ABC STARS Inspires

Image courtesy of chrisroll at FreeDigitalPhotos.net Today is special --- the day you turn eighteen. You've grown so well, in age and wisdom and grace. I still remember, perhaps you wouldn't have been If not for Mommy's faith, her heroic ways. Long ago, when Thirteen was eight months old, Mommy had a stroke, was paralyzed. "No further pregnancies" so she was told, "Or else your life would be jeopardized!" She didn't agree. She said, "That cannot be! "There's got to be a buddy for James the Less "So James the Great, Fourteen, is coming, you'll see!" She talked with God that's why. He answered, "Yes!" Great was our joy that December morn! Mommy was well! You were naturally born! 9 Dec 94

Image courtesy of digidreamgrafix  at FreeDigitalPhotos.net There's something holy in a family Woven into God's unfathomable Plan. The Redeemer could so easily Have come, like Adam, fully grown as man. Yet He, the Truth, the Life, the Way, was born Of Mary in a manger on a hill When that starry midnight turned to morn While peace was on the land and all was still. In a family, He grew in grace and age, Like any other being on this Earth. The Lord of Creation! earning a carpenter's wage! 'Twas He himself, who chose a humble birth! Could it be, for the mighty and the lowly, The family is blessed! To keep us, holy? Christmas, 1992

Image courtesy of digitalart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net Something is there in Christmas that's the reason          For the joys we feel in remembering Those dear to us, this gift-giving season          For young and old, for prophet, priest or king. Isn't love the message Christmas brings?          That God, our Father, so loved the world He gave us Of Himself, His gift --- the King of kings          The Christ, His only begotten Son, to save us! So Jesus was born of Mary that holy night          Tended by Joseph in a stable in a cave And shepherds trembled, marvelled at the sight          Of angels singing of the Gift God gave Verily, 'tis not in receiving but in the giving Of our self that makes our life worth living! Christmas 1994 ________________________________ The most important person on earth is...

Image courtesy of digitalart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net The guns spoke out again. And blood was spilt         By brother killing brother by your shrine. Unwitting pawns of those who cloak their guilt         With pharisaical, messianic design. With forked tongues and gilded utterances         Vending the rule of the few who live by the gun While peoples in other lands and circumstances         By peaceful means, have despots on the run. That it should come to this, in this, your own         Your favored isles amid the Orient seas. Too soon, they spurn the freedoms we have known.         And won by protracted toil and bended knees! The eve of your day, the guns were silenced! With ease! Our Lady of EDSA! With you, we'll keep the Peace! 12 December 1989

Image courtesy of digidreamgrafix at FreeDigitalPhotos.net Why is it, 'twas His will,         When He was born that Christmas day He chose a cave upon a hill,         His crib, a manger made of hay? He could have come down fully grown         In age and wisdom and in grace; He chose to come into His own         A babe in Mary's sweet embrace! Known as "Joseph the worker's son";         Subject to father and mother, He! Who all alone is the Holy One,         God! Needed a family! 9 December 1986

Awake, I see the mistress of my throne  Her warmth, her face of beauty and her scent Of rose-milk. But I find, I am alone. Ah raging torment born of love unspent! "Reveille!" You are a boon! I'll make An obsession of my work; I must not rest Or else these thoughts of you return and break Me with their searing yearnings unexpressed. At last "Retreat" is sounded, all is done. And now the crickets chirp a promise of dreams. But the dream is a sad and empty one--- I walked alone, alone on the moon-beams!          The tears I wept are in the morning dew          The winds now wail my want---how I miss you!                                                                                           ...

Image courtesy of posterize at freedigitalphotos.net Image courtesy of 2nix at freedigitalphotos.net It was around this time of the month a few years ago that I traveled by bus to Singapore from Kuala Lumpur. An air of suspense welcomed me at the immigration office of the Lion City. I was held at the arrival area for about forty five minutes.