The Story of Jacob and Esau: Be the Kind of Person Others Want to Bless

Today I've read about how Jacob dressed up to get blessing, and how we are all Jacobs dressing up to be someone else to be loved. And it is a beautiful thought.

But it made me think my first feelings when I was young when I read that story. I did not care about Jacob at all. I cared about Esau. I remembered how I ached for Esau(I am first born myself). I felt terrible for him tricked that way. I felt sorry for him, for the mistake he had made. Selling his birthright like that for a bowl of stew.

The blessing meant for him as first born was given to Jacob.

My heart ached when he begged for Isaac, his father, to bless him too, Isaac blessed him, but it was not the same blessing. In fact, the bible said, it was an inferior blessing. How unfair that was! How sorry.

I can imagine Esau's rage, and how Jacob flee. 

As the story progressed (Jacob wrestling with the angel and begging for blessing) I was hoping for something to happen to restore the blessing back to Esau, which was rightfully his in the beginning. But it didn't happen.

And just like that, one decision, one bad choice, changed everything.

Sometimes we take things lightly; the blessing of God, the blessing of parents, the blessing of old people, the blessing of others.

I heard news of a celebrity posting things in Instagram shaming her parents. It just didn’t feel right for me. 

Children, shaming your parents in front of other people do not make you look good. 

Do not be such an ass and do not do things that will give your parents reason to curse you. Instead be a person that others want to bless. Or better yet be a person that wants to bless others.

There is one great tradition that we Filipinos are slowly losing, and that is “Pagmamano”. I remembered when I was young, how we little children would go to our Parents and ask for their hands to put it in our forehead to bless us before we leave home and after we return home. I remembered how we ask for the hands of older people to bless us every time we meet them. Now it is replaced by beso-beso (kiss in the cheek), which is also good, but I just love the act of humility involved in asking a hand to bless us. Let us try to uphold and keep that tradition and teach it to our little children.  

Now, going back to the story, I like how it all ends, Jacob learning his lesson, wresting with an Angel of God to get a blessing, and he got what he wanted. I have to give it to Jacob being persistent like that, giving importance to blessings.

And I still love Esau because despite what was lost of him, in the end, he had moved on, forgiven Jacob, embraced him as a brother and went in peace.

Until The Day Dawns, and the Morning Star Rises In Your Hearts

Until the day dawns, and the morning star rises in your hearts.

This morning there was this little bird on top of our mango tree.
How beautiful it is that God cares for them and not one falls without our Father's notice.

Can I Pray With You?

I have not been constant - in prayer, in studies,

and in everything i deem important.

Standing on feeble ground; building my hut on the sand.

You knocked on my door and I let you in.

Has it been raining? You don't look fine.

Your heart's blue; sadness engulfing you.

You told me things of woe.

I hope anyone wouldn't come to know.

Death's been whispering in your thoughts.

It has grown on you.

Your spiritual warfare's so real

Battle smoke I could smell.

Along came many scruples with it.

Don't think too much,

don’t think too much…

I wanted so bad to pray with you.

Can I pray with you? -

this i did not dare ask.

I doubt my heart could stand the task.

I'm not as steadfast as I like.

You left with my "I'll pray for you."

But you came back still in woe.

I knew I have here a work to do.

But what can I do?

I have no time to settle my doubts, my fears -

my own storms I could not keep still.

I have not time for guilt.

I cannot rely on what I have built.

So today let’s just be you and me, and God be God.

Let's be weak in our weakness, blind in our blindness-

rest in our restlessness.

I'll pray for you and you pray with me.

God in our midst,

God in our weakness,

God in you and God in me.

Let mercy fall, let the day dawn,

let my heart break and let it mend.

I'll carry you and you carry me.

To the divine together

we shall surrender.

***

This is for the moment I first prayed over someone. And for all the coming moments i will feel terrified to pray over someone, I will always be found wanting but let mercy fall.

And no matter what, I will always remember:

“There is a secret medicine given only to those who hurt so hard they can't hope. The hopers would feel slighted if they knew.” 

-Rumi

The Birds Sing Praises Just Before the Sun Rises

I have a beautiful prayer practice to recommend.

Not too long ago, I noticed birds singing and praising God early in the morning just before the sun rises.

I thought, My God they are singing praises!

I joined in singing in Spirit along with them and noticed i am in perfect harmony with their tune. I slowed down when they slowed down and I stopped when they stopped.

I was intrigued. I am in awe. They sing every morning at the exact same time.

I am reminded of a psalm calling all creations on earth to praise God.

Saying let everything that has breath worship him.

I have googled about this and found I am not alone:

http://heart2heartbeat.com/why_do_birds_sing.htm

Thank you Lord!

In the morning, give me the grace to lift my voice and sing in praise and thanksgiving to you. For you alone is worthy of praise.