So what's your favorite Christmas carol?
I remember how much I liked the song "Little Drummer Boy".The words and music to this Christmas song was composed by Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone in 1958 with the lyrics consisting of no less than 21 rum pum pum pum (source: http://www.carols.org.uk/little_drummer_boy.htm)
Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.
Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Recollecting back, it dawned on me how my childhood experiences took some striking semblance to the main character boy in the song. Our family, thanks to our loving and hardworking parents, were not really poor in terms of need but there were still some childhood insecurities that I experienced along the way. I have seen how my well-off classmates would bring to school their latest expensive toys compared to my dirty home-made or cheap ones. They would ride on their shiny new BMX bicycles as I walk further away before riding our "carabao" bicycle. They have all new clothes every school-year opening but I have only a new pair so I use the old ones until they either break-off along their seams or are totally unfit to wear.
So Christmas time for me was full of hope for material things that I can receive from my parents, uncles, aunts and god-parents. I would surely get new clothes, newest toys and crisp paper bills to show-off to my cousins on our traditional reunions.
As I grew up and learned about the Christmas story of our Lord Jesus of how ruggedly poor His initial conditions were at the scene of Nativity, I slowly learned to embrace my situation then and appreciated better my childhood blessings. I realized that my condition is not exactly "poor" as I perceived it to be. With my cheap toys, I never had any reservation to lend it to others and would have felt little sadness in case they are lost. With our old bike, I never had to worry about it being stolen when I park it anywhere. And as for my old clothes, well I don't mind sweating it all over as I played. And as for those rich kids with good toys, well, I became friends with some of them and I get to play with their toys as well.
Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?
Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.
Now that I am a grown-up man, a husband and father at that, our Lord still keeps on smiling at me even if I am still without any physical gold, frankinsence or myyrh to offer Him. It is my fervent belief that as long as I hold my drum and play my best drum-beat for Him, He will be smiling at me because He loves me and my drum, nothing more and nothing less.
During this holiday, it is my prayer that more and more people will also see it fit to play the only drum that matters to our Lord on His birthday.
This drum is our heart.
And our drum-beat must be our faithful and undying heart-beat for Him.
Happy Birthday to you, our Lord Jesus Christ.
2010/12/21
2010/12/03
Our Mother
Tita Conching is my mother’s younger sister with whom I have one of my fondest childhood memories.
I was then a skinny, dark and sickly kid when I had a long vacation stay with her family. She has 5 children of her own and with her husband not really having a permanent job, I am quite sure, in hindsight, that they may very well be experiencing tight finances that time. Yet, there was always food at the table during meal time and modest snacks in between. Everyday was fun time for me and my cousins as we play around the small neighborhood and in their “silong”(a vacant space under an elevated house). At night, the fun fest and laughter continued until we all fell asleep together in their wooden-floor living area, cramped in “banig” (hand-woven mat) and protected from mosquitoes by “kulambo” (mosquito nets).
But more than those playful activities during my vacation, my Tita Conching made the most profound impression in my young mind. She was overly protective of me ( I said I was a sickly kid, right?) but she never prevented me to enjoy play-time. She would watch over our play, wipe my back when I am sweaty and reprimand my older cousins if our actions are apparently becoming beyond playful. She would prepare my bath and put Johnson’s baby powder on my face after-bath (I did say I was dark then, didn’t I?). She would comb my hair and smile at me with pride. Yes, she always smile, I mean, I have never caught a glimpse of her not smiling whenever I saw her looking at me. She always talk to me in a low soft and sweet voice as she imparted her simple words of wisdom about how to become a good child. My Tita Conching loved me so much then that, I sure felt she could very well be my second mother, if there is one such.
If in case you have some doubts about her motherly love for me, she named their 6th child after my namesake – Rowen.
That’s how she loved me and I was so blessed to have spent time with such a loving woman.
This coming December 8, another loving woman’s birth will be celebrated by Catholics.
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary – our Lord’s mother.
Our mother in Jesus Christ.
There are times that I must admit my disappointment against some people who do not only misunderstand our mother Mary’s role in our salvation but are even resorting to mariaphobic criticisms and needless accusations against our Catholic belief. Her immaculate conception has always been "...by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the human race." (taken from New Advent - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07674d.htm).
