MY IRREPLACEABLE FRIEND

They say friends walk in and out of our lives.

I am fortunate though that no friend has ever walked out on me.

Yesterday I got a surprise from a very dear friend at a time when I least expected it.

I was taking my lunch when the intercom buzzed. It was the guard at the lobby informing me that a package had been delivered for me. I was wondering who could have sent it and for what reason since there was no occassion at all. It turned out that it came from my dearest friend, my closest friend actually, Oskar Peralta.

Amazed and somewhat puzzled, I called to thank him for the gift and at the same time asked what it was for, since he had already given me a gift on my recent birthday. He told me it was an "I Miss You" gift. He said he missed me because the last time we saw each other was on my birthday a month ago. He had been kept busy with so many activities lately such as the Philippine Fashion Week, the Metrowear Filipiniana Event and the forthcoming Ms.World Philippines beauty pageant which practically kept him on his toes the whole time.

I was truly touched by his gesture because no one has ever done that for me, but knowing him I wouldn't really be surprised. After all he has always showered me with his love, care and concern.

Just about 2 weeks ago,he requested a friend of his to prepare and cook some food for me and had it brought to my place.

What I find truly amazing is that we have some sort of mental connection. It is almost as if he could read my mind. Whenever I would think of him, all of a sudden my cellphone would ring with him on the other end asking how I am. This also happens the other way around. Oftentimes when I call him, he would tell me that he was just about to call me. This had happened several times. He said it is probably because we are connected.

I would like to believe we are soulmates because we have the same wave length. We also have almost identical character traits. I guess we tend to gravitate towards people with the same likes, dislikes, interests and sensibilities.

During our bonding moments, we would more often than not, cry together especially everytime we remember our parents. This is a very emotional topic for him and for me as well.

When we are together sometimes we would get so engrossed in our conversation that we would fail to notice that 3:00 p.m. had passed. Both of us share this daily routine of reading some prayers from our respective Straight From The Heart, A Prayer Companion, books at this precise time. He always makes it a point to carry his book with him when he is out so that wherever he is, he can read his prayers at this particular time. In my case, if I need to leave the house in the afternoon, I read my prayers before I leave home even though it is not 3:00 p.m. yet, so that at least I was able to read them for that day.

I haven't the slightest doubt that this friendship will last because God is at the center of our relationship. After all HE was the one who brought the two of us together.

I would not wish to label him as my close friend or even best friend for that matter because that would be under rating him.

In the past I used to refer to him as my valued friend, but I would rather refer to him now as my irreplaceable friend because it might take a million life times but truly there will never ever be someone like him .

Thank you Jesus for my irreplaceable friend.

OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL AND THE SCAPULAR

July 16 is the feast day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

It is also happens to be the birthday of my mom. Her name is Carmen, having been named after our Lady.

My mom was a devotee of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and her scapular. It is from her where I got my devotion to the scapular as well.

It has been my habit (and still is) to buy scapulars and give them away to friends telling them about the significance of wearing one, and that is the promise of our Lady that anyone who dies wearing a scapular will not suffer from eternal fire.

It is also a sign of salvation and protection from danger. Our Lady promised that on the saturday following our death, she will go to Purgatory and free all souls who have a devotion to the scapular and lead them to Heaven.

It is important that you have faith and devotion when you wear one. It is not something that you wear as a fashion accessory or an amulet, which sad to say, some do especially the younger ones.

My parents who are both devotees died wearing their scapulars. And I know that they are now sharing peace and eternal happiness with Jesus and Mama Mary.

Wouldn't you wish to experience this too someday?