ECHO ZONE
The Gift
“Love never dies because goodness never dies.”
One of the well-used and passed-on phrases that come to mind right now is this, “It is better to give than to receive.” True. There is that distinct, unexplained feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction when you give – from the heart. Yet it would be hypocrisy to say fulfillment and satisfaction come less in receiving. Totally. Seriously.
So it takes much more of a person to feel both, know both and experience both all in one time and in one heartbeat. Human as we are, should even be harder for strangers, for the less-privileged, those who are hurting, the dejected but yes, particularly strangers.
I write about this now because of this one beautiful, inspiring and moving account of a stranger to this country but not its people. Thrown into the diverse Filipino culture and the instant 3,000 relatives and friends of his Ilongga wife, I came across his “My Time in the Philippines.” (The “3,000” in relatives and friends are mine actually but incorporating it here nonetheless)
A read-through will tell you how much this young groom of Anglo-American descent (he has Irish blood in him) truly appreciated his moment here. Yes, he did spoke of the seeming poverty he saw firsthand yet no, it did not make the Philippines nor Iloilo lesser than the super power that his nation is.
With the advent of the web and sites like Facebook (that was where it was – the “My Time in the Philippines”), one need not look far to have this uplifting stories. Sure it goes both ways, the web too is my source of a lot crap but my state right now is “glass half-full” rather than “half-empty” so forget the negativity of the web at the moment.
And “Facebook” account I do not have. My teen-age sons both have it though which is more than enough that our threesome of a family can handle.
Of all personal accounts out there, I am extra happy to have come across this one. And the very thought that came to mind was this – a gift. It is all about the gift. A gift for me to have read it for it renewed my belief and faith in the human and Ilonggo spirit. A gift too for the young American husband who on top of finding the love of his life in a fellow Ilonggo have the bonus of finding more love and goodness in his wife’s family.
A gift to the parents of the young couple for having such a caring, eloquent, loving and grateful son and son-in-law. A gift to our fellow Filipino who found her way into the hearts of this American family. A gift to all others out there who are feeling less of a proud person for what we have here in this really better city.
What this personal account also tells the whole web world is that goodness like love never dies. And it comes from virtual strangers with a smile or a comforting word. Comes from teen-age sons and daughters with Facebook accounts. Comes from the ordinary and simple just as it certainly comes from the rich and famous. Comes from precious uncut episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, Prison Break and NCIS DVDs. Or even from shows on cable TV like my therapeutic Ellen De Generes shows. Comes from friends who take time out to share not only their misfortunes in life but beautiful, inspiring and moving account such as “My Time in the Philippines.”
To Michael and his Trish, I am keeping you both closest in remembrance and prayers that God keeps you both under His care. And the generosity and love and acceptance Michael got from his in-laws? The bigger gift that came unwrapped and beyond value.
The gift comes no matter what. It just does.