MY family had a reunion from Aug. 8 to 28.
Rod and I started with five daughters and we gained five sons-in-law. I now have 10 grandchildren—all gifts from heaven. Each grandchild is unique in his and her own way.
Rod, however, passed away in 2006. Rector, one of my sons-in-law, went to his heavenly home on July 2015. Inspite of our losses, we remain 20 strong—all blessings to each other.
As we bonded with each other for three weeks, I saw very clearly what freedom of choice did for them. Some parents make the mistake of choosing (and forcing) the college courses their children must take. The end result may cause a lifetime of regret. Some parents also make the mistake of choosing the life partners of their children. That too, can end in a catastrophe.
As I watched my children and grandchildren at play—each secure in the warmth of their respective families—I marveled at their ease in blending with their cousins. There were five families who were dousing each other with repartee, ribbing each other with relentless wit and 20 hearts intermingling with each other. We all missed one son-in-law who really couldn’t get away for a leave. However, he was with us through texts and calls.
The second freedom we allowed the children was the freedom to speak their minds. Of course they got into trouble with their Dad. My husband was a stickler for discipline. However the ICM nuns at St. Theresa’s College were very good in instilling leadership qualities and using the inquiry method of teaching. Somehow, all of my children became so outspoken and rational in their ways of thinking that their Dad learned to adjust. Besides, the children had their way of twisting him around their fingers. My children, even up to this day, scolds me this way: “Mommy, all you have to do is tell us what you want. We can’t read your mind.” This is their way of telling me what they want me to do. I too, can be twisted around their fingers.
The third freedom which really allows them to bloom is when they see our absolute freedom in delivering our superabundant care to them. They have seen us give without counting the cost, sacrifice our needs without complaint and work our backs off day in and day out to provide them with a home and an education to help them stand on their own. Secure in our care, they themselves have become independently strong and trustworthy.
Actually, family reunions are difficult to coordinate when the family is large and the children are living elsewhere in their own homes. Each family has his own vacation time and children have their respective classes. They also have favorite nearby places they want to visit. How each of my children’s families were able to synchronize their visit home this time is still a miracle.
Families often take for granted the visits of their children especially when they live nearby. However that should not be the case. The phrase “I am just a phone call away or a text away” holds true. Now with Viber, Facetime and Skype, we can connect with each other if coming home is difficult. Let us not wait too long to strengthen family ties. Time is fleeting and children grow up; and we find our nests empty. Let us enjoy the blossoming of our children and praise God for His generosity to us.
Let us never forget that our children are only ours for a little while. Eventually, they make homes of their own. May we all get the joy and the blessing to watch them bloom.