Sam, 17 Years of God's Blessings, Graces and Mercies

Thoughts of yearning engulf her soul. She gazes up longing for answers from whence cometh her help but from Above. Who else will she place her hope but from the "Great I Am..."...the God of Heaven and Earth...will He stay silent? His word assures her that He neither sleeps nor slumbers...neither will He forsake forever...not in any merit she has for there is none...her filthy rags are all laid down so is the deceitfulness of her heart...she is importunate despite...for she depends upon the One who is Righteousness Himself, Him who is mercy and grace...who promised His steadfast love...and that goodness and mercy will follow her all the days of her life despite of her humanly circumstances...for she said, "Yet, I will still hope in Him..."...and truly He did and He is....Then...SAM...her firstborn was an answer she patiently waited for from the 'GREAT I AM"...she thought that the Lord will not look upon her...yet He did!

Sam is a gift...the news about him being conceived in her womb was a miracle! She had thought and hoped for him even when he is not yet...the ultrasound revealed a silhouette of a baby...Yes! He is definitely a boy...didn't she ask that exactly from the Lord! The months of conception was full of anticipation...until, 6 weeks earlier than her expected date...she had labor pains...then bleeding ensued...the Doctors tried to prevent early contractions yet it is his time to come out to this world...and he did...Sam's first cry was such a joyful announcement to his parents...a miracle indeed! ...Sam being a preemie had respiratory distress syndrome though...He was placed in the high risk nursery for close observation and placed on CPAP machine...her mom, though exhausted from labor came to be near him on his first day of life...crying before the Lord and constantly praying for his recovery was now her sighs as she stays with her newborn...Sam, indeed, was a fighter...he pushes the CPAP just trying to communicate that he can be without it...it was an agonizing night for mom and son...yet, even before the first 24 hours came to a close...he was released to stay with mom...He stayed in the hospital for a week and had all the pains he can experience at an early life due to procedures that he needs to go through...but God was indeed merciful...he came about as healthy as a normal baby...

Sam, is truly a survivor...he never let up though he can be quiet. As a boy, he is as curious as he can be...his wrinkled forehead when he was little always attest to his questions about phenomenon that happens around him. His inclination to toys that requires logical patterns and creativity engrosses him. His analytical ability is so eminent at a young age. He has learned his letters so early that he learned to read during his early months at three years. He designed and built his Lego blocks without guidance. His consuming desire to unravel his toys out of curiosity of what makes them work was there. As early as 2 years old, he can open the first Mac computer he was ever exposed to and put the folders in a mess trying to figure out the why's of what he is seeing. Sam is a boy who loves cartoons. He joyfully chuckles and laughs so easily though to some he may appear so serious. His wit can only be discovered when you read his writings, when you see him create his own games. At first, you may think of him as a young man who is so naive...he can be...but when you dig deeper, he is more than that...he has been endowed by God with such prowess...which he in himself knows he must use to bring glory to his Creator. Yes, Sam today will be 17 years of age...still a young boy in his mom and dad's eyes. Yet, God is molding him to be the man he is intended to be to fulfill His glory! Yes, there is dross from here to there to take out. Yes, there are bents and ways that need to be straightened. Yes, there are innate motives to be aligned. Yet, Christ will perform it in His time to mold this young man to that purpose! ...and, his parents will continually pray for him and love him like the baby they have ever longed to ask from their Savior! SAM "Anak", BLESSED 17th BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

Mom and Dad