For us Catholics, Mary’s role can be best explained by her simplest words and actions at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11) when she told the wedding servers to “do whatever he tells you”. Her directions has always been towards obedience to Jesus with which she has always lived and guided her life as well. She simply invites each and everyone of us to join her in obeying the Lord.
Personally speaking, I can never fully fathom how blessed we are that other than our biological mothers (or in some lucky cases like mine, a special second mother like Tita Conching) God has given us the abundant grace of Mary’s motherhood. I am not a Marian devotee (yet) but I have my utmost respect for her life of faith and obedience. I sincerely believe that if I can only emulate even just a tiny fraction of her holy life, I am pretty sure that she will be all smiles for me too. After all, she is my spiritual mother who wishes nothing less than my salvation.
So for those who believe in her, feel free to go to her for intercession, guidance and direction.
And for those who continue to shy away from her, please search your inner self and cast away all your doubts about her role in our faith.
She is your mother too and she cares a big deal about your life in the now and more so, in the hereafter.
Happy Feastday to our Mother Mary.
God bless us.
I was then a skinny, dark and sickly kid when I had a long vacation stay with her family. She has 5 children of her own and with her husband not really having a permanent job, I am quite sure, in hindsight, that they may very well be experiencing tight finances that time. Yet, there was always food at the table during meal time and modest snacks in between. Everyday was fun time for me and my cousins as we play around the small neighborhood and in their “silong”(a vacant space under an elevated house). At night, the fun fest and laughter continued until we all fell asleep together in their wooden-floor living area, cramped in “banig” (hand-woven mat) and protected from mosquitoes by “kulambo” (mosquito nets).
But more than those playful activities during my vacation, my Tita Conching made the most profound impression in my young mind. She was overly protective of me ( I said I was a sickly kid, right?) but she never prevented me to enjoy play-time. She would watch over our play, wipe my back when I am sweaty and reprimand my older cousins if our actions are apparently becoming beyond playful. She would prepare my bath and put Johnson’s baby powder on my face after-bath (I did say I was dark then, didn’t I?). She would comb my hair and smile at me with pride. Yes, she always smile, I mean, I have never caught a glimpse of her not smiling whenever I saw her looking at me. She always talk to me in a low soft and sweet voice as she imparted her simple words of wisdom about how to become a good child. My Tita Conching loved me so much then that, I sure felt she could very well be my second mother, if there is one such.
If in case you have some doubts about her motherly love for me, she named their 6th child after my namesake – Rowen.
That’s how she loved me and I was so blessed to have spent time with such a loving woman.
This coming December 8, another loving woman’s birth will be celebrated by Catholics.
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary – our Lord’s mother.
Our mother in Jesus Christ.
There are times that I must admit my disappointment against some people who do not only misunderstand our mother Mary’s role in our salvation but are even resorting to mariaphobic criticisms and needless accusations against our Catholic belief. Her immaculate conception has always been "...by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the human race." (taken from New Advent - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07674d.htm).
For us Catholics, Mary’s role can be best explained by her simplest words and actions at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11) when she told the wedding servers to “do whatever he tells you”. Her directions has always been towards obedience to Jesus with which she has always lived and guided her life as well. She simply invites each and everyone of us to join her in obeying the Lord.
Personally speaking, I can never fully fathom how blessed we are that other than our biological mothers (or in some lucky cases like mine, a special second mother like Tita Conching) God has given us the abundant grace of Mary’s motherhood. I am not a Marian devotee (yet) but I have my utmost respect for her life of faith and obedience. I sincerely believe that if I can only emulate even just a tiny fraction of her holy life, I am pretty sure that she will be all smiles for me too. After all, she is my spiritual mother who wishes nothing less than my salvation.
So for those who believe in her, feel free to go to her for intercession, guidance and direction.
And for those who continue to shy away from her, please search your inner self and cast away all your doubts about her role in our faith.
She is your mother too and she cares a big deal about your life in the now and more so, in the hereafter.
Happy Feastday to our Mother Mary.
God bless us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
