Must-Read: VeggieTales 365 Bedtime Devos for Boys

Our family had our "biglaang lakad" last Thursday because Hector, my hubby, should get a book ASAP for review as a requirement for his current subject in his post-grad studies. Philippine Christian Bookstore in Farmers Plaza was the only place where that book was available.

This book caught my attention.

Ross loves VeggieTales since he was a toddler. We have VeggieTales VCD's  that he watches until now. VeggieTales is a nice way of enriching kids' knowledge about the Holy Bible in a fun and interactive way. VeggieTales 365 Devos for Boys can help us do just that.

This book is intended to be read by Christian parents to their young children which contains 365 brief chapters, one daily whole year round. Many chapters contain kid-friendly essays that talk about generosity, honesty, kindness, and forgiveness. There are chapters that contain notable Bible verses which can be discussed or memorized by children. Other chapters contain easy to understand quotations from notable Christian thinkers. Most of all, every chapter contains a prayer. 

Before we retire at night, we pray as a family. We say our personal prayers in front of each family member. Before we do that, Hector shares stories that teach lessons about morals and values for our kids to ponder. We can use this book for that purpose.

I recommend this book. It's not just nice and engaging but kids can learn so much from this---virtues that they can practice to make them good and God-loving people.

It also has a version for girls, VeggieTales 365 Bedtime Devos for Girls. 

If you happen to pass by PCBS or any bookstore, grab a copy for your kids. It costs Php280.00. It's worth it.      

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Prayer for Those Who Hurt Me

During those times when my son was recovering from sickness due to the reason that I shared in one of my articles last week, I saw this photo posted on my friend's FB wall.

Courtesy: https://www.facebook.com/IBelieveJesus/photos/a.158691214176133.30886.103157443062844/749674165077832/?type=1&theater

 I needed God's help to take away the pain in my heart. My only consolation that time was I should have the strength and will to forgive that person because somehow there were times when I also offended other people consciously and unconsciously. 

 I earnestly believe that she is a good person just being blinded by circumstances. Perhaps she is also a victim, being manipulated and abused of someone whom she loves and trusts.

  

If you think about it, what that person did to our family was worse. I never expected that person to hurt our kids so badly because she was very dear to us. It's not easy to forgive her. But when our friend priest, Father Nat, told me that "Forgiving  is a form of CHARITY." It hit me.

Let me share with you  Prayer for Those Who  Hurt Me, a beautiful prayer adapted from Straight from the Heart A Prayer Companion by Fr. Mario Jose C. Ladra. It speaks of asking for God's grace to touch the offender's conscience and make it easier for us to forgive.

Dear Jesus, I implore you by your Sacred Heart to bestow your most precious gifts and graces on those who cause me pain or have ever hurt me in the past.

Forgive them, Lord, if by chance they have offended you; or if they have shown me their dislike, show them your loving face.

Give them, O Lord, your blessing in return for words they speak against me, either to my face or behind my back; and if some bear a grudge against me, for any reason whatever, pour into them your holy love.

In order that, while bearing my crosses, I may be pleasing to your Sacred Heart, give me patience and meekness, love and courageous perseverance.

I offer you these acts of sincere love together with all the troubles they might cause me.

I offer them for their happiness, for their greater progress in virtue, and that they may reach a higher degree of eternal glory.

I offer them in union with the sufferings of your Heart and with the love with which you have loved and still love all who have inflicted pain on you.

Jesus, accept my services and in your mercy on me. AMEN.       

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Prayers for St. Benedict and St. Michael the Archangel Protect Us from Evil

Hello, dear friends! Maybe you're wondering why I wasn't able to post a prayer for two consecutive Sundays. 

As I mentioned three weeks ago, my eldest son, Ross, was confined in the hospital, had ER admissions, and check-ups ten times or more for four months. His pediatrician was also puzzled why he kept on getting sick after all his laboratory examinations were cleared. The pattern of his sickness was the same---he would be discharged in the hospital on Wednesday, have his home care until Sunday, go back to school on Monday, get sick on Monday night, and be admitted again in the hospital on Tuesday.

