No matter how many times I read this story I'll always cry. Get your tissues. Hello God ! Somewhere in Milaor, Camarines Sur, there lived a fourth grader who would cross rugged plains and then a dangerous highway everyday to go to school. Once passed this highway, the boy, Andoy, would take a short cut passing the church to say Hi to God, and faithfully say "Magandang umaga po" in Bicol dialect. He was watched by a priest who was happy to find innocence so uplifting each morning. "Kamusta Andoy! Papasok ka na?" "Opo padre ... " he would flash his innocent grin. The priest would be touched. He was so concerned that one day he said to Andoy, "From school," he advised, "Do not cross the highway. You can pass through the church and I can accompany you to the other side of the road. That way I can see that you get home safe." "Thank you father." "Why don't you go home? Do you stay in the church right after school?" "I just want to say "Hi" to my friend, God," and the priest would leave the boy to spend time beside the altar, talking by himself, but he would hide behind the altar to listen to what the boy said to his Heavenly Father. "You know my math exam was pretty bad today, but I did not cheat although my seatmate is bullying me for notes... I ate one cracker and drank my water.... Inay had a bad season and all I can eat is this cracker. Thank you for this! I saw a poor kitten that was hungry and I knew how he felt so I gave my last cracker to him... Funny but I am not that hungry..." "Look, this is my last pair of slippers. I may have to walk barefooted next week... you see this is about to be broken ... but it is okay ... at least I am still going to school ... some say we will have a hard season this month. Some of my classmates have already stopped going to school. Please help them get to school again... please God?... Oh, you know, Inay hit me again. It is painful, but I know this pain will pass, at least I still have a mother ... God, you want to see my bruises? I know You can heal them... here... here and.... oh blood... I guess you knew about this one huh? Please don't be mad at Inay. She is just tired and she worries for the food on our table and my schooling. That is why she hits me... Oh, I think I am in love... there's this pretty girl in my class, her name is Anita ... do you think she will like me? Anyway, at least I know you will always like me. I don't have to be anybody to please you. You are my very best friend! Hey your birthday is two days from now! Aren't you excited? I am! Wait till you see, I have a gift for you.... But it is a surprise! I hope You will like it! Oooops, I have to go..." Then he stands up and calls out, "Padre, padre, I am finished talking to my friend... you can accompany me to the other side of the road now?" This happened everyday. Andoy never failed. Father Agaton shared this every Sunday to the people in his church because he had not seen a very pure faith and trust in God, a very positive look at negative situations. On Christmas day, Father Agaton was sick so he could not make it in the Church. He was sent to the hospital. The Church was left to 4 manangs who would chant the rosary at 1000 miles per hour, would not smile and would always find fault with what you did. They were also very well versed in cursing if you irritated them! They were kneeling, saying their kilometric rosary when Andoy, came from his Christmas party, playfully dashed in, "Hello God !" The old lady shouted at the boy to keep quiet. Poor Andoy was so terrified, "Where's Father Agaton? He is supposed to help me cross the street.... And to cross the street I have to pass by the back door of this church ... not only that, I have to greet Jesus --- it is His birthday. I have a gift right here...." Just as he was about to get the gift out of his shirt, the manangs pulled his shirt and threw him out of the church. "My goodness!" (Does the sign of the cross fervently) "Get out of here!". So the boy had no choice but to cross the dangerous road in front of the church. As he crossed, a fast moving bus came in. There was a blind curve. The boy was protecting his gift inside his shirt, so he was not looking. There was so little time... Andoy died on the spot. Many people crowded around the poor boy, the body of a lifeless young boy... Suddenly, out of nowhere a tall man in a white shirt and pants, a face so mild and gentle, but with eyes full of tears.... He came and carried the boy in His arms. He was crying. Curious bystanders nudged the man in white, and asked, "Excuse me sir, are you related to this child? Do you know this child?" The man in white, his face mourning and in agony, lifted Andoy up and answered, "He was my best friend." He took the badly wrapped gift in the bloody chest of the boy, and placed it near His heart. He stood up and carried the boy away and they both disappeared from sight. When Father Agaton learned of the shocking news, he visited the boy's family to ask about the man in white. "When did you know that your son died?" "A man in white brought him here," sobbed the mother. "What did he say?" The father answered, "He did not say anything. He was mourning. We do not know him and yet he was very sad at our son's death, as if he knew our son very well. But there was something peaceful and unexplainable about him. He gave me my son, and then he smiled peacefully. He rubbed my son's hair away from his face and kissed him on his forehead, then he whispered something...." "What did he say?" "He said to my boy," the father began, "Thank you for the gift...I will see you soon ... you will be with me..." and the father of the boy continued, "And you know for a while, it felt so wonderful ... I cried, but I do not know why... all I know is I cried tears of joy ... I could not explain it, father, but when that man left, peace came over me. I felt a deep sense of love inside. I could not explain the joy in my heart. I know my boy is in heaven now ... but ... tell me, father, who is this man that my son talks to everyday in your church? You should know because you are always there... except at the time of his death..." Father Agaton suddenly felt the tears welling in his eyes. With trembling knees, he murmured," ... He was talking to no one.... but.... GOD...." "Behold the Lord will come down in all His splendor to give His people Peace and Eternal Life". Mark 13:34-37 'If our God is for us, who can be against us.' Rom 8:31 'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.' 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No matter how many times I read this story I'll always cry. Get your tissues.
Hello God !
