Giving and Receiving

 I received a lot of gifts this Christmas.  More than the actual value of the gift, I appreciate the fact that they remembered me and they considered me important enough to give a gift.

One of the more memorable gifts are personalized mugs, with one catching my attention because it had "Love, Engr Kevin" written after my name... so the next time I have a bad day, I will use this cup for my morning coffee to remember that someone loves me.  He says "every day should be a love day..."

The other memorable gift is from Dr Debbie Abdul, my close friend from RESEARCH in Cebu Doctors' University.  The gift is unexpected and has made my showers refreshing with sweet orange scent, much like aromatherapy to uplift the start of the day.  This reminds me of Dr Helen Amorin who relished her lavander soaps and shower gels (God bless her soul).  It is up to us to find comfort in the small everyday things we use and encounter to boost our mental health.

On the flip side, it also provides psychic fulfillment to GIVE more than to receive.  

When Dr Bon Bala informed us that Ozamiz was flooded, we mobilized a donation drive to purchase much needed medicines, underwear, shirts and blankets for the evacuation centers.

With cash donations, we coordinated with the PHARMACY to purchase antibiotics, paracetamol, vitamin C, cough syrup, Oresol and other medicines.  The girls also headed for the wholesale markets to buy clothes which were among the immediate needs of the evacuees.

This was received the next night at the Mayor Hilarion A Ramiro Sr (MHARS) Medical Center in Ozamiz.

The Lord is the Great Musician

Why do the young have to die?

I am praying for the eternal repose of the soul of my 16 year old patient who finally breathed her last. The cause of death: poverty. 

When doctors know what needs to be done to provide their patients with the best prognosis, and yet do not have the resources to treat - what else can we do but pray and offer consolation in death and dying, and hope that we have done absolutely everything we could.

While waiting for funds for her treatment, she personally asked my permission to allow her to spend christmas at home with her family. She even asked me for "pamasko". She was happy and hopeful and relatively healthy. Little did I know that this would be her last Christmas.

In my mourning, my mother comforts me with her prayer: "I pray that the family and her doctors have the wisdom to accept God's will.  Death is just a transition.  Not the end."

Help me to remember that I am just your instrument Lord. You are the musician. Some music are allegro, others legato. Some are fortissimo, others pianissimo. Even silence has a meaning, a pregnant pause. It is not the end. It is just the beginning of a new page.

*written on December 28, 2014 on facebook.

Today we celebrate my parents' 46th wedding anniversary although my father passed away in 2001.  The life event of her wedding is a milestone in my mother's life that she chooses to celebrate beyond my father's death.  Til death do you part seems poignant since my father's presence is felt in the closeness of my family over a quiet dinner, taking a break from a busy day's work.

We pay tribute to my father and his life of service to the Filipino people and his love and devotion to his wife and his duty to his children.  

I hope someday I may also contribute enough to have an impact on someone's life to be remembered long after my death.  Some music are allegro, others legato. Some are fortissimo, others pianissimo. Even silence has a meaning, a pregnant pause. It is not the end. It is just the beginning of a new page.

Snakes and Ladders

This Christmas, we finally had some rest days for family time and my niece MaJian wanted to keep playing the board game Snakes and Ladders.  After the nth game, I asked MaJian what lessons she had learned from the game:

1.  We shouldn't cheat because that's bad.  Sometimes you win.  Other times you lose, but the important thing is that you're having fun and you enjoy the game.

2.  Ladders help you climb fast in the game. Ladders in life are hard work, discipline, good communication, persistence, kindness and respect. 

3.  Snakes make you slip down the board game.  Snakes in life are anger, shouting, not listening and not helping.

4.  Sometimes we are up and sometimes we are down, but always we need to keep playing.

Merry christmas!

Christ in CHRISTmas

My Christmas message for our daycare center kids was simplified to A, B, C:

A - ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST: in school, at home, at play.

B - BE GOOD: respect and honor your parents, listen and follow your teacher's instructions.

C - CHRIST in CHRISTMAS: don't forget that during parties and giving gifts, the birthday celebrant is Christ!

 

Never Be Enough

Why is it that no matter how hard I try, no natter what I do, people will see the things that I fail to do?

No matter how I proactively promote non-violent compassionate communication, I am still perceived as brutal and toxic?

Maybe I have high functional depression because I am more afraid to stop working than to face the silence of idleness and boredom.