Eleven years ago, the world was shocked by the organized terrorist attack on the United States on September 11.
Six days ago, two bombs exploded at the finish line of the 26.2-mile Boston Marathon, also in the United States, killing three people and injuring more than 180 wounded in the twin blasts Monday.
In our country, there have been some blasts here and there. Remember the bombing two years ago during the Bar Exams at the De La Salle University? Across the world, security is getting to be a question mark. We all want to be protected, to be safe and guarded. But every day may not assure us of this anymore.
As I write this, my two sons are living away from me. With both working in Manila, all I can do is to pray every day and night for their angels to accompany them and for the precious blood of Jesus to cover them in all their comings and goings. It is the only act I can do but I believe it is the best. Prayer is a powerful spiritual weapon.
My only daughter is with me in Cebu but even so, I can’t help but worry when she comes home late from work or when she’s out with friends somewhere. Even when she has a car to drive, I plead with God to just make her invisible to the dangers on the road.
As parents, it is by default that we worry. And if we had our own way, we wouldn’t let children out of our sight. But it is also the natural course that we let them go.
Barbra Streisand’s song to her son Jason Gould tells of the parents’ sentiment to keep safe our children but at the same time while knowing they should let them go to face their own “monsters”.
Here’s the first part of “If I Could”:
“If I could, I’d protect you from the sadness in your eyes
Give you courage in a world of compromise,
Yes, I would
If I could, I would teach you all the things I’ve never learned
And I’d help you cross the bridges that I’ve burned
Yes, I would
If I could, I would try to shield your innocence from time
But the part of life I gave you isn’t mine
I’ve watched you grow so I could let you go…”
When my first son decided to go to college away from me, it wasn’t easy to let him go. Not a day went by without my wondering how he’s doing in Manila, alone. At that time, there were no unlimited texts and calls on mobile phones, so phone calls were expensive. But I struggled with my budget just to give him a call every day.
Not a morning passes when I don’t ask God to be his security. When his younger brother followed suit and schooled also in Manila, I went double time in my prayers. When before I would call on one angel, now I beg for the Archangels Michael, Rafael and Gabriel to protect them.
In October 2011, my only daughter graduated from college and four months after, she found work that obliged her to work on a graveyard shift. So I started spending nights alone and praying for her safety, too. I couldn’t sleep until I called on God and not only the Archangels but all the right holy angels to be with all three of them.
What calms my heart is my faith in God. It is faith because even if I don’t see the angels and the protection they give to my family and even if I don’t hear God answering “yes” to my plea for protection, I believe they are continually safe in His hands.
God along can guard my loved ones and provide us the security that we badly need in this insecure world. That doesn’t mean nothing bad will happen to them but it does mean that God will be with them in times of trouble in the same way He has been with me through my very troubled times as a child since five decades ago and when I became a widow 17 years ago. If that’s not goodness and protection, I don’t know what love is!
The only secret I know to have peace and security in our hearts even when our eyes don’t see it around us and our minds doubt it from the news we hear is to surrender.
When we relinquish control over our children, the incidents around us, and our plans and acknowledge that God is the ultimate manager over our life, our family and future, we know that He alone can provide true security. When we do so, we will not only see God’s hands creating miracles but also His face glowing with love for all of us. And the great feeling we will have is that of peace.
Dear Father, when I witness danger around me, see people hurting and dead, and hear about the perils lurking wherever we are, my human nature triggers fear in my heart. But with my faith in you, my fears go because I know our future will always be in your good hands. Thank you for being my security.
I hold on to your promise in Psalm 91 that you will grant long life to those who love you:
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”