Somewhere in Milaor, Camarines Sur, there lived a fourth grader who would cross rugged plains and then a dangerous highway everyday to go to school. Once passed this highway, the boy, Andoy, would take a short cut passing the church to say Hi to God, and faithfully say "Magandang umaga po" in Bicol dialect. He was watched by a priest who was happy to find innocence so uplifting each morning.
"Kamusta Andoy! Papasok ka na?" "Opo padre ... " he would flash his innocent grin. The priest would be touched. He was so concerned that one day he said to Andoy, "From school," he advised, "Do not cross the highway. You can pass through the church and I can accompany you to the other side of the road. That way I can see that you get home safe."
"Thank you father." "Why don't you go home? Do you stay in the church right after school?" "I just want to say "Hi" to my friend, God," and the priest would leave the boy to spend time beside the altar, talking by himself, but he would hide behind the altar to listen to what the boy said to his Heavenly Father.
"You know my math exam was pretty bad today, but I did not cheat although my seatmate is bullying me for notes... I ate one cracker and drank my water.... Inay had a bad season and all I can eat is this cracker. Thank you for this! I saw a poor kitten that was hungry and I knew how he felt so I gave my last cracker to him... Funny but I am not that hungry..."
"Look, this is my last pair of slippers. I may have to walk barefooted next week... you see this is about to be broken ... but it is okay ... at least I am still going to school ... some say we will have a hard season this month. Some of my classmates have already stopped going to school. Please help them get to school again... please God?...
Oh, you know, Inay hit me again. It is painful, but I know this pain will pass, at least I still have a mother ... God, you want to see my bruises? I know You can heal them... here... here and.... oh blood... I guess you knew about this one huh? Please don't be mad at Inay. She is just tired and she worries for the food on our table and my schooling. That is why she hits me... Oh, I think I am in love... there's this pretty girl in my class, her name is Anita ... do you think she will like me? Anyway, at least I know you will always like me. I don't have to be anybody to please you. You are my very best friend!
Hey your birthday is two days from now! Aren't you excited? I am! Wait till you see, I have a gift for you.... But it is a surprise! I hope You will like it! Oooops, I have to go..."
Then he stands up and calls out, "Padre, padre, I am finished talking to my friend... you can accompany me to the other side of the road now?"
This happened everyday. Andoy never failed. Father Agaton shared this every Sunday to the people in his church because he had not seen a very pure faith and trust in God, a very positive look at negative situations.
On Christmas day, Father Agaton was sick so he could not make it in the Church. He was sent to the hospital. The Church was left to 4 manangs who would chant the rosary at 1000 miles per hour, would not smile and would always find fault with what you did. They were also very well versed in cursing if you irritated them!
They were kneeling, saying their kilometric rosary when Andoy, came from his Christmas party, playfully dashed in, "Hello God !"
The old lady shouted at the boy to keep quiet. Poor Andoy was so terrified, "Where's Father Agaton? He is supposed to help me cross the street.... And to cross the street I have to pass by the back door of this church ... not only that, I have to greet Jesus --- it is His birthday. I have a gift right here...."
Just as he was about to get the gift out of his shirt, the manangs pulled his shirt and threw him out of the church. "My goodness!" (Does the sign of the cross fervently) "Get out of here!".
So the boy had no choice but to cross the dangerous road in front of the church. As he crossed, a fast moving bus came in. There was a blind curve. The boy was protecting his gift inside his shirt, so he was not looking. There was so little time... Andoy died on the spot. Many people crowded around the poor boy, the body of a lifeless young boy...
Suddenly, out of nowhere a tall man in a white shirt and pants, a face so mild and gentle, but with eyes full of tears.... He came and carried the boy in His arms. He was crying. Curious bystanders nudged the man in white, and asked, "Excuse me sir, are you related to this child? Do you know this child?" The man in white, his face mourning and in agony, lifted Andoy up and answered, "He was my best friend." He took the badly wrapped gift in the bloody chest of the boy, and placed it near His heart. He stood up and carried the boy away and they both disappeared from sight.
When Father Agaton learned of the shocking news, he visited the boy's family to ask about the man in white. "When did you know that your son died?" "A man in white brought him here," sobbed the mother. "What did he say?" The father answered, "He did not say anything. He was mourning. We do not know him and yet he was very sad at our son's death, as if he knew our son very well. But there was something peaceful and unexplainable about him. He gave me my son, and then he smiled peacefully. He rubbed my son's hair away from his face and kissed him on his forehead, then he whispered something...." "What did he say?"
"He said to my boy," the father began, "Thank you for the gift...I will see you soon ... you will be with me..." and the father of the boy continued, "And you know for a while, it felt so wonderful ... I cried, but I do not know why... all I know is I cried tears of joy ... I could not explain it, father, but when that man left, peace came over me. I felt a deep sense of love inside. I could not explain the joy in my heart. I know my boy is in heaven now ... but ... tell me, father, who is this man that my son talks to everyday in your church? You should know because you are always there... except at the time of his death..."
Father Agaton suddenly felt the tears welling in his eyes. With trembling knees, he murmured," ... He was talking to no one.... but.... GOD...."
"Behold the Lord will come down in all His splendor to give His people Peace and Eternal Life". Mark 13:34-37
'If our God is for us, who can be against us.' Rom 8:31
'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.' Matthew 5:6
The Annchor | 15 Prayers | Crucifixion | Devotions | John 3:16 | The Blessed | Memorial
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