One of the last times that I saw Lolo was also one of the most memorable moments that I had with him. He was having a difficult day, his body aches and tiredness seemed to frustrate him. I knew I could not take that pain away. All I could do was to be with him as he experienced it.
That night, I sat by his bedside praying some rosaries. His eyes were closed, listening to the instrumental music he always listened to around bedtime. I was praying that the Blessed Mother would give him joy and strength during this final test of his life. After a while, he opened his eyes. Then, he stared at me for a while. It wasn't a look of confusion, gratefulness, or admiration, nor was it devoid of any feeling. It was a simple look of a grandfather on his grandson. I stared back at him for a few seconds.
He then told me to look for a book he was reading through (no small task if you know how many books the man owns and reads). After searching for a while, I found it. It was a collection of meditations written about the end of one's life, and how Jesus accompanies us during those most distressing days.
He began to read the meditations to me. He started with the mediation for that day and continued on. Days and weeks passed. I asked if I could read him some too, so I did. We passed the book back and forth a couple of times reading these reflections.
What I now realize about that evening is that it showcased the man I knew as my grandfather. First, he gave. I think he wanted to read those reflections more to comfort me than as comfort for him! He wanted to show that his passing on would not be something to be feared because he trusted in Jesus. Second, he was attentive. In that silent look, in that sacred time, I was his focus. How many hours, days, years were joyfully given by him to spend time with his family members. I remember him at my baseball games. I could always spot his kind and serene look behind those chainlink backstops. Third, he was humble. As I knew Lolo, he was a man of few words. Although his actions were his declarations. He was like St Joseph in that way. He stuck with his family, helped us when we needed him, provided for us when we needed it.
It is a popular belief that once people reach Heaven, those who helped them get there will be revealed to them. It may be shocking to someone who has prayed for them; it may have been obvious on earth. If by the Grace of God, I do receive eternal blessedness, and I rejoice with Lolo there, it will be no surprise that he helped me on my journey.
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"What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies; who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us?Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,
“For thy sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:31-35)