Laughter in the rain

“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are the few of my favorite thing."

Carla hums that song as she watches the raindrops outside her window. She quietly shivers with the low temperature and as her eyes set unexpectedly on the scar on her arms. That scar came from being too happy. She recalls that one memorable afternoon of boisterous laughter, sweaty little bodies, hyperactive and flexible movements with her friend.

“Carla, chase after me.” Rolly said to her.

“Woah, are you challenging me?” She asked proudly.

“Yeah, let’s see if you can beat me!”

“Game!”

They run after each other, not even bother if they sometimes fall. Girls will cheer for Carla and the boys, nonetheless for Rolly. Playground---literally turned out to be an adventure spot for these two kids. They possess that time, as Carla thought, but their silliness and cheerfulness had its limit when Carla’s mom—a very strict teacher gripped her hand as she looked hostile to her daughter. 

The children looked shocked with their teacher’s action.

“Why are you running after that little boy?” Her mom angrily asked.

“Mom, we’re just playing since its recess time.” She shockingly answered.

“How many times did I tell you to lock inside the library and study-- How many times?”

Carla didn’t answer back.

She remembers how her mom strikes a thick ruler on her arms—leaving her in crippling pain.  While looking at the scars, she knows that her sweet memory about herself and her mother fades.

Is she growing up stiffly without any reason to find joy?

Is she meant to tire herself in a small room without any chance to roam in a playground?

And on that night, the 12-year old girl went out from her house. She ran in the rain, the way she chased Rolly. The raindrops sound like the laughter of his classmate. She tiptoed and danced circling in the shower. All she wanted is to play in the rain as part of her favorite thing…And she appreciates again the two lost years of boring and restricting herself.

Carla's not aware that her grandma saw her—she called her and said, “Did you enjoy it?”

“Yes, grandma.” She answered with a twinkling eyes and smile.

She won’t forget that night.

She would always remember the rain.

She’ll always laugh like she once did in a playground.

She’ll be carrying the scars, but not the wound anymore.

"When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad"

Her grandma sang to her while wrapping a towel on her wet shirt.

Google photo

--30--

Like a Dandelion

I’m a wanderer who wonders how to make a journey worthwhile. I bring three things along my travel. I’m thinking on how to be complete and sometimes it would set me into a trap of desperation, but I hold in my heart the belief that storms will pass.

The first thing that I bring is my watch. Time is an important element for it gives me an idea if I’m in a rush, taking slowly or just in time.

There are times when another impatient wanderer would ask me ‘What time is it, lady?’”

I just answer, “Hey, calm down! Maybe you need to look at how the sun glows or smell the freshness of the flower.”

But she doesn’t listen instead she leaves me - still in a hurry.

She’s not the only type of person that I meet. There are also calm walkers who sometimes ignore me because they are busy feeling the air’s coolness. But they don’t bother me much as long as I’m aware where I’m headed to. Thanks to the second thing that I take with me. It’s my compass. It leads me into a place where I could learn or unlearn values and experiences. I could meet different wanderers too and there are specific moments when I could stay longer on that place because I’ve learned to love some friends there. Yet, I would let them go too when my compass directs me into a more productive spot. That’s a sad part of being a wanderer leaving your friends and memories behind, that’s why I bring with me the third most important thing my magic bag.

As I pass by a group of plants along the way, I take out from my bag my watering pot to provide water for the lilies, carnations, orchids and cherry blossoms. These plants tell me that sooner or later they’d bloom gorgeously, and other wanderers will notice the flowers too. Others will take care of the flowers- or ignore them.

Then my clock ticks! It’s time for me to eat.  I get a sandwich from my magic bag. Then one small wanderer asks me, “May I have some of your food?”

 And I would reply, “Ok, get this. I still have one.’”

He smiles at me and I get one sandwich from my magic bag and I sit with him and we enjoy munching the sandwich.

The heat of the sun touches my skin. I feel anger gripping me. I ask myself, ‘Where will this life lead me?’ I have almost everything with me: my watch, compass and magic bag.

Then a blowing wind tells me to surrender everything to the blue skies. “You can’t see me, but I can see you. You can’t feel me at times, but I can feel you always. Just like other wanderers who just walk on this long road, you’re different, because you care.”

“What do you want me to do?” I ask the wind.

“Surrender everything to me.’” the wind answers calmly.

“Is that so? Will this make me complete and my journey worthwhile”?

“Yes. Look at these lovely dandelions, I disperse their seeds and flower head for other wanderers that their wishes may come true, too.”

I confess to the wind, “Every time I pass by this wide park, I always dream of meeting and touching the sky with the help of those dandelions; there’s a possibility that I will also stop wandering and just take a rest with the cottony clouds. From up there, I will just look at down other wanderers, walking aimlessly, not knowing where they are going”’

“That’s it! When you take everything to me- your watch, compass and magic bag-  you’ll be as light as these dandelions. It will be also easy for you to take care of other wanderers and never let them go easily, as you always worry about.” says the wind.

“Ok. Then take everything in me.” I reply to the wind.

Swoosh! In one big blow the wind fulfills what I’ve long dreamed of- to be as light as a dandelion that I may fly and touch the sky, to see the other wanderers soar and drift with the clouds, too, and even play with kites along the way.

