A NIGHT IN OUR LIVES

Two nights ago, I was lying in our bed, with my wife and all our children. There was really nothing special about that particular night, but we talked about a lot of things, instead of just watching a film or reading.

We talked about no particular topic. As usual it started with some questions and complaints. Dinah, my wife, started the ball rolling by asking, "When will our financial problems ever end?" she goes on further by saying that, "I don't really want to complain, I talk to God and read about Him every night, I pray the rosary everyday, but It seems that all my life I've had financial problems." This was my answer, "People who live in the slums, the ordinary blue collar workers, even the soldiers and some of the teachers, they die, never ever having found a solution to their financial problems. But when they lived, they laughed, they went to the mall, they watched movies with their children, then they ate at Jollibee. Some of them are now in their 80's and they still live in the slums, but they seem to be happy." People, esp those with so much, financially, will probably say--"Well, those ordinary people go to the cheaper malls, watch at the ordinary theaters, and we'd never eat at Jollibee or Chowking. " But I serve them this question, are they, actually, really, happier than them. Happiness is a state of mind.

Then we started reminding ourselves of the gifts the Lord has given us, one of the greatest of which, is my wife's ultimate healing from cancer, and now she's walking and sometimes even running, after a major surgery , and removal of a piece of bone from her thighs. As clichéd as this may sound, we really have to count our blessings, everyday of our lives.

Then my wife tells me that it must be harder for me, because I was raised in an environment that wanted for nothing. I had everything I needed. I was sent to St. Jude Catholic School, then to U.P., then to Medical School. Dinah, says it must be twice as hard for me to now have all this financial problems. I said, I could curse the Lord, or the circumstances, and I probably did before, but I don't now. I realize how fortunate I am, to have had devoted and hardworking parents who did everything they could to give me a wonderful life. And really, I have had, and despite  all my financial problems, am still having, a wonderful life. So again, I counted my blessings.

Then, I directed my next words to my children, I told them, that if there was one thing that was causing me pain and occasional sleepless nights, it was that they had to suffer the consequences of my financial debacle. I said, I wished that like their second cousins or their classmates, I could give them lavish parties during their birthdays, or bring them to trips abroad, but instead all I could do was give them books, and many many books to read. I was surprised at my Nikki's (my oldest) answer, she said," We are happy with our lives, we watch tv and films together at the comfort of our homes, we go out occasionally, and we love reading together, each with our own books, and the essential word here, is together. " Again, others may scoff at this, but for the mean time, this is all we have, and my wife and my children have all become voracious readers, like me, and I couldn't be more glad. Believe me the information, the variety of emotions reading can give you--just limitless. Again, we're together.

Then we spoke about the importance of closeness. That as much as possible we spend time with each other, which is why it became a blessing in disguise for me when my work was limited to 2 nights a week, aside from my morning clinic. I hope you don't find me over-sentimental, but I really do miss my family when I'm at work at night. I wish I could spend every night with my family. That is why even when I come home at 4 a.m., I bring them to school at about 6 a.m. This is a promise I made to my children and to myself. I may not be able to give them expensive "presents", but they will always have my "presence" in their lives.

Then we proceeded with our conversation by my telling my children, my wish and desires for them. I said, I wish that they realize all the wonderful gifts the Lord has given them. They shouldn't boast about them, but they shouldn't just keep them bottled up inside, either. They were given to them by the Lord for a reason. I said, I wanted them to use their talents to the fullest extent, and then to better their lives with it, and more importantly, to be able to use their gifts and talents to help other people. I told them, that this should be the ultimate goal--to help people.

Then we ended our talk with my prayers for them. I said this is how I pray, after giving praise and worship to Him, I apologize for having offended Him and anyone else. Then I thank Him for each and every day of our lives, and for His undying Love, then I make the following petitions, " Lord give me and my love ones a long and blessed life together, in good health, in harmony, and in peace with each other. I also ask for good health for all our relatives and friends. Finally, I ask for the miracle of change- to make all of us better- to be a better husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, friend, and christian. "

Then we watched a fun film and laughed a lot while watching it, then we prayed, then we read till we fell asleep.

At the start of this piece, I said that particular night was just an ordinary night, there was nothing special about it. Well, I was wrong - every night I get to spend with my wife Dinah, and my lovely kids, Nikki, Niccolo and Lizzie--is not only a special night, it's a magical night, a blessed night!

Goodnight everyone! Hug and kiss your loved ones. God bless all of you!