“CHILDREN ARE AN HERITAGE OF THE LORD”

by: Norberto Betita

“Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalms 127:3). It was nice to think of having thirteen as we are in my family, but the accompanying responsibility of child rearing was such a frightening venture. The original family plan was only for four at four years interval. And so they came almost exactly as planned, except for the eldest and the second which were gapped at 5 years. However, one miraculous embryo sneaked, perhaps hoping for an opportunity to be with us, and by the providence of the Almighty was conceived under serious maternal risks. Her birth then almost cost her mother’s life. But her mother and Shauna Megan---our last-born--- were both saved by the family’s combined prayers of faith.

Like all her siblings, Shauna Megan had been such a wondrous addition and gift to the family. The parental sacrifices and the pains we have gone through from conception to her growing up, makes her even more important to the family. Her presence in the family circle filled our hearts with joy unspeakable.

The gifts of the Spirit she carried with her, generated a boost in the family. God has given her His “ten talents” or even more which since then were made manifest by the humble achievements and accomplishments she had gained during the last 26 years. Her gift of intellectual brilliance was long proven by her desire to excel from kindergarten through college. Maintaining the highest honors from grades I to VI and from first year to fourth year of high school was exemplary. Her record of excellence consistency was somewhat extraordinary. As parents, we stood with pride as we were honoured to hand over to her the “Cum Laude” medal she eligibly deserved from the University of the Philippines-Cebu. We have tried to keep her awards and medals of excellence. We find so much that many could no longer be identified as to which and where and when they were awarded. Her personal history will indeed be an inspiration for her nieces and nephews, and for her future children and posterity.

She loves the arts and music. Her writings inspire hearts. Her love for good books envies her nieces. Her persistent earnest desire for knowledge and learning keeps her intellectually alive. Her verbal ability reminds me of her kindergarten graduation when she stood with passion and confidence and delivered a welcome remarks by exact memory in an audience of children, parents, guests and educators. Such was further proven by awards in oratorical contests, speaking assignments in proms, and in two valedictory addresses in elementary and high school graduations which in my observations had stirred up high the heads of guest educators in awe.

Summing up all her strengths and wonderful gifts of the Spirit; I found that the greatest of all is her attribute of self-denial. In many instances even in her early childhood, she always placed the welfare of others above her own. Despite her quest for academic excellence, she always finds time in service for her nieces and nephews, for her friends, for her siblings, for us and for God. In her, the words of Ronwell Dwight Hitchcock find its real meaning: “The secret of all success is to know how to deny yourself. Prove that you can control yourself, and you are, an educated [woman]; and with this all other education is good for nothing.” Her love and generosity are virtues which in her heart inherently abide. 

Twenty six years since that fearful day of November 23, 1990, when she was given birth by caesarean as a result of her mother’s stroke, she is supposed to already be on her independent journey. She is to be on her way to find personal growth and progress. But she prefers to be of a broken heart and contrite spirit and by her attitude of selflessness she instead bears with us the burdens which should have been solely ours to lift.

Indeed how grateful we are of that miraculous embryo which sneaked in Mama’s womb, conceived and delivered under great risks of life. By her coming to life we find greater parental honor, greater family joy and gladness, greater inspiration and faith, greater hope in life, and stronger testimony that God does love His sons and daughters and that in His eternities we will one day be united together forever.

May the gleaming light of dawn awaken her with the sweetest smile on this her 26th birthday, and may the flashing rays of the rising sun shines brightly forward to remind her of the wonders of her birth and the joy in every footstep of her journey since then and onwards. The future is still far and uncertain. Our best wish is for her to always ‘walk the pathway where Jesus walked’ that joy and happiness will ever continue to be a part of her blessings in life.

I and my wife are immeasurably grateful for having her and her siblings as being such amazingly wonderful divine heritage from God. I believe that children are not only 'an heritage of the Lord,' but are our ultimate treasures on earth as well as in heaven.