Ross experienced lots of hardships and  weight loss due to his sickness. My husband, mom, and I took turns in taking care of him. 

When a family member is in the hospital, all resources are drenched---emotional, spiritual, physical, and most especially financial.

When all hope was lost, maybe out of desperation, we consulted a psychic/faith healer last, last Sunday. 

You may not agree with me but I believe that there are things and phenomena in this world that can't be explained by science nor religion.

It's ironic. I am into religious accessories business. My faith in God is utmost and unshaken. But I know that God sends us people who can help sometimes in peculiar ways.

The faith healer told us that someone inflicted that condition to my son. We talked about the details and events I recalled before my son got sick. She instructed us to make a concoction/herbal tea and pray over it before drinking. My son should drink that concoction for more than one week. Why? Because he ate something that was cursed by the perpetrator. We were shocked and speechless. We were peace loving people! We had no enemies. She also encouraged us to pray always. We followed it. Sabi ko wala namang mawawala. Gagawin ko ang lahat gumaling lang ang anak ko.

On Monday afternoon, my husband went to Quiapo, Manila to look for the leaves for the concoction. It's difficult to find stuff like those here in Metro Manila. My mom also asked hubby to go to the crafting store to buy some materials for her rosaries. Then he saw a red St. Benedict's cross inside the store. While he was staring at the cross, a man approached hubby and said, "That cross is nice. It's St. Benedict's cross. Do you know that it is used by exorcists to cast away evil spirits? Purchase it, have it blessed by the priest, and put it on your altar. It will protect your family. Choose the red one." My hubby asked, "Perhaps by chance, are you a priest?". The man said, "Yes, I am! If only I have Holy Water with me, I can bless that cross for you." My husband thanked the priest and bought the cross immediately together with St. Benedict's medals for the whole family.

Courtesy: rosarymarket.com

Courtesy: mississippi-spi.blogspot.com ( To know more about St. Benedict's Cross and Medal, you may go here http://mississippi-spi.blogspot.com/2010_12_01_archive.html.)

The following day, hubby rode a cab to go to work. When he saw the taxi driver, he was startled because the driver looked like late great grandpa. The conversation went like this:

Driver: "Sir, bakit po? Mukhang nakakita kayo ng multo." 

Hubby: "Kamukha ninyo po kasi ang lolo ko. Saan po ba ang probinsya ninyo? Sa Isabela po ba?"

Driver: "Sa Quezon po." 

Hubby: "Naniniwala po ba kayo sa kulam?"

Driver: "Ah, bulong 'yun! 'Yun ang tawag sa amin sa Quezon. Bakit po, sir, may sakit po ang panganay ninyo?" 

Hubby: "Po, meron nga po." (He was surprised.)

Driver: "Ibigay ninyo nga po sa akin ang pangalan at kung sino po ang pinagsususpetsahan ninyo."

Hubby: "Bakit po? Manggagamot po ba kayo?"

Driver: "Opo, sir, buong pamilya po kaming manggagamot."

Hubby: "Talaga, sir? Naisasalin po ba ang panggagamot?"

Driver: "Ang panggagamot po kasi naisasalin. Pero dapat po ay siguradong sa taong may mabuting kalooban ito maisasalin. Kung sa masamang tao po ito mapupunta, gagamitin po niya ito sa kasamaan gaya ng ginawa ng taong nanakit sa anak ninyo." 

Hubby wrote my son's name and the person told by the faith healer who inflicted the sickness to my son.

The driver paused for a moment and said: "Hindi na po kayo gagambalain ng taong 'yan! Heto nga po pala ang number ko, tawagan ninyo po ako kapag may nangyari pa po sa anak ninyo."  

He handed a piece of paper to my husband. The driver is a retired army, Major Alvarez.

God blessed us in those three consecutive days. I felt more relieved.
     

I fervently hoped and believed that my son would be healed with the help of his health care providers and faith healers that we met. They became God's instruments. 


