July 8 A New Beginning

July 8, 2014 Tuesday
10:38 a.m. Hillsborough, NC
“Pop!!!!” went the left front tire of the 1996 Ford red cargo van as black particles splattered along I-40 near exit 263 in an open country area of Hillsborough, North Carolina. “Suddenly, I could not control the steering wheel anymore,” said my husband Roy after he just passed a car in the unidirectional two lane road. Roy even forgot about stepping on the brake as he drove 65 miles per hour in light traffic or probably, “I did it but I can’t remember having done it.” Fortunately, the van followed the path of the island on his left side. The railings on the island helped the van stay on course. He knocked down about 20 meters of railing but no other individuals were hurt. Not even him. No harm will overtake you; no disaster will come near your tent.

8:45 a.m. St. Gabriel Parish Chapel, Charlotte, NC
I usually don’t say a special prayer for my husband probably because in my mind, we’re a family and he is always in my heart, anyway. So he doesn’t need any special prayers. But today, I did. A few minutes before mass, I said “Lord, please take care of my husband and his driving. “ The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

9:30 p.m., A few days before the accident in our bedroom
I warned my husband about the dream that my 11-year old son RJ had about him. “Dad, RJ had a dream about three to four weeks ago that you and him were in a car accident on the freeway. Please be careful when you drive. I just wanted you to be aware.”
He just nonchalantly responded “Ok. I will,” while playing solitaire on the computer.

These were the flashbacks that I had before the accident took place. On the day of the accident, I cancelled my son’s playdate and asked a friend for prayers before I drove to Hillsborough with my son to pick up my husband because his van was totaled. When my son and I arrived in the Walmart parking lot, he looked calm and composed, as if nothing happened. Praise God! He even drove the van that I used on our way to see a friend and on our way back home. It was during this time, that he opened up the conversation by saying

“Did you know that today is our wedding anniversary?”
“It is?” I asked.
“Yes, July 8. Our church wedding was on the 8th.” That made me pause and think. I couldn’t remember exactly when the church or civil wedding was because we haven’t celebrated any since we’d been married. My husband wanted to celebrate the civil wedding which was in the last week of December. I wanted to celebrate the church wedding. We couldn’t seem to reconcile the two, so we just didn’t celebrate. But if we celebrate the July 8 anniversary, it would have been exactly 14 years!

A car accident on your wedding anniversary? Surely God is saying something here. Eight and 14 years in 2014! Suddenly, words and events started to roll in my memory.

First, I chose the number 8 for our wedding date because it was the Saturday before the full moon. According to our Filipino superstitious belief, it is good luck if you get married as the moon increases in size rather than the moon decreases. This is related to financial abundance in married life. However, I learned through Pastor Billy Miller of Resurrection Church that eight means new beginning in the bible. In fact, the number eight has also been linked to Christ resurrection. As I continue to write, I also learn to trust more in God’s Word.

Now, let’s get to the next number —14. In 14 are two 7s. Seven is “Spiritual perfection and fullness or completion. It is the number of Covenant and of the Holy Spirit.” However, 14 has a special significance to me because it was used by a very special friend. The one who used this number was Aida, Roy’s ex-wife. In 1992, my sister Jojie told Aida “Aida, do you know of any male friends whom we can introduce to Sherr? I don’t want her to go home (to the Philippines) anymore.” Aida jokingly responded “You know, our marriage is renewable every 14 years. If you want, I will divorce him so he can marry you” followed by loud laughter. You know what? Her words came true. Roy and Aida completed 14 years of marriage before she passed away in 1999. Compared to his two previous marriages, Roy’s marriage to Aida had been the longest —14 years. But according to Aida, it is renewable every 14 years. Why Aida chose 14, I really didn’t know why. Was it prophetic? It could be. Was our marriage supposed to last only 14 years, too? I hope not. Because it was exactly on our very own, Roy’s and mine’s 14th year of Christian marriage, when the vehicular accident occurred. Our very own marriage could have terminated on the 14th year —if Roy passed away last July 8. Remember, Roy forgot about using the brake pedal and he could not control the steering wheel anymore. His words to me were “I just wanted to save myself.” So, who saved him from this destruction? I truly believe it was God. God gave him a new beginning, a new life. Just like Jesus resurrected Lazarus, God saved Lazaro, Roy’s real name. I also believe that this is a call to pay attention to our union and how to make it better and likewise to celebrate it. Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready. It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous act of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.”

Last, but not the least, I would like to end my entry for this week with a story on how prophetic words could be. In 1997 or 1998, I made an overseas call to my brother priest, Fr. John Tamayo in Thailand asking him to pray for me for the right life partner. I know, I specifically asked for someone as nice as St. Joseph because St. Joseph was a good husband to Mary and a wonderful father to Jesus. Then my brother responded with “St. Joseph is old” followed by laughter. I responded with “Kuya, huwag naman. (Brother, don’t say that.)” Little did I know that this would come true, too. (Be careful what you wish for!) My husband is 25 years my senior and just like St. Joseph, he is also a carpenter. His business is called Roy, The Handyman.

Through all the challenges that we’ve faced through those 14 years, I now see how God has woven the different parts of our lives. His other children are now grown-ups enjoying good health, the means to provide for their own families and have children of their own— smart, beautiful, loving and good children. The fruit of our very own marriage, Roy Joseph is truly a source of joy for both of us. Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him. My husband who is almost 75 years old is still very strong and healthy just like Samson. His strength comes from, not his hair of course, but from enjoying the work that he does, having a loving family, attending the Sunday mass, receiving the Sacraments of reconciliation and the Eucharist and enjoying the company of our Filipino friends. It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. As for me, I am so thankful for God’s gift of Presence You will show me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy… and to be able through writing to share God’s glory to others.

PRAYER: Lord God, I praise and thank you for the 14 years of togetherness you’ve given to me and my husband. There were bumps along the way but you guided us through. Lord, I pray that you will bless the relationships and marriages of the people who are reading this article. I pray Lord that their families will be like your Holy Family, surrounded by love, joy, peace, understanding and good health. And most of all, God may you be placed in the center, in the hearts of each family member. If there are hurts in their hearts, Lord, please touch those with your Healing hands to soothe their pains. This I ask through the help our Most Holy Trinity and our loving Mother Mary, Amen.

A new beginning is just beginning

I feel the breakthrough the winning

And there’s a fresh flow of the spirit

A mighty river can’t you hear it

I’m singing praises like a new song

The changes are lifelong

A new beginning is beginning to take hold in my life.

A New Beginning (Joseph The Dreamer)