams had we thought of this opportunity. But God is so good to make impossible things possible for you. Without earning dollars, we were able to pay your schooling in dollars. Without earning sterling pounds, we were able to pay your tuition fees in pounds. It wasn't easy, I know. But God made the way and provided us with all the channels for His blessing.
In college, we were so apprehensive that you might not be able to comply with the requirements to maintain your scholarship especially with regards to attendance. However, we were surprised how strongly motivated you were to report to school even when you were sick. Reports also reached us that you have directed your cousin (Kuya Dick) who was driving our car at that time, to counter flow the traffic just for you to be in school on time. Knowing that you were such a sickly child, we never expected that you would finish your associate diploma in HRM with a perfect attendance award coupled with the academic excellence award. We were your proud parents at that time as you marched up the stage and got those awards and your diploma. Later, we found out that it was not only your desire to finish school that kept the fire burning but you also started to fall in love with a certain guy in your school.
Few months after your graduation, you left for the Isles of Man in UK together with the guy you first fell in love with. It was tough for us to accept the reality that you've grown a bit older already. You can manage to fly and live alone in a distant shore.
After two years, you came back with more dreams in life. But fate wasn't kind enough for you then and gave you another blow - the end of the 3-year relationship with your first love. You became bitter but better and stronger . The experience made you even more goal-oriented, realistic and practical. You attempted to run the school but, true enough, it was not your passion. And you decided to go back to UK.
Back in UK, you studied and worked hard. You had your share of fun and laughter and of pain and sadness as well. You have met both the good and the bad people there. You have met also the love of your life ( Joe again ? ). We all tried to battle against loneliness. Thank you to the advanced technology that we have now. We can talk and see each other almost everyday through the cell phone and the internet which somehow lessened the burden of loneliness that we've been experiencing. And slowly, your dad and I have learned to accept and appreciate these things that we now see in you.
First, your roots have grown bigger and longer. They now held you firmly to the ground. No simple storms in life can easily uproot you. Your family and your experiences have nurtured those roots to become firm and strong and prepare you to face the challenges in life ahead of you. Your dad and I will forever water those roots with love and care for them to remain firm, nourished and strong for you. No amount of difficulties and pain will ever stop us from doing it. You are all that we have and we will do anything for you. That will be our first gift on your birthday today.
Second, we saw how adventurous your heart had become . You aimed high and we really have to look up to see your dreams in life. The path that you have to travel towards success seemed so long and winding. We know, however, that life is not all the time a bed of roses. It has many thorns that can make your journey difficult and painful. The snow may fall heavily and you may find it difficult to bring your feet above the ground. Your pretty little feet may have grown tired standing the whole day on the front desk, serving all your clients still with a genuine smile . Your feet may be too weak and short to take you to the road of success. So today, on your birthday, your dad and I are giving you our second gift: the wings to fly to take you to the places where all your dreams will become a reality. You now have your freedom to choose what is best for you in the years to come. With that freedom comes along our trust and faith in God and in you ; that the former will guide your path and that you will submit yourself to God's leading.
God bless your heart, Rein as you turn 24 today.
With love, hugs and kisses,
MOM AND DAD
No comments:
Post a Comment