But whenever I take my watch from the wind, I notice that I become impatient. Or when I take my compass, I become impulsive or confuse; and when I get my magical bag, I become greedy.

So, I have to be reminded that I’ll be forever like a dandelion.

That gives me liberty.

Unaccomplished

Crash! blag! rolling wheels, flashes of random memories, broken windows, screams outside, blood splurging, worst thing- death.

I died in a car crash, my driver's speed was 180kph. The moment I remember was I was outside my body. I saw my parents and friends screaming and coming to me as my body lied down on the ground. They embraced me, but I was embracing them and telling them, "I'm still here! Can you hear and feel me?" But they continued wailing. They said, "Why did you leave us? Hold on, please!" Those words smacked me down- how dare them say those words-when I can still see them? Their movement became blurred. I can sense myself losing control. Am I dreaming? I felt again, the pain especially when the broken window hit my head and my face- but now it's vanishing, I'm lost. I can see the tunnel, is this where the souls taken, especially when they die. Oh, I'm dead now. I don't want to enter it yet- still unaccomplished. I'll stay here. I'll stay until I'm ready to let go. Until, they're ready to let me go.

What the souls need are prayers. Prayers that can lead them into a peaceful paradise. Prayers that can unbind their chains into their earthly attachments. Let's pause for a moment and say a prayer or light a candle for the souls of our departed loved ones.

Soap bubble

I've noticed a very tiny small bubble bath after taking a bath. As my eyes get magnetized on it, I was wishing it won't be gone easily. So I let it rise and fall. I know it would roam around the bathroom. I enjoyed looking on it as it went to the dipper, my clothes, the faucet. But I was also conscious on the reality that it would dissolve or vanish once it hits the wall or anything that's well built.

As the gravity allows it to do whatever it wants to do.
I was aware of the time that I absorbed myself in observing it.
I knew that the time wasn't wasted because I did it for curiosity.
I love the moment of getting lost in watching unto something ordinary yet lovely.

And my fear with a little acceptance came into reality.
The bubble bumped into the wall.

It was gone.

And I know it won't return anymore. I have to let it pass and watch another beautiful bubbles waking up my senses.

Let go of it

And we know that in all things God work for good

To those who love him and are called according

to his purpose.

(Romans 8:28)

What does letting go of your dream mean? You’re not letting go of the desire. You’re not letting go of the expectation. You’re letting go of your attachment to it.

For example, you pray, “Lord, this is what I desire. I need a house. I’ve been renting all these years. I believe you’re going to give me a house. I’m declaring that I’m going to have a house. And I’m going to act on it. I’m going to save money and try to learn more. But at the end of the day, Lord, I surrender my attachment to it, because whether or not it happens, I’m going to be a happy person.”

That’s what I mean by letting go.

Your happiness doesn’t rest on that event, or person, or the fulfillment of what you’ve been praying for.

Even if it doesn’t happen, you’re happy. God is with you and you have the greatest treasure. That’s what it means to “let go.”

One reason why we need to let go is that sometimes we outgrow our dreams.

There are dreams in your life that you think are important. But a few years from now, they will not be important anymore.

As you grow and mature, your dreams mature with you.

I have many dreams that didn’t come true because they were not connected to my soul. If your dreams are connected to your soul, they come with superb energy, passion and endurance.

I know some who wanted a jaguar and huge mansion. He got rich and he also met the Lord. Today, even if he could afford a jaguar and a mansion, he doesn’t buy them. He says, “I no longer desire them. I’ve come to know the Lord and now I want to fund the Kingdom of God.” His dreams have changed.

Let go and believe that the best is yet to come.

When you are aware of the wonderful things that are happening in your life and are grateful for them, guess what happens? You are ready to receive more miracles.

Friends, flex your muscles and be ready to work on your miracles.

(Source: Kerygma, January 2011 edition)

An exchange

“Pearls are the only jewelry that I have, so I need to take care of this and keep them safe.” said the girl to herself. Then one day her dad asked her, “Daughter, do you love me?” The daughter replied, “Yes, dad!” He smiled and said, “Hence, give me your pearls and I won’t return it to you anymore!” The little girl got mad at her dad and said, “No, I can’t. This is the only treasure that I have. Please don’t take this away from me.”

While the girl was sleeping, her dad got into her room and took the pearls, then kept it into his drawer. When the girl woke up, she kept on searching for her pearls and because of her keenness; she saw it on her dad’s drawer. Since, she had an idea that her dad might get it again and she avoided conflict. She decided to get it everytime her father was sleeping or off the house and then return it to the drawer when he was already awake or staying there. As she was holding the pearls, admiring its beauty and taking good care of it, she didn’t feel any guilt on what she was doing. She was very happy.

Then, one day her dad caught and reprimanded. She got hurt. As the time went by her heart became soft when her dad asked for forgiveness for his valid anger. She understood fin’lly his reasons and let go her pearls with peace in her heart. After few weeks, she celebrated her 12th birthday. Alas’ her dad gave her a diamond earrings, true expensive and beautiful treasure that she could keep forever.

She hugged and thanked her dad for his generosity and patience in waiting for her to let go her cheap and fake pearls.. And accept the genuine beauty of diamond.