BETWEEN

Before I start, allow me to apologize that I am sharing a picture that is not mine. And so I decided not to write “Weekly Photo Challenge” before my post’s title. This is not part of the challenge, but I’d like to share this with everyone.

**********************************

(photos were taken from HERE.)

For the last few days, it was very difficult for me to watch the Filipino news on tv. Typhoon Sendong came like a thief in the night, killing more than a thousand of my fellow Filipinos while they were sleeping, early morning of December 17.

The floods went up very fast and mud went inside almost every houses in Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City and other nearby provinces. People were caught by surprise, as their towns do not usually flood easily.

To date, the number of deaths have reached more than a thousand, some more thousands injured, lost their loved ones, lost their homes and properties – lost almost everything.

Each time I watch the evening news, my heart sinks as I watch and hear the stories – a father who lost his wife and all his children, a boy who has no where to go because all of his family members have died, and his house have been swept by the flood, a mother carrying her dead son full of mud. I saw people asking for help in the evacuation centers. There was not enough food, water and clothes – basic stuff that most of us enjoy and just take for granted. And tomorrow is Christmas.

And as I sit here in the comfort of our room, I felt so blessed. There was a huge gap BETWEEN my life and some unfortunate others. And so I don’t have a single right to complain about my life.

Allow me to share this prayer I got from Scriptorium:

Oh God  our Father:

In  faith we acknowledge Your paternal care over us, Your sons, daughters  and children. In hope we trust in Your divine providence of giving us  wisdom and courage as we face the challenges in life. In love we invoke Your help and guidance during these difficult days of death and  destruction in our dear country.

Our  is a prayer of thanksgiving for once again reminding us that ours is an  imperfect world, that heaven is not on earth, and that nature every now  and then tells us not to abuse her. Ours too is a prayer of repentance  for calling upon You when we are in need and desperation but forgetting You in favourable times and pleasing occasions. Ours as well is a prayer  of petition as we say:

Grant  eternal peace to those who lost their lives. Embrace the children who  died in their innocence. Help those who are hurt and cure those who are  sick.

Encourage  those who suffer the destruction of their homes and properties, and to  once again stand up and rebuild their future.

Bless  all those who extend their helping hands to those in need of food,  shelter and clothing, who share their time, talents and resources with  others.

Inspire  more people to be men and women for their neighbors, convinced that the  more they are for others, the taller they stand before you.

Spare  us please from other natural disasters and devastations if this be  according to Your will and for our own spiritual good and growth.

[Through Christ our Lord. Amen]

***********************************

If you are interested to help, check out this link for various ways to help. Click HERE.