House Arrest

I have no choice. Not that I have committed infraction of the law nor have I joined a rally against the government. ALS is the culprit. It makes you weak and feeling so tired that the option of going out becomes next to impossible, not to mention the mess you will create in the dining table. December is the hardest month to ignore if you are staying at home. The same season last year I was already busy shopping for gifts and wrapping them. How I like to wrap things! ( I have the skill, you know ). The Christmas tree and the lights will be taken out from where they hibernate to be decorated and presented. This year I will miss some parties, concerts, caroling, “simbang gabi”, but mostly I will miss the cold breeze outside as I come home from PM duty, to admire the glitters of decors everywhere, even buying “bibingka” (rice cake) and “ puto bumbong”(cylindrical rice cake) on my way home. Yes, I do miss all of these and more but God has His own way of bringing joy and not merely happiness based on happenings. He sends a fellowship group on a regular basis to share His faithfulness and to strengthen one another. He sends friends and loved ones and even people I don’t know who tells me they are praying for my healing since they knew of my condition. He sends E-mails of daily devotions and greetings and wishes for recovery. He even sends surprised packages from afar, places I haven’t been to. And constantly, He shows the love of a mother, a brother, a sister and a nephew. God is so good and house arrest is not so bad at all.

Thank you, God, for little things
That often come our way_
The things we take for granted
but don’t mention when we pray
The unexpected courtesy,
the thoughtful, kindly deed
A hand reached out to help us
in the time of sudden need_
Oh, make us more aware, dear God,
of little daily graces
That come to us with “sweet surprise”
from never-dreamed-of places.
- H. S. R.

May de Jesus-Aquino’ 80
December 12, 2007