"Thank you for the gift ..."

Somewhere in Milaor, Camarines Sur, there lived a fourth grader boy who would follow this route to school everyday:

He has to cross the rugged plains and cross the dangerous highway where vehicles are recklessly driving to and from. Once passed this highway, the boy would take a short cut by passing by the Church every morning just to say Hi to God, and faithfully say his, "Magandang umaga po" in Bicol dialect.

He was faithfully being watched by a Priest who was happy to find innocence so uplifting in the morning, "Kamusta Andoy! Papasok ka na?"
"Opo padre... " he would flash his innocent grin, the priest would be touched.

The priest was so concerned that one day he talked to Andoy, "From school...", he advised "Do not cross the highway, you can pass through the Church and I can accompany you to the other side of the road... that way I can see that you are home safe ...."

"Thank you father ..."

"Why don't you go home ... why do you stay in this Church right after school?"

"I just want to say "Hi" to my friend, God," and the priest would leave the boy to spend time beside the altar, talking by himself, but he was hiding behind the altar to listen to what this boy has to say to his heavenly FATHER.

"You know my math exam was pretty bad today, but I did not cheat - although my seatmate is bullying me for notes ... I ate one cracker and drank my water, Itay had a bad season and all I can eat is this cracker. Thank you for this! I saw a poor kitten who was hungry and I know how he feels so I gave my last cracker to him ... funny but I am not that hungry ... Look, this is my last pair of slippers ... I may
have to walk barefooted next week ... you see this is about to be broken.. but it is okay ... at least I am still going to school ... some says we will have a hard season this month, some of my classmates have already stopped going to school ... please help them get to school again, please God? ... Oh, you know, Inay had hit me again, it is painful, but I know this pain will pass away, at least I still have a mother ... God, you want to see my bruises? I know you can heal them ...here... here and .... Oh ... blood ... I guess you knew about this one huh? Please don't be mad at Inay, she is just tired and she worries for the food in our table and my schooling that is why she hits us ...

Oh, I think I am in love ... there's this pretty girl in my class, her name is Anita ... do you think she will like me? Anyway, at least I know you will always like me, I don't have to be anybody just to please you, you are my very best friend! Hey your birthday is two months from now!!! Aren't you excited? I am! wait till you see, I have a gift for you .... but it is a surprise! I hope you will like it! Oooops, I have to go ..." then he stood up and calls out, "Padre, padre, I am finished talking to my friend .. you can accompany me to the other side of the road now"

This routine happens everyday. Andoy never fails. Father Agaton shares this every Sunday to the people in his church because he has not seen a very pure faith and trust in God, a very positive look at
negative situations.

One Christmas day, Father Agaton was sick so he could not make it in the Church, he was sent to the hospital. The Church was left to 4 manangs who would chant the rosary in 1000 miles per hour, would not smile and would always find fault in what you do, they are also very well versed in cursing if you irritate them! They were kneeling, saying their kilometric rosary when Andoy, coming from his Christmas party, playfully dashed in, "Hello God!!!!! I " P----!!!!! (a curse) Bata ka!!!! Alam mo nang may nagdadasal!!!!!Alis!!!!!"

Poor Andoy was so terrified, "where's Father Agaton? He is supposed to help me cross the street .... and to be able to cross the street I will have to pass by the back door of this church ... not only that, I have to greet Jesus-it is His birthday, I have a gift right here ...." just as he was about to get the gift out of his shirt, the manang pulled his shirt and threw him out of the church.

"Susmaryosep!!! (does a sign of the cross fervently) Alis kang bata ka, kung hindi matatamaan ka!!!

So the boy had no choice but to cross the dangerous side of the road in front of the church. He crossed. A fast moving bus came in. There was a blind curve. The boy was protecting his gift inside his shirt, so he was not looking. There was so little time. Andoy died on the spot. A lot of people crowded the poor boy, the body of a lifeless young boy... Suddenly, out of nowhere a tall man in pure white shirt and pants, a face so mild and gentle, but with eyes full of tears... He came and carried the boy in His arms, He was crying. Curious bystanders nudged the man in white, and asked, "excuse me sir, are you related to this child? Do you know this child?" The man in white, His face mourning and in agony, lifted up and answered, "He was my bestfriend ... " was all he said.

He took the badly wrapped gift in the bloody chest of the lifeless boy, and placed it near His heart. He stood up and carried the boy away and they both disappeared in sight. The crowd was curious...

The next day, Father Agaton learned of the shocking news. He visited the house, and wanted to verify about the man in white. He consulted the parents of Andoy. "How did you know that your son died?"

"A man in white brought him here." sobbed the mother. "What did he say?" The father answered, "He did not say anything. He was mourning. We do not know him and yet he was very lonely at our son's death, as if he knew our son very well. But there was something peaceful and unexplainable about him. He gave me my son, and then he smiled peacefully. He rubbed my son's hair away from his face and kissed him on his forehead, then he whispered something ..."

"What did he say?" "He said to my boy ..." the father began, "Thank you for the gift ... I will see you soon... you will be with me ..." and the father of the boy continued, "and you know for a while, it felt so wonderful... I cried, but I do not know why .... all I know is I cried in tears of joy ... I could not explain it father, but when that man left, something peaceful came over me, I felt a deep sense of love inside... I could not explain the joy in my heart, I knew my boy is in heaven now ... but ... tell me father, who is this man that my son talks to everyday in your church, you should know because you are always there... except on the time of his death ..."

Father Agaton suddenly felt the tears welling in his eyes, with trembling knees, he murmurred," ... He was talking to no one .... but ....GOD...."