God works in mysterious ways.
This details how God works in mysterious ways. This is a story about Momi Berlin and her father. I haven’t seen him for a long time, and I hope and pray that in time, we will see each other again.
Our first hello
26 years ago.
My mom and I were eating at Jollibee. Then my mom bumped into an old friend. I later learned that that old friend was a cousin-in-law. The cousin relayed to my mother that her father-in-law was in a hospital. She invited my mom to visit the old man.
We went with her to the hospital. There was a young man by the bedside of the much older man. Then my mom instructed me to take the hand of the younger man. “Mag bless ka sa kanya.”
I obliged. Then the gentleman and I talked. He asked me so many things. Then he told me, “I am your father.” All along, I thought my dad was dead.
Welcome home, daddy
four years ago.
Saturday
He called me one Saturday evening – 10:41 pm. He sounded so bothered and depressed. He asked me to meet him the following day at Cubao as early as I can be.
Sunday
We picked him up at Cubao at around 8 am. Had breakfast with the kids and went back home.
I cooked lunch and together, we had our first lunch ever. After, we drank brandy and red wine. The kids challenged him to play Game of the Generals, Monopoly, and Uno Stacko. They had fun, and their laughter was so deafening.
We talked for almost the whole day. He mentioned he never eats during dinner. I fixed him a bowl of vegetable salad to eat. He took the bait.
He seemed tired. After a few minutes, he excused himself and retired for the night.
I haven’t seen him for years. I grew up without him by my side. He hadn’t seen my first smile nor heard my first word. I haven’t spent any of my birthdays with him. He wasn’t even by my mother’s side when I was born. He hadn’t seen me gave birth thrice, too.
He hadn’t spent his entire day with me when I was a kid nor with my boys. Now, they play, laugh, eat together, and talk. The kids call him daddy lo.
Monday
I had a work commitment thus needed to report at the office. As I bid farewell to my loved ones, I saw Second son and my dad sitting by the gate. They seemed to be discussing something. It was such a lovely sight I was too timid to take a picture. I might spoil everything.
Whatever reason he had for staying with us, I thank God. Whatever his reason was for seeking refuge in our humble abode, I was truly thankful. God gave me the chance to be a daughter to a father I hardly know. And the opportunity it gave for my kids and husband to know him was equally beautiful.
I knew then he would return to his house very soon. But for the meantime, we wanted him to feel really at ease.
Welcome to our life, daddy
WELCOME HOME, DADDY| A welcome cake for our daddy.
* Daddy came Sunday morning (March 31, 2012). He left Thursday morning (April 5, 2012) to spent Holy Week with his other relatives. He promised to be back soon. He asked that I excuse myself from work last Monday (April 2) and Tuesday (April 3), but I didn’t. I promised him though that I will spend my Wednesday with him. And forever, I will treasure that Wednesday experience with him. And I am positive there will be more Wednesdays to come that I will get to spend with him.
Ang cute ng cake. You sure love cakes too hehe. So bumalik ba si dadi sa bahay nyo or umuwi na sya sa cavite?
di pa sya bumabalik sa kanila. he is somewhere doing some electrical works for a relative. biro mo, ngayon ko lang nalaman na engr pala sya at un ang trabaho nya sa pldt for 25 years kaya nalibot na daw nya ang buong pilipinas dahil sa work nya. eheheh. parang trivia sa akin.
nway, nagsaside line syang electrical engr sa isang relative. tapos daw babalik sya sa amin. naks.
at oo, kapag di ko alam kung ano ibibigay, cake na lang. pero sa yo, flowers. wink wink.
Wow, seeing your father actually alive might’ve left you speechless. If it was me, I would be really skeptical. It was a bittersweet and brief moment. I bet it really left an imprint in your heart. It will always be a mystery.
One rule I always live by- no questions if I can’t handle the answer. So in everything about him, I never asked questions. Mystery sometimes make the blurry part beautiful to look at.
A heart warming post. There is a saying that goes ” better late than never”. I am glad you were granted the time to spend with your dad. There is always a reason for everything. Love the cake, its so special. I hope you a chance to spend many more beautiful days with your dad 🙂
I hope so, too. Thank you.
I find it amazing that even you didn’t grow up with your dad, you have this connection. Your father is lucky to have a daughter who still accepts and welcomes him after 26 years. I came from broken family and I’m not close to my father.
Honestly, I seldom communicate with him. Only birthdays and Christmases. He calls and texts me more kesa ako doing that. Perhaps acceptance is one of the gifts I could give him. 🙂
This is heartwarming. And I am glad you welcomed him into your life with no hatred or grudges. I can feel that the love is genuine and that you have been longing for him. I’m so glad you were able to meet and be with him. It’s never too late! I’m sure nae-enjoy nya ang mga apo nya. 🙂
Life is too short for grudges and hatred, I guess. Perhaps I was able to welcome him because I didnt
bother ask- ask why the failed marriage. Why coming to me all of the sudden. Or maybe youre right. Been longing for his presence. 🙂
I was just about to ask if this is a recent post, then I saw the footnote. I remember asking you about your dad when we were in Mind Museum and I’m happy you shared it with us. Your story reminds me of Dane, their father left them since he was in high school. I’ve met him thrice but the last time we saw him was new year of 2011. Haven’t seen him since then. They tried to live again with their mother for a good 2 or 3 months but it never worked. It made the situation worse. Sometimes I’d ask Dane what he’d do if one day his father comes home, he said he’s already forgiven him and said he will take him back. That’s what he said as opposed to their mother who said she will never, ever take him back. I told Dane I’ll be honest I don’t want him living with us in case. But we’ll accept him, of course. But as of now, Nate only knows 1 lolo and that’s my father.
Life becomes complicated because we complicate them. With forgiveness and open heart, I always believe life will be worth living and no complications will hinder us from growing, loving, and living. There are hurts from the past but if we always think of the past, we will not progress. I am a person who seldom ask. If you want to make kwento, I will listen, but to force you to tell me why you left and why you come back is not my thing. Should you make kwento, I will always be forever grateful.
Wow, this struck a chord in me. I grew up a daddy’s girl but we eventually had a rift when I was in my late 20s na. I don’t see him often anymore especially since he has a new family already. Actually after our rift happened I didn’t see him for 3 years. So hubby and Ziggy only got to meet him after that 3 years and it was only because we bumped into him at a mall. That was years ago. We bumped into him again at the mall Mother’s Year this year naman. He hasn’t seen our new baby yet. I don’t know if we’ll ever be okay again. We’re civil with each other now and for now, I’m content with that. Glad that you’re now slowly able to build a relationship with your own father.