It's payback time

Amazing what water can do…

A young father recently shared with me his concern about the financial crisis and how business has been so bad, that for the first time they had to reduce their outfit and kiss all the fun out the window.

The fun part bothered him a lot because he’s one of those dotting generous fathers who loves to shower toys on the children and bring them to all the fun and exotic places. So not having all that disposable income would certainly cut into their fun meter.

Last Saturday I invited them over for the 7^th Beltran-Vogelsang annual Easter egg hunt which is practically ALL my wife’s hard work and commitment supported by the international mix of mothers and their superb culinary skills.

But this year, I decided to throw in a last minute improvement of the program. Since most of the fathers usually just sat around or help hide the plastic eggs, I went out and bought a dozen plastic water spray bottles used for ironing clothes, watering indoor plants etc. To this I added 2-dozen water balloons and several strategically placed buckets.

We soon had our own version of San Juan day and a full pledge water fight! I specifically targeted the stiff and the reserved guests who I knew were kids at heart and just looking for an excuse to be immature. Being chased by a bunch of kids with glee and murder in their eyes is simply irreplaceable.

After the water fight, my friend came over and with the look of amazement plastered on his face, he said” who would have believed that plain water could bring so much fun!”

It wasn’t the water, it was the father being willing to be a little boy that brought his children so much fun.

* * *

Paying with the wrong currency

The price is paid, the sacrifice made, the debt forgiven and now, it’s payback time. But just exactly how do you pay back or give in return, all the good that has been done for you?

I’ve been collecting stories about how people get in the way of grace and miracles or how others dishonor the grace and the miracle by acting in a manner that is completely the opposite.

I recently observed such a situation where a man was desperately hoping and praying to find answers about his 15-year-old daughter who had been the victim of a “hit & run”.

Immediately after the accident the man was surrounded by people alternately meeting his daughter’s needs such as rushing her to a hospital, paying deposits, leaving licenses for surety, monitoring her medical conditions and options. In short he really didn’t even get to ask anybody for help except God who supplied all his needs.

The irony is that it took a week before he realized this because he was so focused and dependent on the word and promise of the driver who caused the accident. So when the driver failed to live up to his expectations, the father was so angry and wanted to punish or to get even with the driver. He could not get out of his earth bound mentality that prevented him from seeing all the supernatural provisions around him.

What made matters worse was at the crucial time when he needed his mini- miracles to pull is daughter out of the coma, stabilize her for surgery etc the father was so wrapped up in his self pity and his sense of the injustice done to his daughter. He simply wanted to punish the runaway driver or make him suffer the same way he and is family were suffering.

Sounds normal and seems fair enough under the circumstance.

The problem was all his S.O.S were sent out to God and not a lawyer. How then could God enter into the healing process if the petitioner was absorbed with pay -back?

I simply told the father that the one person in the room doing as much damage to all the effort was him; he had become a barrier to the grace and the healing and all I ever wanted to hear from him ever was update on the child and not his whining. He could either say sorry and keep on praying or he could just go home and clean the house.

He apologized and went straight to a nearby chapel. An hour later he texted me about the amazing improvement of jenelyn who has since come out of the coma and is responsive to stimulus. In short the healing process got started when the hating process stopped.

I remember a time when a distraught mother contacted us for prayers because her daughter who was merely undergoing a simple procedure ended up receiving the last rights because of blood poisoning due to a surgical accident.

Call it arrogance or plain and simple faith but we advised the mom not to do the last rites because we were not ready to turn her over to the grave and we declared that the daughter was not going to die. What she needed to do was to call or text all the people who could join in prayer. The next several days were spent by our prayer brigade praying for the daughter.

Within two weeks, the daughter not only survived what they thought was certain Death she actually walked out of the hospital without any long term effects or damage.

What almost ruined it all for me was when the Mom got back to us to ask if she should go on with her plans to sue the hospital and the doctors for the major disaster they caused. That would seem to be the normal thing to do. In fact many people strongly believe it’s their right and it is justifiable. Well, that’s what “people” do. But that is not how God operates.

Does one dishonor grace and mercy by heaping anger and hurt on people who “accidentally” caused you harm. Let the law or those appointed authorities deal with the matter. Not you.