I cherished the memory when we almost have lost hope to be able to have another child after a gap of five years since our eldest daughter was born. But Heavenly Father answered our prayers and he was conceived.
On the time of his scheduled delivery, her mother was confined for more than 24 hours in continued labor pains. I was enveloped with fears and anxieties as I witnessed her mother suffered in excruciating agony, frail and weary for having no rest. A dreaded terror even blanketed my already drained and exhausted limbs when I was informed that the young mother next my dear Letty’s bed died after child birth.
My wife’s doctor then was in America and was not available for her scheduled delivery of our son. Letty’s childbirth was therefore dependent on the availability of the resident physician of the Surigao Provincial Hospital. When he was about to be delivered at dawn of June 19, 1980, the doctor was performing surgery together with available nurses. The only available labor support then at the delivery room were two midwifery students of the Surigao Education Center. There’s no longer time to wait, he had to be delivered. I was there to assist the midwifery students. I saw the smaller student trembling while the bigger one had shown much confidence that she could do the delivery. We did the labor couching together and our son was safety born. But the students almost got an error of cutting the umbilical cord in the inside of the forceps instead of outside it. Good that the bigger one was alert enough to caution the trembling student. All that the doctor and nurses did, were to do the finishing touches and provide medicines and prescriptions.
Immediately, on the first Sunday of July, our son received his first ordinance in mortality---the naming and blessing of a child. As a Father and Melchizedek Priesthood holder, I performed for him the ordinance. He was then named
ROBERT SHERWIN, after the name of the missionary who baptized us---Robert Sherwin Allred.
I should say that he was an answer to our prayers not only because he was conceived when we were already kind of hopeless that we would have another child, but also because I truly prayed that we will have another potential priesthood holder in the family.
His early childhood was faced with trials, because soon after his birth, I lost my job and I have to support the family’s needs from a very minimal income out of a little vegetable garden in a borrowed lot. We were then living in one small room where everything we own were crammed and jam-packed. Fortunately, however, I eventually got a much better and secured job.
 |
| Father and son long ago at church |
Our closeness as father and son developed very early in his life. I treasured those moments when he would want always to go with me at church when I have scheduled meetings. By then there was no readily available transport to church, so we have to walk and I would carry him on my back as we traverse the hill to the Provincial Capitol and down Ceniza Heights Subdivision which is approximately a one and a half kilometers walking distance, oftentimes even under the heat of the afternoon sun. He enjoyed those childhood experiences.
He had been raised and reared in the church and had learned the gospel at home and ever since he was in the Primary until becoming a member of the young men organization. He was conferred the Aaronic Priesthood and ordained to its different offices and had since diligently performed his priesthood callings. Eventually, he was also conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood and ordained an Elder while studying at the University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City.
During his youthful life, he’s never been a problem. He loved reading books, especially the adventure stories of The Hardy Boys---a series of stories of two brave young brothers called Frank and Joe Hardy who are adventurous and sometimes even assisted in solving crimes by their excitement to participate in dangerous escapades. He loved to borrow those books from the library near our rented house. Such interest for reading developed his comprehension and learning ability and even enhanced his proficiency of the English language.
He is the only boy out of our five children, but he was never a spoiled brat. His discipline even as a young boy is reflected in his ability to develop self-mastery. He strongly shunned the temptations most common in the vulnerability of youth---he neither drink liquor nor smoke. His frugality has long since been developed even in his younger days. He didn’t demand for anything that was not needed, but when he had a need for something, he just honestly informed us and waited until we could provide. When his shoes or bag were worn out, he showed those personal gears to us, but never asked for replacement. He left the burdens before our feet for our conscience to voluntarily oblige. He is apt to live the popular American motto: "Use it Up, Wear it Out Make it Do or Do Without” even until today when he can already provide for himself and his family.
He still wears shirts which were acquired 10 years ago and buys cheap kinds of apparels which sometimes irritates his wife, though she very much supported and appreciated his incarnate provident life. He takes the Lord’s counsel, “…thou shalt not be proud in thy heart; let all thy garments be plain…” (D&C 42:40).
He is not easily driven into the most inviting cares and pride of the world. The “deceitfulness of riches” as described in the Lord’s Parable of the Sower, has never in any way attracted his attention. He’s had many opportunities come into his life for material advancement and the prospects of temporal abundance and security, but he prefers living a consecrated life before the Lord. He is always satisfied to humbly just acknowledge that he has sufficient for his family’s needs. He understands best the Lord’s admonition: “Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich” (D&C 6:7).
As a husband, father and Priesthood leader, he gives preeminence to his family. He gives of his most precious times to his wife and children. He makes it a point that he is worthy to perform priesthood ordinances for them. He likewise shares his time, talents and possessions in service to others and in helping to build the Lord’s Kingdom.
 |
| With the Area, Mission and District leaders |
He is engaged in an unpaid ministry in the church---a voluntary service to God. Yet he glories in being privileged to preside and lead a district of the Lord’s Church in this part of His vineyard. He leads and ministers to the people he had been called to serve with utmost dedication, concern and love. He sees to it that their spiritual and temporal needs are meet. He makes it a point that the poor and needy are cared for and ministered unto, according to the commandment of the Lord to his stewards and servants which says: “…be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees. And if thou art faithful unto the end thou shalt have a crown of immortality, and eternal life in the mansions which I have prepared in the house of my Father” (D&C 81:5-6).
In my unbiased assessment of his consecrated life, as a father, I see in him the epitome of the Lord’s example of a servant leader. He takes his stewardship with deeper dedication and commitment, keeping in mind the words of King Benjamin, “…that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17). He used to tell me that there is no better leadership guide than to teach people correct principles and let them govern themselves, as admonished by the prophet Joseph Smith. (Messages of the First Presidency, comp. James R. Clark, 6 vols., Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965–75, 3:54.)
Among his favorite scriptures which is also my favorite, is found in Doctrines & Covenants 58:2-4: “For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.
“Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.
“For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.”
More than the progressive opportunities offered for him in the material world, he enjoys even best performing his humble temporal employment with honesty and sincerity and dedication to duty, while at the same time laying for an offering the rest of his time, talents and means before the sacred altar of the Lord Jesus Christ as his humble expression of his love of living a consecrated life.
