My son EJ has just come home from a one-week trip to Costa Rica. Weeks before that, his company sent him to Guangzou, China. In the early part of the year, it was his first trip to the United States (a dream come true, he said) and last year, he flew to Hungary and Paris.
When I asked him how his recent trip to Central America was, he said, “Nice. I did a stopover also in New York City.”
“Count your blessings, EJ, and thank God for all these travel opportunities,” I replied.
“Yeah. After our Australia trip next year (this is a family trip we’re all saving up for), the only continent I haven’t visited will be Africa and Antarctica!” he exclaimed.
And to think EJ is only 23 years old.
As a final note, I reminded him to always give back to God the blessings he has received including his prayer time. “God first and all the rest will be given unto you,” I reminded him.
Rightly so. My son and his Kuya Renwick, have been blessed to have good jobs with multinational companies in Manila. And they didn’t even have to wait for long after college.
And with the recent graduation of my last child and only daughter Nica, my heart is overflowing with joy and gratitude. As far as education is concerned, “Consummatum est,” to borrow Jesus’ last words on the cross. It is finished. And I have so much to thank for.
When friends congratulate me for a job well done, raising my three children single-handedly as a single parent, I shake my head. No, it’s not because of me. I give back the glory to God. They say I’m the super mom. No, I just have a Super God who is always there with a ready umbrella, raincoat and shelter for me and my children not only during the rainy times but also through the stormy days.
So I remind my children (and myself), time and again like a broken record, to say always a prayer of thanks to God for every day, for every thing and for every one.
Prayer is the power that makes us survive the challenges in life. Prayer is also the key that unlocks the grace and blessings we enjoy after a trying period.
There were times in the past 15 years as a widow when I was tempted to throw in the towel and give up in frustration. There were days I said, “I’ve done all I can. The only thing I can do now is pray.”
And God, in many ways, never failed to remind me that prayer should be the first recourse rather than the last resort. My mind races to His Word in the Holy Bible relating how Jesus always made it a point to go up to a mountain to pray alone before and after facing people.
If Jesus needed to go off and pray, how much more do we need to?
We should not pray just out of duty and routine. Prayer is talking and listening to our loving heavenly Father.
“Without me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5). St. Augustine said the Lord did not say, “Without me, you can complete nothing,” but “Without me, you can do nothing.” It makes us understand that without God’s grace, we can do no good thing.
“Come to me, all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you” ( Matthew 11:28). It’s Jesus saying, “My poor children, though you find yourselves assailed by enemies, and oppressed with the weight of your sins, do not lose heart but have recourse to me in prayer, and I will give you strength to resist, and I will give you a remedy for all your disasters.”
In his homily many Sundays ago at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish, Msgr. Dennis Villarojo pounded on one word: Push—Pray until something happens.
When we pray, something good really happens! We just need to fix all our attention to pray with confidence, feeling sure that by prayer all the treasures of heaven are thrown open to us.
Whether praying aloud, in silence, or in the form of song, prayer is real power. And the praying parents are blessed parents.
When I lost my husband to cancer, I feared constantly about what might happen to me and my children. No one may have noticed this because I covered my fears with a strong facade. But at nights, I could not sleep right away because of anxiety over what the next day would hold for us.
And when I surrendered everything to God, I received His Word that He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power. When I did that, all fear was gone because I knew that my family is in God’s hands. His promises and perfect love cast out my fear completely! Up to this day, I cling to this with faith.
So like Fr. Dennis said: Push! When in fear, pray until something happens! God will give us the kind of peace beyond our understanding.
God is greater than our biggest obstacles and storms and even the monsters in our closets. So trust Him.
To my children and to you, remember in the midst of your busy-ness how much you need God and make it a daily practice to pray as your first resort instead of your last.