Sometimes when you experience another culture, it causes you to see your own culture in a different light. Today on the way home from Pennsylvania, I stopped for lunch at a Filipino restaurant. While I already know about the friendliness and hospitality of Filipino people, I never expected what happened today. I walked in and placed my order at the counter. The owner was surprised that I said Magandang hapon (good afternoon). After asking how I learned to say that, he patiently explained to me what all the food items were and since they didnt have chicken adobo, I ordered pork in some type of tomato sauce. It was so delicious! Then, as I was eating alone, two older ladies in their 60s came in from the blustery cold. They ordered their food and looked at me noticing that Im not Filipino. They asked if I liked the food. I said, sarap and they had the biggest smiles on their faces! They motioned to me inviting me to come have a seat at their table where they opened up their lives to me. One lost her husband about a year ago. She has a house in the Philippines and goes back and forth regularly. She gave me her cell phone number in the Philippines and invited me to come visit her if I ever go to Manila. Shes 45 minutes out of the city. The other said she has a lump on her thyroid and is going for a biopsy on Tuesday. Shes very frightful of it. I told her Ill pray for her and asked for her name. She seemed truly grateful that I even cared. Another friend of theirs came in later and joined the table. At first I thought she was my age and then she told me she has a 43 year old son. I cant believe how young she looks for someone in her 60s. Her son lives in Massachusetts and she also gave me her contact info so we can visit with them when she and her husband come north. All three ladies married Americans. I left there feeling almost like I gained not just friends but family. It really made me think about what our relationships should be like in the church. I see a lot of changes that need to be made in my own personal relationships with people. There is a lot we can learn from Filipinos like these sweet, sensitive, caring older ladies. I feel honored and blessed to have met them. - Pastor Rogol
Posted on: Sat, 25 Jan 2014 11:59:44 +0000
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