Abandoned Daughter Meets the Old Man

clip_image002"I was pre-destined to live this kind of life," he told me one summer vacation, with a hint of regret in his voice. He was warmly welcomed into our house when he arrived a day after the start of my summer vacation with my family; all of us siblings were at home then.

"Were you?" My lips quivered even before I could hide my irritation. Don't get me wrong. We're enjoying this father-daughter tandem (he's making up for the years he lost when he chose to live with another woman). It was just that I had a sickening feeling of being dragged into his own miseries. Well, I went back to my hometown to enjoy the rest of the summer days with my family, right? I didn't imagine it to be a dramatic one.

He lowered his eyes. I didn't like to look at his eyes. I continued.

"You're old; I'm sure you don't want to spend the remaining days of your life in misery. You have abandoned us mercilessly, but we have accepted you with forgiveness upon my step-father's leading. Are you sure this is your destiny? Isn't life made up of choices?" That was the first time I talked to him as an adult and not as his youngest child whom he was so fond of.

"I was too weak then," he replied. "I have known God since then but I had easily fallen into those temptations. I left the seminary, and I became all the more confused." A long pause followed. "We all have our destiny, and this is my destiny," he added with conviction.

"I beg to disagree," I was in no way going to let him dwell on that thinking. "Yes, we were destined to live here on earth and be somebody else, but that destiny is God-given. He sent us here to be winners, not to be losers. That is why we constantly make choices. If God is in your life and you sincerely recognize him as your personal savior, wouldn't your choices be leading to His will? True, it wasn't a mistake why that half-sister of mine, now a School Principal, had been born, nor the three of us, unique and talented as we are, and even that half-Chinese brother of ours, who had chosen to neglect you now that he is ascending into the corporate world, an error in the scheme of things. It was God's plan that we carry your genes, but you were not destined to have that miserable life that you have been living for decades."

He gasped. He was taken aback. And with a smile he said, "I am proud of you, my daughter. Go on; I'm listening. This old man, a preacher in my town, is learning from his young daughter."

"I am now in the position to tell you these things despite my age and little experience because I can feel your burdens. Choose to be happy. The severity of your actions in the past, jumping from one mortal sin to another, had taken its toll, but you should apply what you have been asking us to do, to leave the past and live the present with a positive vibe for tomorrow."

"I am still so young; I have my own troubles, and the end of my journey is still way ahead. But I will choose to be with God. The uncertain future might seem frightening for my young heart, but God has replaced it with valor. I will always be facing choices, but I strongly hold on to God. And I know deep in my heart that I am already a champion. We all are. We go through different chiseling depending on the development of our character. But I hold steadfast to my faith. Do you get me, 'Pang?"

I looked at him and he was teary-eyed. With all humility, he gazed at me. "True. Very true. You are right in every way, my daughter," he blurted. "I should have been stronger."

"No regrets 'Pang. Remember, your offspring are all good." (Ahem!)

Beaming, he answered. "God is making my dreams come true through you. You all have grown to be brilliant individuals. And yes, you all have good hearts. That fact waters my parched soul."(I got the gift of weaving words from him.)

"We are all winners, 'Pang. The all-loving God had already won the battle for us. I know you know better because God has saved you in spite of everything."

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