Come before winter
(Fourth part)

Some years ago, I had the joy of leading in a service for the birthday of an 87-year-old lady of our Church, Ginesa G. Heceta. She had written to her children in this country and abroad asking them to come home. "I believe this will be my last birthday," she wrote them (Sounds like St. Paul appealing to Timothy). And of course all her children came home and many of us attended her supposedly "last" birthday party! She did not die yet at the time but we all came before winter early enough.

Many Sillimanians will remember Margaret P. Mack who was a most creative and committed teacher of Bible in Silliman in the 50s and 60s. She was a friend of my family which benefited from our friendship with her by way of pieces of good advice. I've failed to write her a letter of gratitude especially for her ardent love for my late wife, Leonora. She is now in a hospital for special care and turned 99 on June 19, 2005. I learned about this from Dr. Lorna Gaudiel who had visited her in Virginia, USA. I've sent her a letter of love and thanks hoping it reaches her before it is too late. My friends, I suggest we write that letter or call on the telephone or visit someone before it is no longer possible.

I've just learned that my friend, Dr. Ben Junasa, died of leukemia a week ago. I'm glad I wrote a letter 10 days before Ben died to comfort him and Regina, hoping my letter arrived on time. Many years ago I had been instrumental in their going to Hawaii as missionaries and we've been great friends ever since.

But what we should be most concerned about has to do with our marriage relationships; these are often affected by present social and economic developments, such as temporary separations for one reason or other, particularly with a wife or husband having to work abroad.

From my pastoral observation of certain situations, I believe we should apply the words of Isaiah to our often disturbed marriages. I heard Leslie Weatherland express it this way. "Come and let us bring our conflicts to an end. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as wool." In other words, let us be forgiving.

I've recently found a marriage prayer in my files. It was written years ago by the then Pastor of Hollywood Presbyterian Church when his own son was married to a movie star. The words are most touching and have particular relevance to our marriages:

May they be forebearing with each other's omissions and commissions as you are with theirs. Give them enough tears to keep them tender, enough hurts to keep them humane, enough failures to keep their hands clinched tightly in yours, and enough success to make them sure they walk with God. May they never take each other's love for granted. May they serve you happily and faithfully until at last one shall lay the other in God's arms.* TO BE CONTINUED

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