God Grows My Heart

ERNIE E. MAIPID, JR.

I just had the pleasure of exchange time with my three granddaughters. The eldest is 8, while the twins are 6. Regularly, I try to make meaningful time with the younger family members. This is a joy in this ‘s-aging’ time of life. Partly, to keep in touch, largely to learn from them, on life, or even more, re-learn many lessons, I thought I already knew. 

The last hour was spent interacting with my eldest son’s ‘girls’. He has 4 of them. I asked the eldest to translate ten basic information into Chinese. Studying in a Chinese school, I thought it will do her well to open conversations with 10 ‘starter treasures’ rolled up her sleeves. Things as primary as her name, age, the school she’s studying in, her parents’ names, and even, how she feels about learning how to speak the language. I had a different agenda with the twins. I asked them to talk about 10 things, eg. family, home, food, the rosary (which family does daily), play, Dad, Mom, etc. Actually, all these were just start-off points, for a meaningful talk with the little ones. I take the wheel to where they bring me, where they want to go.

Life at 66 is about thinking less of self, and more of others. In the mornings, I hasten to greet friends who celebrate birthdays or anniversaries. I think up messages, primed to their interest, a creation, unique and personal. My goal is always to make them feel good, specially thought about and prayed for. 

And then, there is this special interest in a ‘Cousins page’, which my siblings and I have opened on Messenger, where we enjoin relations to keep in touch, where we honor our family grand-heroes’, where we post pictures of yesteryears. I had taken the reigns of encouraging cousins to post or feature their family members, as our clan is ever-growing and many have lost touch. My personal goal is to keep the lines burning, as many have taken to distant lands and by force of circumstances, remained adrift and isolated.

Prayer time is always special. I make time to bring each of my children to the Lord, presenting them to Him in their life situations, whispering ‘thank you’-s for blessings they may have overlooked, and praying that His plans to prosper them happen in His ‘appointed’ BEAUTIFUL time. I pray that they cling to Him faithfully and never tire or lose hope, grow weary, or give up. Each story excites me as I intercede on my children’s behalf.

And then, there is my life mission to the poor – Gawad Kalinga, where God has brought me since its inception, to GROW A HEART for others, most especially those who have little, lost their way or felt the least in life. My role is to mentor the young full-time missionaries, making sure they are blessed with caring since they also bring caring to the ground in their work, interacting with the poor in the barangays.

On reflection, all these daily stimuli have made me stay in touch with the outside world in this covid time and have brought God to me, IN THE FLESH, every day. I am humbled that a BIG GOD brings me this wealth of opportunities to connect with Him every day.