Praise God for Our Parents

I grew up going to church almost every Sunday to attend mass and prayer meetings on Saturdays...
with my mom forcing me through her litany of reasons of why I should go plus giving me the most scary and uncomfortable stare that I could think of. I remember thinking about the hopeful treats that I can get after the ceremonies just so I can push myself to dress up even though I knew my mom would say that we should go straight home after the mass so the blessings will go directly in our house instead of it being poured at the mall. Yes, I grew up thinking that malls are full of clothes and things and the cashier with money because of the churchgoers who goes there instead of going home after mass. Oh the excuses of my creative mother to discretely say that we don't have extra money.

In contrast to what people think and say back home in the Philippines, my family is really not wealthy. However, I just didn't feel the lack of material things when I was a child nor did I wished for more than what I have because I have always seen my parents, especially my mom, thank God for everything. She praises Him for even the smallest blessing that you could ever think of and so I grew up knowing that the Lord has always been good to us.

I remember the story of Job; Satan argued about his motives of staying loyal to God. Satan said that Job sees God as a meal ticket and if he weren’t getting what he wanted, he would be cursing Him rather than praying. Honestly, Satan got a point; sometimes we seek God because we know that it is only Him who can give us what we desire, sometimes we pray having the wrong motives. I am at times guilty of this. I pray because I am asking for something. Sometimes, I am like a child who only speaks to her parents just to get an allowance. James 4:3 says, "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures". I enjoy talking to Him, telling Him about my hopes and dreams and about how my day went but really, sometimes I have prayers like "LORD I AM PRAYING, WHY WON'T YOU GIVE THIS ALREADY" hehe...

I thank God for giving me the kind of parents that I have; They stand as a good example for me. If it weren't for their light shining and guiding me, I think I wouldn't be able to find the strength to glorify God amidst my trials. I think parents are the good example when God said "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." in Matthew 5:16. If it weren't for who they are and what I see in them, I think my ways won't be corrected. Cindy Hess Kasper, in Our Daily Bread devotional for January 30, 2011 entitled Looking and Learning, said that the best way to set a good example for children is (for parents) to live out their faith in front of them. While they’re looking—they’re learning about what matters most.

Job said to God in Job 42:2-3, "I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know". This is one of the lessons that my parents had instilled to me: He can do all things. There is nothing that He can't do for me, and unanswered prayer doesn't mean that He's not listening or answering me; “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:15)

Children may not inherit their parents’ talent,
but they will absorb their values.