Thirteen Flowers (A short story- Fiction)

It was just like yesterday when I had an argument with my wife and we had a falling out. I had to get out of the house to simmer down. As I was walking in the park, I saw a flower, a red one standing at the edge of the park. I was mesmerized by it that I found myself going out there to pick it up. What kind of flower was this? It was gorgeous and the color was crimson red, just like my blood. As I picked it up I thought of my wife. How lovely was she. It was just like yesterday when I married her and we had a turbulent relationship. We had our shares of quarrels but somehow, we managed to patch things up. And today was just like any other day that we had a spat.

As I looked at the flower, my anger seemed to have vanished and I realized just how important she was to my life. Ah, I'm going back to her and fix our relationship. I could not really go on with my life without her. And the children, they need a father to bring them up as wonderful kids. How foolish of me to run out of my house. Hah, I'm going back and straighten everything out. And I promise to God that I will never quarrel with my wife again. Life is more bearable with her charming presence around.

The house was in disarray. Everything seemed in topsy turvey. Rows of flowers lined the entrance to the house. It was so bright inside. People were milling around. Stifled cries can be heard outside. I saw familiar faces in the house. My father was there and so was my mother. I saw faces of my friends and relatives there. They were all there. Must be some sort of a reunion I guessed. Then I saw my wife. How lovely was she. She was wearing a white gown. And I saw my children, their faces ashen and sad. How I missed them all. I will tell them how much I love them.

I approached my wife and gave her the flower that I have. And she placed it with the other flowers in a big vase. I counted them all. Twelve white flowers and mine was the thirteenth, one that stand out in crimson red.

Everything became so eerie. Something's wrong. Suddenly, I realized that my father and mother were dead and so do all the relatives and friends that I saw there. They were all dead. My God don't tell me that my wife and children are all dead too.

Everything seemed to whirl around me. Flashes of darkness and light kept flickering all around me. My body stiffened and I could sense a vague light penetrating my eyes. Then voices occupied the peripheries of my mind. He's coming into. He is breathing. He is alive. I saw people milling all around me. And I saw the loveliest face that ever beheld my eyes. It was my beautiful wife, as she hugged me with all her might. And I saw my children milling around me, all crying unabashedly. What happened? I asked timidly. You were ran over by a car and you were brought here in the hospital already dead. The doctors tried to revive you and it's only now that you were revived.

And I saw the red flower that she held in her hand. Where did you get that, I asked? I got it from you. You were clutching this flower as though your life depended on it. Ah, freedom at last. I have been given back a new leash on life.


Posted by Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Literary/Short Story

Life Is Like That

You may be groaning right now from   
the heavy burden that is on your shoulder,
but take heed, the Lord is just strengthening
those shoulders for you to be able to bear
the burdens of others.
You may be in a very dark tunnel right now
unable to see anything at all,
but take heed, there is always light
at the end of the tunnel.
You may be complaining right now about 
how hard it is to climb your mountain,
but take heed, after your arduous climb
you will see the most spectacular scene
at the top of the mountain.

Life is like that my child.
The Lord seems too harsh on us at times,
but please remember that He will never
give us any trial wherein He will also give
us sufficient grace to overcome them.

The eagles cannot fly to the very heights
of the sky if they were not pushed out
of their comfort zones by their mothers
who wanted them to fly on their own.
The process may be painful and scary 
as the young eagles plummet to the ground
but with tremendous pain and efforts
of flapping their young wings,
they eventually learn how to fly and
soar ecstatically among the clouds.

Pearls are made when an intruder 
invades the oyster who secretes
that powerful enzyme that kills
the intruder and turn it into an 
elegant pearl.  
The salmons swim upstream
half way around the world to 
return to their spawning grounds
where they eventually die after
laying their eggs.

Life is ebb and flow, strike or miss.
Nobody has a monopoly of the very
best and the worst of life. 
Each person has his own cross to carry
and the burdens to bear,
but after the hard lessons in life
are learned, the Lord will give us
the crowning glory of success.

Hold on, push through, climb higher still.
For every tear that you shed 
a crowning joy is waiting for you.
You were fearfully and wonderfully 
made by the Lord and He will not stop
pushing you to your limits until that
masterpiece which is you has been 
fully developed for the whole world
to marvel and admire.
God loves you more than you will
ever know.
Did He not die on the cross for you?
So when you are burdened by the 
heavy load you are carrying,
remember that the Lord is at your side
crying and sighing with you. 

Smile child. It is a beautiful life.
It is a wonderful world.


Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
                                

Do You Listen When Your Body Talks?

