Hand-picked by GOD

"Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)

During the Engaged Encounter Weekend that Edison and I attended in preparation for our married life together, one of the important things that we needed to discuss was how we were going to raise our children. At the time, we did not have any clear expectations. There was no clear cut formula or anything. All we knew was that we wanted our children to grow in GOD's grace.

My good friend and I had discussed this before - having a mission and vision for your family. Mine was merely drafted from my Alma Mater's Mission Statement for its students: to be a good Catholic, a proud Filipino, and a life-long learner - which was great! However, I knew that Edison and I would have to collaborate our visions in order to create our very own FAMILY MISSION STATEMENT.

Then a couple of months ago, for a classroom project, Edward's teacher gave us a particular homework that would force us to face the very same question that was asked of us before we even got married: What is your dream for your child?

While the homework only asked about our dream for Edward, we took the opportunity to finally put our Family Mission Statement down in writing. In his book Family First, Dr. Phil McGraw says, "Your role as a parent is the highest, noble calling you will ever have in your life... a privilege with which you've been entrusted..." He asks, "Is your family nurturing your child's individuality and acting to ensure that he or she will become the unique and authentic person GOD intended?"

Prayers... reflection... dialogue... and more reflection...

Edison and I were very careful not to mention any particular profession as a dream for Edward and Alison. We just want them to be happy with whatever they choose to dedicate their lives to. The homework exercise also gave us a chance to reaffirm which values were most important to us: responsibility and love of GOD.


Our dream for our children is for them to become responsible, happy, and passionate individuals, whose vocations in life would be able to serve GOD and others.


I am sharing this with you because I believe that it does "take a village" to raise children. And while we, as their parents, have the primary responsibility, all of you essentially share the task with us because you are a part of our family's life. I would like to ask all of you to help us uplift that values that we hold dear.

For those of you who are starting your own families, may this inspire you to reflect upon your ideology and create your own unique vision for your family. For those of you who have been parents for quite sometime now, I hope that this sharing of mine would create an opportunity for dialogue between you and your spouse to reaffirm your family values. There is always room for improvement!

I have often been asked: Is it hard to be a parent?

I tell them about a beautiful quote that I had come across with: "I cried out to GOD, 'Lord, let me see Your face,' and then He gave me a child."

Let the quote sink in... and you can just imagine the depth of it all...

On the one hand, I cannot be more honored than being hand-picked by GOD to bear and rear these little miracles, who are the images of GOD Himself! On the other, how terrifying is it to know that I will not do Him justice if I mess this all up? How difficult and overwhelming is it as I realize that real and actual destinies are in my hands?

Yes, I do have my moments of doubt. But Jesus hushes the storm, as He did when He was with His apostles, and I find the strength in me: "GOD won't give me what I can't bear."

Dear Lord, may You continue to bless our family and home so that, in our own humble way, we may do our part in building up Your kingdom.