One year ago today, the angels quietly and quickly took away Joseph Michael from us. He must be enjoying heaven now—what bliss!
yes, they had wings
they were angels
just after their feast day
they came in droves
multitudes of them
and took you away
quietly, quickly
all we felt was a cold breeze
we were made to sleep
and didn’t notice
we didn’t even have time
to bargain that you stay
we didn’t even have time
to say good-bye
you were lifeless
it was a bad dream
we wanted to wake up
but we were already awake
could this be real
was all we could say
defeated, we gave up
God must have been impatient
He was in a hurry to take you
what must have been in His mind
when He took you away just like that
we too had our earthly plans
but do we have the right to question
His otherwise heavenly plans
a year had gone
each day heavy in the heart
a year had gone
heaviness replaced with hope
oh dear Joseph Michael
how is it to be in bliss
and be with the Father in heaven?
.
That day was four days after the Feast of the Archangels and a day after the Feast of the Guardian Angels—after being with us for only one month and 13 days. Michael is the 13th member of our family, he left us on 3 October (3+10=13). His full name has 13 letters in it. My post about Michael had 13 comments, while another post was written on 13 November, when it should have been written on the 11th. I was so averse to the number 13, as I have earlier mentioned—there were so many things in my life associated with the number 13 that are too sensitive and too painful to ever think about. Many times I have tried to cast away these thoughts as they are not in line with my Catholic upbringing. Slowly, I have faced my demons and cast them away—with acceptance, no matter how difficult, no matter how painful, because life has to go on and on and on, and not anymore to relate the number 13 with anything negative nor positive in my life.
Just thinking that Michael is now well placed in heaven makes me face the number 13 with no qualms and fears. The pain is still there—no one can take that away from us, humans as we are, but along with that pain comes hope. We continue to miss Michael, the past year has been a roller coaster of emotions of deep hurt, questioning, acceptance…but the pain eases in time, especially when we place everything in the hands of God. He has a reason for everything, He has a reason for being. We can only be thankful that we had the opportunity to be with Michael, no matter how short the time.
Hello, Michael, look over us, will you?
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17 responses so far ↓
haze // Oct 3, 2008 at 6:16 am
Hi Tita Dine out of topic! Find out the whole story why I changed the totality of my blog ! Take care and be careful !! Please change your link, thanks !
Kyels // Oct 3, 2008 at 10:18 am
I’m sure Little Michael is looking over everyone.
julie // Oct 3, 2008 at 12:30 pm
He is almost the same age pala like Andeng
I am sure he is looking down the heavens at you.
Bles // Oct 3, 2008 at 11:49 pm
hi, dine.
i read your post and i liked the poem you wrote. one year na pala na may Angel Racoma sa langit. minsan di mo maiwasan isipin kung ano yung ginagawa nila doon sa langit – - read your post with a link about a priest who had near-death experience.
tayo kaya, pag nagkita-kita tayo sa langit magkakakilala kaya tayo?
Bing // Oct 3, 2008 at 11:50 pm
dine, sabi ng mga nawawalan ng anak, kapag ang anak ang nawala sa buhay, a part of us dies. eto siguro yung sinasabi mong pain na andiyan pa and as we say time heals, totoo eto. the best thing to do under the circumstance is to accept that baby michael is now in heaven with the lord and enjoying his time there. masakit mawalan ng minamahal sa buhay kahit sa anong paraan pa ito nawala but one thing we should always remember is that, there is always a reason why certain things happen. it is how we look at the situation that we can experience God’s loving kindness…
Belle // Oct 4, 2008 at 2:00 am
I believe that things happened for a reason and that God has a purpose for Michael.
Micamyx // Oct 4, 2008 at 2:33 am
OMG it’s been a year already?
How fast time flies! I am quite sure that little JM is watching over the Racomas. Smile po
Marita // Oct 4, 2008 at 10:10 am
well said Bing… and I love how Dine ended that article….
at naku Bing, damang dama ko ang loss mo ng loved one ah… hahaha… well yes, lost my dad so tama ka ganyan nga ang pakiramdam…. mahirap describe cause it’s so beyond loss… but think that they are better off where they are than where we are right now… una una lang din kung baga… we will get there… and that famous question Bles kung magkakakilala tayo pag dating sa langit… parang naka attend yata ako ng bible study where i remember one saying it’s in the bible na magkakakilala pa rin yata tayo… just not sure if i remember it correctly… dapat talaga nag jo journal…
naku, talagang namimiss ko na ang personal at face to face conversation ng mga lawins… mapa seryoso o mapa kwela…. hahaha… really excited… lapit na…
labs
maple lawin
Mauie Flores // Oct 4, 2008 at 11:41 am
tita dine, you really are a woman of strength and faith. it’s inspiring to read that you are grateful even for the short time that you were able to spend with your grandson. a lot of people who have lost a loved one often forget to thank God for the time He had given them to spend with each other.
cielo // Oct 4, 2008 at 9:49 pm
you’ve got an angel watching over you mom
Rach (Heart of Rachel) // Oct 5, 2008 at 9:07 pm
It must have been very hard to go through such a loss but time is an ally in helping heal the pain. The pain fades but memories of his beautiful smile will always remain.
annamanila // Oct 6, 2008 at 3:00 am
It’s but the shell that broke and left, the gem that fills it sparkles yet. Baby Michael is still with you and Angelo and family. You carry him with you wherever you go and how much blessed you are because of his ever, ever presence.
raqgold // Oct 6, 2008 at 3:49 am
am sure the family’s little angel is watching over you.
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