In March of 2006, three
of us graduated: Nadine's Pre-School graduation on March 23, Nikko's Grade School graduation
on March 24 and my graduation from the College of Nursing
on March 29.
The month of March, 2006
should have been one of the happiest in our lives as an individual, as one family. But such events were prematurely marred
right on the 1st day of March, an Ash Wedenesday, when our dear Dad was unjustly taken away from us...
Dad's absence in our lives
and the subsequent turn of events has crippled us... We are left with nothing and it seems that everyone has abandoned
us-- callous people rejoice over our misery, cunning ones take advantage of our helplessness, nonsensical
ones threaten us... Some people could really be so unkind!
It seems unfair since we never
knew anything until after the scandal broke out. Yet, accusations abound and we can't refute! Nobody
wants to listen to our side. Self-righteous people form their own opinions and have construed
their own version of truth. Only those who really have a
heart can empathize with us. Only a few of them...
It is really true that only
when you are down and out will you know who your real friends are. Well-meaning
friends help us go through this crucible. They continually lift our sagging spirits and remind us not to pay
attention to what most people say. For what is important is how we stand before God. But, I must admit, it's
easier said than done. The pain and humiliation afflict us!
We just hope and pray that
the Lord God will touch the hearts and souls of those who are privy to the TRUTH. May someone, credible
enough, be able to tell what really happened, verbatim. May JUSTICE be served for everyone before
it becomes too late.
Maybe, this is God's rebuke
for all our weaknesses, for all our sins of commission & omission... Maybe, this is God's wake-up call for
our family's slumber in utter complacency... Maybe, this is God's manisfestation of His love for us... Maybe,
just maybe...
Be merciful to us, O God!
Hear our weeping! Let the tears that we have shed be able to cleanse us from ours sins. Have
mercy on us! Make us worthy of your blessings! Make us be able to rebuild our family!
We love our Dad so much!
He may be imperfect (who isn't?) but his loving kindness when we were still together as one family is deeply etched in our
hearts that we can readily forgive him for allowing himself to be ensnared by such a scheming, vile woman.
Dad, we stand by your side. No matter what people may say against you, we love
you! We hope and pray for Truth & Justice to prevail... May God put a stop to the evil schemes
of those who orchestrated all this hullabaloo!
Dad, on our wedding day, I vowed to stand by you for better or for worse, in sickness
and in health... till death do us part! I may not have been good enough for you as a wife but I will do my very
best to be true to my vow... Every day, in every way I can, I remind our kids of how wonderful a father and a husband
you are... Be assured of our love for always... Till we meet again...
May
our lives be a living testimony of how our bond as one family can withstand the tests of time, with God's mercy... AMEN & AMEN & AMEN!
