FAITH IN GOD: Take time to read and to share with your friends.
Somewhere in Milaor,
Camarines Sur, there lived a fourth grader boy who would follow this
route to school everyday: He has to cross the rugged plains and cross
the dangerous highway where vehicles are recklessly driving to and from.
Once past this highway, the boy would take a short cut, passing by the
Church every morning just to say Hi to God, and faithfully say his,
"Magandang umaga po" in Bicol dialect. He was faithfully being watched
by a Priest who was happy to find innocence so uplifting in the morning,
"Kamusta, Andoy? Papasok ka na?"
"Opo padre ... "he would flash his innocent grin, the priest would be
touched. He was so concerned that one day he talked to Andoy.
"From
school...", he advised "Do not cross the highway, you can pass through
the Church and I can accompany you to the other side of the road...that
way I can see that you are home safe...."
"Thank you father ... "
"Why don't you go home ... why do you stay in this church right after school?"
"I just want to say 'Hi' to my friend, God," and the priest would leave
the boy to spend time beside the altar, talking to himself, but the
priest was hiding behind the altar to listen to what this boy has to say
to his heavenly FATHER.
"You know my math exam was pretty bad
today, but I did not cheat although my seatmate is bullying me for
notes... I ate one cracker and drank my water, Itay had a bad season and
all I can eat is this cracker.
Thank you for this! I saw a poor
kitten who was hungry and I know how he feels so I gave my last cracker
to him ... funny but I am not that hungry.
Look, this is my last
pair of slippers ...I may have to walk barefoot next week, you see this
is about to be broken... but it is okay....at least I am still going to
school.... Some say we will have a hard season this month, some of my
classmates have already stopped going to school .... please help them
get to school again, please God?
....Oh, you know, Inay hit me
again, it is painful, but I know this pain will pass away, at least I
still have a mother.... God, you want to see my bruises? I know you can
heal them.... Here... here and .... oh ...blood ....I guess you knew
about this one huh? Please don't be mad at Inay, she is just tired and
she worries for the food in our table and my schooling that is why she
hits us....Oh, I think I am in love ... there's this pretty girl in my
class, her name is Anita ... do you think she will like me? Anyway, at
least I know you will always like me, I don't have to be anybody just to
please you, you are my very best friend! Hey your birthday is two days
from now!!! Aren't you excited? I am! Wait till you see, I have a gift
for you . but it is a surprise! I hope you will like it! Oooops, I have
to go ..." then he stood up and calls out, "Padre, padre, I am finished
talking to my friend ....
youcan accompany me to the other side of the road now"
This routine happens everyday. Andoy never fails. Father Agaton shares
this every Sunday to the people in his church because he has not seen a
very pure faith and trust in God, a very positive look at negative
situations.
One Christmas day, Father Agaton was sick so he could
not make it in the Church, he was sent to the hospital. The Church was
left to 4 manangs who would chant the rosary in 1000 miles per hour,
would not smile and would always find fault in what you do, they were
also very well versed in cursing if you irritate them! They were
kneeling, saying their kilometric rosary when Andoy, coming from his
Christmas party,playfully dashed in.
"Hello God! I ......"
"P----!! (a curse) bata ka!! Alam mo nang may nagdadasal!! Alis!!"
Poor Andoy was so terrified, "Where's Father Agaton? He is supposed to
help me cross the street ... and to be able to cross the street I will
have to pass by the back door of this church .not only that, I have to
greet Jesus. It is His birthday, I have a gift right here....
"
Just as he was about to get the gift out of his shirt, the manang
pulled his shirt and threw him out of the church. "Susmaryosep!!! (does
the sign of the cross fervently) Alis kang bata ka, kung hindi
matatamaan ka!!!
So the boy had no choice but to cross the dangerous
side of the road in front of the church. He crossed. A fast moving bus
came in.
There was a blind curve. The boy was protecting his gift
inside his shirt, so he was not looking. There was so little time. Andoy
died on the spot. A lot of people crowded the poor boy, the body of a
lifeless young boy ...
Suddenly, out of nowhere a tall man in a pure
white shirt and pants, a face so mild and gentle, but with eyes full of
tears... He came and carried the boy in His arms. He was crying.
Curious bystanders nudged the man in white, and asked,
"Excuse me sir, are you related to this child?
Do you know this child?"
The man in white, His face mourning and in agony, looked up and answered,
"He was my best friend . " was all he said. He took the badly wrapped
gift in the bloody chest of the lifeless boy, and placed it near His
heart.
He stood up and carried the boy away and they both disappeared in sight.
The crowd was curious ...
On Christmas Eve, Father Agaton learned of the shocking news. He
visited the house, and wanted to verify about the man in white. He
consulted the parents of Andoy.
"How did you know that your son died?"
"A man in white brought him here." sobbed the mother. "What did he say?"
The father answered, "He did not say anything. He was mourning. We do
not know him and yet he was very lonely about our son's death, as if he
knew our son very well. But there was something peaceful and
unexplainable about him.
He gave me my son, and then he smiled
peacefully. He brushed my son's hair away from his face and kissed him
on his forehead, then he whispered something..."
"What did he say?"
"He said to my boy..." the father began, "Thank you for the gift .... I
will see you soon ... you will be with me..." and the father of the boy
continued, "and you know for a while, it felt so
wonderful ... I
cried, but I do not know why....all I know is I cried tears of joy .... I
could not explain it, Father, but when that man left, something
peaceful came over me, I felt a deep sense
of love inside ... I
could not explain the joy in my heart, I knew my boy is in heaven now
but...tell me, Father, who is this man that my son talks to everyday in
your church, you should know because you are always there ... except at
the time of his death ......"Father Agaton suddenly felt the tears
welling in his eyes, with
trembling knees, he murmurred, " ... He was talking to no one ......
but .. GOD...."
If you love this story, please. share this on to your friends. So you can touch others too.
Joram
