A habit of caring

It was a sunny yet cool Saturday morning and people down the street corner was in their usual chores and habits.

The lancherias had just opened and ready to serve their customers. Street sweepers in striking blue uniforms dominated one side of the street. Some were hurriedly sweeping the sidewalks while others were lazily pulling garbage bins across the road.

Two old men, each drinking their chimarrao chat fondly under the sun. A pretty lass whose teeny-weeny outfit highlighted the stud of jewel on her navel walks pass them, dragging her skinny but well-groomed puppy. The two men gave her a second glance before taking another sip of their favorite tea. On the road, cars were going to all directions – meat shops, frutarias, supermercado, and the lojas at the centro.

Does God come down from heaven?

While my daughter and I were in the middle of our bedtime reading routine, she asked, “Mommy, what if God falls down on us?”

I remember telling her every now and then, especially when I have to correct a bad behavior, that God is just “up there” watching our every action and listening to everything we say. I would go as far as telling her that God knows all her secrets.

She looked at me seriously and quite concerned that if God “falls down on us right now”, we would get squeezed. The question sounded so simple, which demanded a simple answer of “God will not fall because He is powerful. He is up there, way beyond the clouds, stars, and planets.”

But how can I answer with much eloquence a question about something I myself cannot really fathom?

Picking up on books

Yes, I’ve been reading again, just about any book I can get my hand into.

One of my targets this year is to continue with my long forgotten romance with books. Although I have never read enough to declare myself a “wide reader”, I remember a time when I always had a novel on my bedside and, in bookstores, I was always itching to buy a classic novel. Most of those novels, however, were never read.

There came a time when I just lost my connection with books. I don’t know why. Perhaps, I was just too busy working or maybe I became too lazy to set a reading time.

Now, I feel as though I have a lot of catching up to do on this aspect. I would like to believe, though, that my genuine appreciation for books and reading had emerged only when I started buying books for my little girl and encouraging her to read them. 

Marriage & motherhood

Two words, too bold and grand for me to describe in their entirety.  Maybe I’m too young and inexperienced to be talking about these things.  But let me try. I am a wife and mother, anyway; and I have my share of this remarkable journey.

I realize now, I never understood a bit of how it is to be a wife and mother when I was still single and without anything to worry about but my job, career, shoes, and bags.  Needless to say, I probably had the most superficial appreciation of my mother, which she certainly doesn’t deserve.

There can be no better way to teach a heart how to love and care for others selflessly than being a wife and mother.  Together, they can make me give something I never thought I have and make me act in ways I never thought I am capable of doing.  That fountain of love just keeps flowing and becomes even stronger and more powerful during unfriendly situations.