Our bodies communicate with us in so many ways, but oftentimes, we never listen to them. If we will only make it a habit to listen carefully to what they are saying, then we can save ourselves from lots of troubles. For example, our bodies communicate to us when we are hungry or when we are already full. But no, we let ourselves go hungry when we are so busy and try to push the feeling of hunger out of our mind's perception. The result, sooner or later, we develop ulcers. Or our bodies tell us that we are already full and fully satisfied, but no, our mind still wants to gorge on the delectable fares on the dining table. And the result? Sooner or later, we develop unwanted fats that can lead to full blown obesity.

Pains, fevers, dizziness, neuralgia, and other bodily symptoms are the ways our bodies communicate with us. We must be very sensitive to their messages if we want to live a fully healthy and longer lives. A nagging pain in the neck and at the napes could mean a high blood pressure. This could be accompanied by dizziness and a feeling of nausea.

For most part of my life, I have not been to doctors. They only make me more sick and panicky. I just listened to my body talks and I responded to them accordingly. Of course, I am not recommending what I am doing to others. I can do this because I live by faith and not by sight (senses). My complete trust and confidence in the goodness of God and His faithfulness to His promises plus the unmistakable language of my body have kept me relatively healthy and alive all these years although I was diagnosed to have life threatening diseases a long time ago. When your body talks, please listen to it attentively, then do whatever necessary things you have to do and live a relatively healthy and trouble free life.

Tags: Health, Body Talk, Symptoms, Life, Longevity, Freedom from Pain, Neuralgia, Dizziness, Sensible Diet, Exercise, Clean Living, Healthy Lifestyle, Wellness, Live By Faith, God's Promises, Long Life

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Lifestyle/Health/Wellness

Fasting And Prayers, Automatic Line To Heaven

There is still no shortest and surest way to God than fasting and prayer. Fasting has become a lost art, what with all the sumptuous fares all around. To be able to fast takes a lot of inspiration, determination and guts. But fasting, together with prayer and meditation on the word of God, is the fastest, shortest and surest way of reaching God. It reestablishes our connection with God. It accentuates our relationship with Him and reminds us who we really are in the presence of an Almighty God. It humbles us as we are reminded that we are just dusts of the earth, a mere discarded rag in the dazzling presence of the Creator of the entire universe. Aside from meeting God in His lofty dwelling, fasting, prayer and meditation on the word of God bring so many fringe benefits and bonanzas for us.

1. It cleanses our minds, hearts and soul and firmly reestablishes our connection with God.
2. It cleanses the mist and imperfections in our conscience, making it a crystal mirror of our relationship with God.
3. It strengthens the voice and leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We are immediately convicted of anything that disturbs our relationship with God that displeases Him.
4. It heals all our diseases. Modern medicine, saints, gurus, and ascetics testify about the wonderful effects of prolonged fasting to the body. A fasting of 3 to 7 days with only liquid for intake heals all sicknesses in our body, including incurable ones like cancer, lupus, bipolar disorders, aids, etc. When the body is starved of food, it eats first the diseased cells and accumulated fats in the body and expels all unwanted toxins out of the body. All clogged systems- circulatory, respiratory, digestive, muscular and even malfunctioning of vital organs of the body are cleansed of all undesired and toxic elements rendering them to operate smoothly like an overhauled machine.

The wounds suffered by Jesus Christ as He was mercilessly scourged by the Roman centurions represent healing for all kinds of diseases in mankind. We only have to claim it (the healing) through a living faith, and healing of both body and soul is ours for the taking. Pardon me as I complete the seven day fast ordained by our church for all our members nationwide and worldwide. HAPPY FASTING!

Tags: Fasting, Prayer, Meditation, Word of God, God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Healing, Diseases, Conscience, Line To God, Living Faith, Cleansing, Almighty God, Creator of the Universe, Dusts of the Earth, Discarded Rags, Mind, Heart, Soul, Relationship With God, Saints, Gurus, Ascetics, Cancer, Lupus, Bipolar Disorder, AIDS

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Inspirational/Motivational

The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter

The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter
a poem by Mel Avila Alarilla


The heart is a lonely hunter
It seeks the places of previous
love, joy, reminiscings.
It yearns for a love that has been lost.

There in the periphery of time and space-
a love that has been sought was veiled
for the eyes to see.

How lonely is the world without one's love.
Looking at the empty walls,
only tears are the companion of one's soul.

As life begins to slowly ebb from this frail body,
I yearn to see once more the love I have long
sought for.
Wherever she may be, I hope she will realize
just how much I miss her.

My heart cries out in pain, the throbbing sobs
of the hurts embedded deep in my soul.
As the melody wafts in the inner chamber
of my mind,
I recall the wonderful days of years gone by
when we were together.

Now that I am on death throes
how I long to see your face once more,
To gaze at your winsome smile, To be reassured again and again,
that you love me.

Ah, that would be enough to calm the storm
raging in my soul.
As the cold misty air of the twilight time
descends on my empty body,
Let me hear once more your angelic voice
saying for the last time that you love me.
Again and again. Until the end.
Until the very..............end.




