An Open Letter of Blessing upon our Firstborn on Her 46th Birthday

PAPA: 

I have been raring to tell this to the world now that the pandemic has almost blown over. If there is one positive thing that this pandemic has brought to the world, it is having us families being together and closer together more than ever. For this I really thank our dear Lord not only for sparing us from the plague but letting us again resume our normal and uninterrupted activities before the pandemic. 

This is not really the motive why we are here. We are here to be a blessing to one another. I believe God will be very pleased if we conduct ourselves to be a blessing to one another. I for one am very blessed that I have my dear family even a small one that I really love. Initially, I have two lovely daughters who not only inspired me to do better in life but also to build a foundation of a true and real family. They have been grounded on the Word of God and have been blessed with spouses who are not only soldiers of the Lord but are also good providers for their families. 

My children provided us with bundles of joy who are not only good children but who are also performing very well in school. On the occasion of the forthcoming natal day of my eldest daughter, her 46th, I have this to say: She was born on the anniversary of martial law which is September 21 and I immediately consider this as a blessing having coincided with an important and very recognizable date in Philippine politics. 

She is a firstborn, an intelligent lady ever concerned about the family. She grew up to be a nice lady and feisty, ever prepared to defend the family if need be. I remember telling her to take up Medicine at igagapang namin siya hanggang makatapos. I could have taken another path professionally to finance the medical degree. Yon pala ngayon ang ginagawa niya, gumagawa at nagdi dispense ng gamot na affordable for those who cannot afford expensive medicines.  That is a very noble and profound activity. 

But this is the essence where blessing could be bestowed upon Jen and her family. I am hoping and praying that God will continue to provide for you and your family with all the things that you need; that God will bless you in every undertaking that you and your family will embark; that God will always take care and shield your family from sickness and pain. I am happy to pronounce these blessings to you because I know first and foremost as my daughter you are a blessing to me in the first place.

MAMA: 

Jen, my firstborn, first of all, I want to say that I am sorry for hurting your feelings when you were a child. I must admit, I did not know how to correctly handle the situation of having a toddler and an infant at the same time. I was so focused on your newborn sister that I forgot that you also needed my attention, love, and care. Many times, I misinterpreted your being feisty and your talking back to me, as being disrespectful, and because of that, I would flare up and say things that I would later regret. I was not aware that you were behaving that way because you were angry with me for favoring your younger sister over you, who at that time was more obedient. Because of this, even though you were just a toddler, I already hurt you emotionally. I learned about your resentment only in 2011 when I read your blog about me favoring your younger sister. I am sorry. After reading that, I asked your forgiveness, and you said that you were forgiving me. Now, in the presence of our family and friends, I am asking again, “Have you forgiven me?” 

Jen, I love the fact that you are intelligent and smart. These traits are good when they are used for unselfish reasons; when they are used for the glory of God. I hope you will heed what the Apostle Paul said in Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” 

There was a time that I said that you had taken after me, but you instantly rejected my statement, saying that you are not a negative person. Jen, what I meant was that you took after me in being a conscientious person. I don’t recall you asking me for anything. I myself did not ask anything from my parents. Like me, you never wanted to be a burden to your parents. I recall that sometime in 1996, you asked me if you were covered by medical insurance, and I responded that you were not. It did not occur to me to ask you why you asked that. Later, your Papa told me that a suitor in your college days wanted to talk to him about something very important. Your Papa said he was alarmed and worried, thinking that you and that suitor must have done something indiscreet. It turned out that it was about your health, that you had consulted with the school physician and was advised to have a mastectomy. Fortunately, that mastectomy did not happen because we consulted another doctor for a second opinion. Jen, you were very conscientious that you did not want us to worry or to burden us. I think you passed that trait on to Jed as well, because every time Jed and I would go to SM, and I would ask him if I could buy him something, he would always say he did not need anything, that he had everything that he needed. In this aspect, you have successfully instilled in your son not to be materialistic. 

Jen, you are a very appreciative daughter. You never failed to express your gratitude for things that you receive from me. I want you to know that I gave them to you because you are my daughter, and it is but right for a mother to give what is best for her child. 

Thank you Jen, for being a generous daughter. You have always been giving me and your Papa food and vitamins. Because of your generosity, you even surprised me and your Papa with a monthly cash gift! Thank you very much. 

Jen, you are a fast worker. In BDO, where you used to work, there were tasks that needed to be done fast, and because you are a fast worker, your supervisor would always give those assignments to you. “Speedy Jennie,” that’s what they called you.  

You are also a fast reader. You read a lot, and because of this, you know a lot - ranging from spirituality, health, finance, relations, and general information. 

You are driven and passionate. You have not stopped learning new things. You learned how to do hair and make up, and because of this, many of your friends have benefited from this (and that includes me and our family because our hair remained trimmed even though the hair salons were closed for two years because of the pandemic).  Recently, I saw and heard you singing while playing the guitar! You even learned how to concoct homeopathic remedies which you are always giving to me and your Papa. Thank you very much. 

Jen, God has given you the gift of teaching. I pray that you will continue to be a blessing to those you mentor, to those who look up to you for counseling. 

You expressed your desire for me to reach the age of 100, which I think is far-fetched or unlikely. In Psalm 90:10, Moses said that the life span of man is 70 years, so now that I am 76 years old, the Lord has already given me a bonus of six years, and for that I am thankful. However, if God would extend my time on earth until the age of 100, who am I to decline it, as long as nakakalakad pa ako, at hindi pa ako pasanin ng mga mahal ko sa buhay? 

In Psalm 23, the shepherd boy David said: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” Jen, because you have been born again when you received the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, you have become a child of God, and being a child of God, you will lack nothing. And not only that you will lack nothing: Since God the Father who is rich in all things, has adopted you into His family, you have become His heir, and being an heir, He will give you everything your heart desires that are according to His will, as long as you delight in Him. I pray that God will bless you with long life so that you can enjoy your family and see Jed succeed in whatever career path he will choose, and see him get married to a woman that God will choose for him, and have his own family. 

As you look upon your son Jed today, you are also looking at the beginning of a legacy that will last for generations.  

Jen, my firstborn, I love you and I bless you. 

May you be healthy all the days of your life; may you be protected from all kinds of dreaded diseases; may God protect you from all kinds of accidents;  

May God continue to bless your marriage to Jeff until death do you part; may you never be without the presence of the Holy Spirit; may your heart be always at peace; 

May your mind be always alert and learning; may your strength match the length of your days; may God keep you in His love at all times; May you live a life full of hope, full of God’s goodness, and great times with family and friends; 

I bless your spiritual life, that you may continue to worship God in spirit and in truth; I bless you, and will always pray that you shall prosper in your life, in Jesus’ name, amen. 

The Lord will keep you from all evil. He will keep your life; The Lord will keep your going out and coming in from this time forth and forevermore. 

The Lord bless you, and keep you, the Lord make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)