Ross went to his pediatrician this afternoon and through God's grace he was fine. We told the doctor about our decision to consult a faith healer. She said jokingly that it's okay as long as my son would not be cut open. She agreed that sometimes things unexplained by science could happen.

This experience taught me seven things:

1. Food, which is God's grace that nourishes the body, can be used by other people to hurt someone.

2. Be vigilant. Know whom to trust.

3. Be careful with what you post and whom to tag on your social media accounts. It may sound funny but you'll never know how others take your posts. Others may be happy with your triumphs but others don't. 

4. Pray as a family always. 

5. Practice your faith.

6. Spend quality time with your loved ones because life is very uncertain.

7. Learn to forgive.

In line with this, I would also like to share the prayers for St. Benedict and St. Michael the Archangel. We now include them in our daily prayers to protect us from evil.

Courtesy: www.czestochowa.us

Courtesy: stroccoglencove.com (Why do we need to pray for protection from evil through St. Michael the Archangel? Click this link to know more: http://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/the-saint-michael-prayer.html.)

   

God's love never fails nor falters. I hope that my son will be completely healed in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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A Father's Prayer

We learned from our Cathechism class during our formative years that "The father is the PRIEST of the HOME.". 

Being the priest of the home doesn't only require the father to merely encourage his family to attend mass every Sunday. What matters most is how he teaches his kids to live according to the teachings of the church. It is the father's responsibility to lead his family to Christ by living as a good example. It is seen by how he lovingly treats his parents, siblings, wife, and children; how he deals with other people with respect and honesty; how he exercises the virtues that he believes are right to do. He should walk his talk. 

Fatherhood is more than providing food on the family's table and giving his family a comfortable life. It is a sacred vocation with great responsibility. How the kids will grow and become in the future not just depend on the influence of the mother but the father too. 



Let me share with you A Father's Prayer. All fathers need God's guidance to make them the best father that they could be.
 

Oh God, help me to be true to the great privilege and great responsibility which you have given to me. Help me to be an example and a friend to my children, an a real partner to my wife.

Don't let me get so busy with work and with outside things that I am almost a stranger in my own home, and that I take no interest in household things. Don't let me take for granted all that is done for me, and help me to keep love alive within the home.

Keep me from habits which make the work of the house harder, and from ways which irritate and annoy, or which get on the nerves of those who live with me. 

Give me health and strength and work to do, to earn a living for those who depend on me and whom I love so much; but help me to remember that love is always more important than money.

O God, You have given me the name of father; you have given me Your own name; help me to be true to it.

This I ask for Your love's sake. Amen.


Adapted from: My Travel Companion "A Prayer Book for All"

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A Mother's Prayer

My sons were confined in the hospital three times and admitted in the Emergency Room ten times for the past four months. During those days, all I did was to drop everything and focus on my sons. 

Prayer made me stronger. 

 God was so good in healing my sons through the hands of the efficient health care givers who rendered their expertise, concern, love, and care.

I have decided that from this day forward, I am going to share one prayer every Sunday to show my thanks and gratitude to the Lord.

Let me give you the first prayer to launch Prayerful Sunday, A Mother's Prayer.

  

O God, help me always to remember

that you have given to me

the most important task in the world,

that task of making a home.

Help me to remember this when I am tired

of making beds, and washing clothes, 

and cooking meals, and cleaning floors,

and mending clothes, and standing in shops.

Help me to remember it 

when I am physically tired in body,

and when I am weary in mind

with the same things

which have to be done again and again, 

day in and day out.

Help me never to be irritable

and never to be impatient.

Keep me always sweet.

Help me to remember

how much my husband

and my children need me,

and help me not to get annoyed

when they take me for granted,

and when they never seem 

to think of the extra work

they sometimes cause me.

Help me to make this home

such that the family will always be

eager to come back to it,

and such that, when my children grow up 

and go out to their own homes,

they will have nothing

but happy memories of the home

from which they have come.

Through Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Amen.

Adapted from: Straight from the Heart A Prayer Companion by Father Mario Jose C. Ladra      

  

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