Is your family your mission field?

Last weekend was another powerful, enlightening and inspiring time for me. It kicked off with a post-birthday celebration for my dearest Papa on Saturday, and ended with the rousing Spirit-filled CATCHFIRE Inspirational Rally on Sunday.

Honor the people you love... while you still can!

All Papa’s kids and grandkids (except my dearest pregnant sister, who is in Brunei) gathered for a simple potluck family dinner. Afterwards, we had an “honoring” session for Papa. This “culture of honoring” the people special to us while they are still alive, especially on special occasions, was something that we learned in Couples for Christ (CFC), our Catholic community.

The time for honoring Papa was very touching for all of us. Even my two brothers were in tears afterwards! It was also very good to hear the grandchildren honoring their Lolo. My mom capped it off with a quick “flashback” of how she and Papa met as activists, and how all throughout his life, Papa wanted to make a difference in the lives of other people, especially after God changed his life through CFC.

My parents with Bishop Patrick D' Rosario and Auxiliary Bishop Lawrence Subrato of Chittagong during their 2010 mission trip to Bangladesh

Papa then responded, crediting God for touching His life, and how he is still trying to change his old, “bad” ways and make up for not being the “best” dad for us during our childhood years, especially through his grandkids. All in all, it was a wonderful bonding time with family, and I went home truly grateful for all God’s blessings.

I also realized that we really should take time to honor the people we love while we still can. Let’s not wait until the day when they’re gone from this earth to do so. Simple gestures like sending sweet text, e-mail or Facebook messages; giving hugs; blowing kisses; doing acts of kindness – these go a long way in showing our loved ones how much we care. Most especially though, tell them why they are special to you in person as often as you can.

My family is my mission field

I thought that my realizations after Papa’s birthday celebration were more than enough “soulfood” to chew on. But God did not stop at that – He brought me to the CATCHFIRE Inspirational Rally, which was spearheaded by CFC’s “mother” community, Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon. I was reluctant to go at first, as hubby and the kids didn’t have any tickets and couldn’t go with me (I was given a ticket to cover the event for CFC’s monthly supplement in the CBCP Monitor).

I’m so glad that I went though. It was a great afternoon filled with worship, inspiring people, personal realizations and messages from the Lord. Everything spoke of God’s goodness and love – from the Spirit – filled Charismatic Eucharistic Celebration to the three sessions (One King, One People, One Mission) to the time for reflection, re-commitment to the Lord and ministering to one another and of course, the powerful praise and worship sessions and creative performances in between.

Around 8,500 people ‘caught fire’ last Sunday at the Ultra! Praise GOD!

What I realized most of all is this: my family is my mission field. The honoring session for my dad the night before confirmed this.

How did I come to this realization?

I reflected on the last session (One Mission) of the CATCHFIRE Rally, given by Bobby Quitain, the Head of Pathway Ministries. Entitled “Fire for the World,” he shared four simple but profound ways on how we could bring God’s love to a broken world:

Find your mission field and be faithful to it.

Invest your whole life in God.

Rely on God’s power.

Explore new territories.

The most striking part of Bobby’s talk was when he asked everyone this question: “What is that in your hands?” (taken from Exodus 4: 2). God asked Moses the same question when Moses was telling Him that he didn’t know how he would be able to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. At that time, Moses was holding his staff, which God transformed into a snake, and then back again into a staff. He did this to show Moses His power.

I asked myself: “What IS it that I have in my hands?” Then, I realized what it is – my family. Having previously written my mission statement helped affirm this for me. God has given me my husband and my children. They are my primary mission field. (Of course, my parents, siblings and extended family are part of this too). Being a loving, supportive, patient partner and helpmate to my husband; loving, molding and teaching our kids at home – these are all part of my mission.

Through Bobby’s talk, I also came to realize this: my secondary mission field is my writing “career.” God has “placed in my hands” the ability to write – to communicate His love to others. I only started writing “publicly” for online and print publications mid-2010. So far though, God has been amazing in opening doors for me to proclaim His message of life and love, even in seemingly “secular” publications. I only hope and pray that I’ll continue to live out this calling.

I believe that each and every one of us has a gift, a talent, an ability that, once honed and “sharpened,” will BLESS THE WORLD! For some, it’s being a parent to his kids; others, it’s being an athlete or performer; others still, dealing in business, even if it’s just running a sari-sari store. Other people are placed in government, in big corporations, in schools, etc. – all because God has a mission for them and a plan to bless the world through them.

How about you dear reader? What’s your mission field? “What is that in YOUR hands?” (Exodus 4: 2)

Go Forth and Set the World On Fire – St. Ignatius Loyola (Photo from marquetteeducator.wordpress.com)

P.S. Advent is upon us! It’s time to prepare for the coming of CHRIST, more than buying gifts or planning parties. Need ideas on how to do so? Please feel free to check out my homeschool blog. Remember, CHRIST is the reason for the season!