AN OPEN LETTER OF BLESSING UPON OUR SECONDBORN ON HER 44TH BIRTHDAY

PAPA: 

Good day everyone. We are all happy that we are celebrating my loving daughter’s birthday. 

Roselyn is as pretty as a rose. Everyone should agree with this pronouncement. But above all her beauty is her natural kindness and inner beauty that she displays every time. I thank the Lord for giving me not just one but two precious daughters.  

Rose is married to a very charming and godly musician who is also a very good provider. For these reasons alone I am grateful to God for these wonderful blessings. However, it is just fitting and proper that on this very important day of her life that I bestow my blessing not only as my daughter but also as a steward of God. 

I always pray anak that you will be always in the pink of health so that you can take care not only your family but also us your parents. You and your family are a blessing to us. 

I fervently pray to God and with the blessing of the Lord that we continue to have a sterling relationship as an extended family. 

I always pray to the Lord that you and Ted will always be resilient in all trials that come naturally as you live your life. Remember that you have successfully hurdled the pandemic, and I would say with flying colors, because of your resiliency and your dedication to the Lord our God. For this you and Ted both deserve an applause for that. 

I pray that your daughter Sam will grow up not only as a beautiful person but also grow up to be a dedicated and a lofty steward of the Lord. 

Finally, I pray that you and Ted will continue to be a blessing to everyone always caring in all your ways. Thank you Rose and Ted for allowing us to stay in your house with all the amenities that go with it.

MAMA: 

To my second and last born, Roselyn, Happy Birthday! 

I know I have often mentioned this before. But this time, I will say it again for the sake of those who have not heard it yet from me. 

When I got pregnant with Jen, my firstborn, I was a bit anxious about childbirth because of stories from some mothers about difficult childbirth. But when Jen was born, it was not as difficult as I had imagined it would be. Way back in the 1970’s uso ang painless delivery, meaning the mother would not feel pain because she would be put to sleep, and would wake up only after the baby was born. 

So, when I got pregnant with Rose, wala na akong agam-agam. During that time, ultrasound was not discovered yet, and because of that, the gender of the baby was not known until after the delivery. 

I had wished for a boy because we already had a girl. One Saturday, on March 3, 1979 at 10:15 in the morning, I gave birth to a baby. When I woke up, I immediately asked the nurse what was the gender of my baby. When she replied that it was a girl, I teared up. Napaluha ako. Na-disappoint ako. Babae na naman?   Nalungkot ako. I was not able to see the baby that day as I was very weak and could not yet get out of bed. But the following day, I was able to walk to the nursery where the newborns were displayed. I was so happy when I saw my baby! She was the most beautiful newborn in the nursery! 

Rose, I am sorry for being disappointed when I first learned that you were a girl.   But that disappointment was short-lived. That disappointment turned into joy when I saw you in the nursery. 

I know I have not been a good mother because when you were a child, instead of helping you in your homework, I would criticize you for not being able to understand your lessons. I am sorry. Will you forgive me? 

Rose, since your childhood you had always been chosen as muse in school. At my work In Manila Water, you were chosen the Best Muse in the company’s volleyball tournament. 

Emily Giffin, an American author once said: “A son is a son until he gets a wife, a daughter is a daughter all her life.” Once a man gets married, his wife and his children come first. They are his priority. And I understand that because Genesis 2:24 says: “Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh. On the other hand, although a married woman’s priority are her husband and children, her care for her parents does not change. And for this, I want to express my gratitude to Jen and Rose. I am indeed grateful to God for giving me two daughters. 

Rose, I love the fact that you have a kind heart. I truly thank God for giving you a compassionate heart. Before, I was so anxious about leaving Gilbert. Being 16 years older than him, it is a big possibility that I will go ahead of him. But since I saw how you love him, accepting him into your own family, I realized that my anxiety was unfounded. I thank God because your husband Ted fully supported you on this. At this point, I want to express my gratitude to Ted. Thank you very much, Ted. I know God will always bless you and your family because you have a kind heart. 

Rose, you are a very friendly person, and because of that, your officemates easily gravitated toward you.  Even though you have already resigned from your corporate job, still they remained your barkada. 

Rose, just like Jen, there are some things that you took after me. You also took after me in being conscientious in another aspect. You are conscientious in the use of utilities. You always remind us to be matipid in the use of electricity and water. And also in not throwing away leftover food. Because of this, walang nasasayang na pagkain sa bahay. 

You have been a good mother. Sam is blessed to have you as her mother. You are also a good teacher, that’s why even before Sam started schooling, she could already read, write and count. With your supervision, she was able to memorize some Bible verses. The wise King Solomon wrote in Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Together with Ted, you are doing a good job in taking care of Sam and in supervising her in her studies. Because Sam is a strong-willed child, you, together with Ted, are making great efforts to train her in such a way that she will grow up to be a good person, and in due time, she will receive the Lord Jesus as her Savior and love God with all her heart. 

I pray that God will bless you with long life so that you can enjoy your family and see Sam succeed in whatever career path she will choose, and see her get married to a godly man. 

Rose, today being your birthday, your Papa and I want to declare our blessings upon you. Even though you have said that you are already blessed with more than what you need to have a good life, still we as your parents want to bless you. 

PAPA:

May you have an abundance of peace, love, joy, grace, faith, health, prosperity and generosity;

May God continue to bless your marriage to Ted until death do you part; 

May you never be without the presence of the Holy Spirit; 

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; 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)