The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter




Tags: The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter, Love of My Life, My Only Love, One and Only Love, Missing You, Lonely Heart, Love To Last A Lifetime, Pain, Hurt, Loneliness, Death, Death Throes, Again and Again, Until The End, Until The Very End

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Poetry/Literary

A Re-post Of Kimmy's Appeal For Help For Her Daughter

TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND READERS: I APPEAL TO ALL OF YOU TO PLEASE HELP MY BLOGGER FRIEND KIMMY TO DEFRAY THE COST OF HER DAUGHTER'S KNEE OPERATION. ANY AMOUNT YOU WILL SEND WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED AND WE WILL PRAY FOR GOD'S BLESSING TO POUR BACK TO YOU. GOD BLESS US ALL ALWAYS.

                                         Mel Avila Alarilla

                                          

Look at My Daughter.. She Needs Help..

August 20th, 2012 | Author: kimmy

This is my eldest daughter, Candid. She’s 17 years old taking up Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication. Last July 24, she twisted her right  knee in her Physical Education class. Though the x-ray, taken at the school clinic, showed no bone fracture, she was not able to go to school for a week due to extreme pain. But she finally managed to stand up alone and limp her way to class with knee support.

Two weeks after the incident, the school clinic released her x-ray result with an order that she see an Orthopedic surgeon. So, we went to see an Ortho surgeon. After checking my daughter’s knee, the surgeon wrote a request for MRI.

Last Saturday, I went to see the Ortho surgeon alone. With me was my daughter’s MRI result with the following findings:

1. Partial tear, anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments.
2. Complex tear, posterior horn of the medial meniscus.
3. Horizontal tear, posterior horn of the lateral meniscus.
4. Bone contusion, lateral femoral condyle
5. Minimal knee joint effusion.

The Ortho surgeon told me my daughter needs to undergo Arthroscopic Meniscectomy to repair the damage. The surgery, though not dangerous and would only take shorter period of time compared with major operations, is extremely expensive. It is about ten times my monthly salary in my previous job.

Right now, my daughter limps and her right thigh is already thinner than the left, probably due to minimal use. She can’t stand straight and she is in pain every waking moment. The pain intensifies when she gets tired, she walks up and down the stairs, she gets surprised or she feels cold. But sometimes the pain intensifies for no reason at all.

Nothing hurts a mother so much than to see her child in pain. And I see her in pain every day and witness her legs getting more and more deformed. And I began to think of the things she could no longer do like play football, run the marathon or even simply run around the park with friends. My heart aches and I desperately want to have her knee fixed. But we simply couldn’t afford it. We need help from friends.

So, I am reaching out to you. Please, help us. I know there are thousands of people out there who need help just like us, but I have to take my chance. I have to try..

Thank you so much and may GOD bless you and your family always..

*You can send your donations to rodlizb@yahoo.com. Any amount would be appreciated. Let us know if you send something so we can thank you properly by featuring you in my blogs or in private, whatever you prefer.

Yes, There Are Still Angels In The Internet

Despite the growing cynicism of the times where people tend to be more greedy and avaricious; despite the widespread distrust of man against his fellowmen; despite the turbulent situation of the world's economy; yes, and despite the coldness of man against his fellowmen, it is heartwarming to note that, yes, there are still angels in the internet. No, it is not the winged kind with glowing halos on their head. These are faceless angels I have met in the internet in the course of my blogging activities. It just so happened that I made an innocent comment in one of the post of a Christian blogger friend from the Philippines about how the verse she posted- Proverbs 3: 5-6 ("Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths."), came to me like a sudden burst of spring shower in the desert land I was in, facing a financially gloomy Christmas. She asked for my Paypal account address. I said no, she needed the money herself because of a very recent and expensive major operation of her mother. But she insisted and I finally consented. Yesterday she deposited a generous amount to my account. It was heaven sent and what could I say but thanked the Lord for the generosity of this lady angel. I will not mention her name lest a beeline of opportunist bloggers come knocking at her door. Suffice it to say that I prayed hard for her that the Lord will return back to her a thousand fold what she gave me.

Another blogging friend from Canada who is suffering from multiple debilitating and painful diseases offered to send me a custom built cane that functions as a seat as well. I gently declined the offer, citing her own need for the medicine and treatment cost of her diseases and the exorbitant cost of shipping it from Canada. I can't believe that there are still people out there whose hearts are gold and still beating with love and tenderness for their fellowmen. May your tribe increase. Yes Virginia, there are still angels in the internet.

Tags: God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Angels, Internet, Blogging, Heart of Gold, Uplifting, Feel Good, Good Samaritan, Generosity, Blessings, Philippines, Canada, Disease, Healing, Faith, Love, Joy, Peace

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Inspirational/Motivational/Feel Good