Encountered Couple=Encountered Family

In the recently concluded Marriage Encounter Weekend held at Bukas Loob sa Dios in Cavite last 19-21 August, I was so glad to see the presence of so many children and young adults during the harana. Apparently, members of the Magis Youth were present as well. I could not help but reckon on the promising continuity of Magis Deo in the future. These young people have parents who are encountered couples. It is possible, by God's grace, that they become encountered families as well. Looking at the energetic children and vibrant teens of member couples of Magis Deo, I wonder how many of them have attended the Family Encounter Weekend? When is the next Family Encounter Weekend (FEW)?

My family and I attended ours in 2007. The following FEW, we were part of the Music Ministry. Domeng, my husband, played the guitar. Our son, Nico, who was only eleven years old then, sang with the group. There were even songs he sang as lead. Indeed, he is the best singer in the family. Zoe, our daughter who was eight at the time joined in the singing with gusto. It was an experience that gave me so much joy and pride. I felt so blessed. What's more, I realized how much I missed my children. Domeng had been right all along. I had been too busy with work I lost touch with my children's talents and gifts.

Since that FEW, Nico has gained his self confidence back. He joined the school choir that year and continued on as an active member until he graduated last March 2011. He sang the Psalm in the Baccaulareate Mass, leading his batch in a song of praise to the Lord. To this day, Nico stays close to his love for music and singing. He performs in school assemblies and programs, and self studies the guitar, organ and recorder. Most Sunday mornings, Domeng and I would awaken from his gentle playing of the guitar or the recorder. As the day progress, he gets louder and noisier. A full fledged teenager!

Zoe has found her voice too. An alto, she shows determination in perfecting every note and every beat when studying a song. Mabuti naman at nagmana sa ama!

Apart from discovering their gifts and talents, I have also observed them as reflective kids, our daughter more especially. Zoe keeps a journal where she writes events and thoughts she hold as meaningful. If words are hard to come by, she draws them. One time, she was so upset over a bully in school. I told her to turn to her journal and write her feelings, good and bad. She numbered them and found out that she had more good feelings than bad ones. She saw, in her journal writing, the difference in the numbers. I told her, "See, God does not allow you to be upset for He gives you so much to be happy about." She has a box of journals, notebooks and diaries which she would read and go back when she feels like it.

Being in Magis Deo, I am given more reason to serve and participate in its formation programs because I can pass this on to my children. I am thankful that we have attended the FEW because I am now aware of the gift of family. My children are God's gifts to me and it is my role to raise them cognizant of God's love. Should there be another FEW, I raise both hands, my children's and husband's too to help out as one encountered family.