In God's Time

Several years ago, my sister-in-law lent me a book, Embraced by the Light by Betty J. Eadie. It was really an interesting book which I will recommend to the children when they are a bit older. Though the book was mainly about near death experience, what actually struck me in the book had something to do with an individual fulfilling his/her purpose in this world.

We are often told that God has different plans for each of us and that we are each destined to do our own unique tasks while we are here. What we tend to forget is that we do not decide how long we have to do everything we are supposed to. Our time on earth is somewhat beyond our control. Some are in this world for many years, while others are here very briefly.

This concept of time, destiny and purpose in life was the topic of one of the homilies I heard Fr. Prex give way back in 2005. He relayed the story about a couple who prayed hard to have a child. The woman was a Filipina Catholic. Her husband was Japanese. Finally, their prayers were answered and the couple was able to conceive. The husband was overjoyed that he wanted to be baptized as a Catholic. The child was born on December 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. They planned for a joint baptism for January the coming year. However, the baby got sick and had to be given an emergency baptism. The father wanted to be baptized with the baby but could not be baptized since time was short and he was not yet prepared. The baby died on December 24. Needless to say, the couple was very sad. Though their child had died, the father still had himself baptized.

Imagine, the child was here for a total of 12 days yet she was able to fulfill his destiny within that short span of time. (Fr. Prex said that we are not only called to holiness but we are also called to bring others closer to God.)

No, we know not the rhyme nor the reason. We need only have faith that God knows everything that is past, present and future.