Remembering Old days

Tonight, we have heavy rains. Sharp lightning,loud thunder. I whispered a little prayer of thanks because our house is strong enough to receive the heavy rains on the roof,strong enough not to be blown of the strong winds, no holes that lightning came in through the house.

But, still I can not help to be back in the past. It was six in the evening, the rain was so heavy, with loud thunder,sharp lightning and strong winds. I was alone that time. Our house was built of Nipa,the traditional materials for building house in the Philippines. Its used for the roof.

Every time the rains touched our roof, I felt the house was going to fall down on me. Some of the roof already blown by the strong winds, because of that, rain pouring everywhere in the house. I collected all our things and gathered in the corner where safe enough not to get wet.

I was praying and praying, I was just 12 years old so my prayer is somewhat childish.

"LORD, please stop the rain. Spare our house Lord." Then, I sat in the corner where I collected all our things to avoid the rain that was pouring all over our house. I was thinking, if the heavy rains and strong winds continues, our house will be a real wrecked in the morning.

Out of the corner of my mind while praying in the dark corner, I remembered something. My parents taught us to have faith in God whatever the circumstances. It reminds me of the Blessed Palm leaves, it was said..it can stop even a storm once it is light and throw in the rain. We don't have electric light that time,we can not afford so through the dark, I searched for the match and get a tiny Palm leaves from the altar,which of course all wet. But,I don't lost hope.

Through the winds and rains,I tried very much to light the palm leaves, at last I succeeded,I uttered a prayer "Lord please stop the rain" and threw the palm leaves in the middle of the heavy rains. I went back in the corner...maybe some will not believe this..but right after I threw the Palm leaves, the rains stop and the wind. Although,the sound of the thunder can still be heard and lightning can still be seen but the heavy rain and strong winds no more.

And after a few minutes, I heard my mother's voice called me to open the door. I was so happy, at last I am not alone. And i whispered a little prayer of thanks, because God answered my prayer right away as I asked Him.

And tonight, I doubled my thanks to God because He blessed us our parents who never let us go astray. The rain was so heavy but I can sleep peacefully, except that reminder left a marked in me. I am still scared to death of heavy rains and thunder and lightning. I hide under the covers, I envied my daughter. She loves the sound of the rain on the roof ,and thunder is like a music to her ears.

Until now, I still have that strong faith in my heart. No matter how difficult a situation for me, I always believe that God is with me and nothing happens with out God's Will. With your strong faith you can stop even a storm.

That is why I always see

life is as beautiful as the flowers in the garden,

fascinating like the mountains and forest.

Enticing like the waves in the ocean.

Exciting and enthralling like the moon and the stars.

Beaming like the sunshine.

Trials and hardships are just spices in life with out it,

life is boring after all.