A(LS) RAY OF HOPE

Sitting on my bed, my second son Amiel entered my room and tried to have a random chat with me.  I was preparing my sermon for tomorrow morning at 4.  Yap, it is for the Simbang Madaling Araw (Dawn Service) of a church in Tondo.

First he asked for money intended for his snacks.  He told me that I owe him much.  I pretend to refuse the amount I owe him.  You see, as a gesture of love, Diko Amiel playfully punches me.

Then he went to a serious topic that he told me without reservation.  "Papa, I already stopped  watching _______ on the internet and I already stopped ___________ since I read in the Bible that it is a sin.  I took his words as if it is just a random talk.

I just nodded and then told him that he has to leave me because I need time alone to make my sermon.
He obliged.  But he immediately went back and warned me, "Papa, don't preach about what I just told you." But i kid him, "I have already blog about it and point him to my cellphone."

He pretended to box me while I was laughing.  What a priceless moment with a grown up son.  He finally left my room.

That brief moment gave me a feeling of joy, realization and pride.  I am happy that my children are growing to be true to me and to themselves.  It doesn't mean that they don't lie.  It's just that they are not good at it.  Once I asked them about something that they need to admit, they do it at once.

Being truthful is one of the lessons in life that I learned for long.  My children learned about it earlier and easier.

Another thing that I want to share in this post is the glimpse of hope that I am seeing after twice or thrice that Diko Amiel mentioned about Alternative Learning System (ALS).  He stopped two or three years ago when he was first year high school.  Perhaps he could not stand formal schooling.  I heavily punished him for that.  But later on, I resigned.  I just let everything in the hands of God although everyday, it pains me to see him, spending all day inside the house doing house chores.  But I read one pastor's message that "one does not force anybody."

Hindi talaga ako mapilit na tao at lalo pa nga na hindi matapos kong mapaalalahanan na hindi dapat pinipilit ang isang tao.  Kailangan lang siyang hayaan sa gusto niya.

I know that other people would not agree with me and argued that sending your child to school is something that should be enforced to a child.  I have done my part.  I tried everything I could. I still failed.

But there is A RAY OF HOPE that I see everytime I hear my son discuss about his intention to try ALS.  Mas maganda kung kusa niya na.  Mas masaya kung siya na ang may gusto.

One time he said, "Papa, kailan ba ako mag ALS."  I was dumbfounded to hear it from him but pretended that it is not a big deal to me.

I answered, "Busy ako ngayon gawa ng kapaskuhan kaya hindi ko pa maharap yan." O diba? Ako na ngayon ang walang time?  Hahahahaha!

Another time he asked me, "Papa, makakapag college ba ako kapag natapos ako sa ALS?  Halos, di ko kayanin kasi ngayon he is talking about college education.

I answered again with a casual tone, "Siyempre naman."

At itong realization na ito ang naging punto ng message sa madaling araw na yaon.  Na katulad ng mga tauhan sa unang pasko, ako rin ay nakatanaw ng pag-asa sa mga sinasabi ng anak ko.  Yes, he is far from it yet, but hearing his interest to schooling back to his senses  is a ray of hope to me.

Sometimes, people do not need an immediate answer.  They also don't have illusion that things will come easy and early.  But all that they need is a spark of hope for them to move on and to be happy that after all, things are worth trying and doing.

 It also made sense why accidentally, I was invited to undergo a training in Alternative Learning System three years ago.  Yes, I had a certificate as an instructior of Alternative Learning System from Department of Education.  I can accept students.  Little did I know that my first ever student would be my son.

Kaya ang kanta ko sa kapaskuhang ito ay sa halip na A RAY OF HOPE  e, ALS RAY OF HOPE.  Hehehe!

By the way, when I preached about my experience and my hope this Christmas that dawn service, I saw quite a few people wiping their tears, including my mother who accompanied me to the church. Perhaps, like me, they also heard a message of hope.

MERRY CHRISTMAS PA RIN SA INYONG LAHAT KAHIT LATE NA :-)