Reflections
Our Family Is With BCBP
By:
My husband, Dennis and I joined the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) in the early part of our marriage. Our eldest, Dianne, was only 2.5 years old, and Jerome was just one. Our youngest, Patricia, was still an angel in heaven at that time.
We can only be ever thankful that we became a part of this community early on in our married life, as it helped us grow and nourish our relationship with one another. GROWTH has a special meaning to us:
- G-od, the center of our family life
- R-espect for one another
- O-thers whom we touch, and who touch our lives in a special way
- W-elfare of each other (is most important)
- T-ogetherness and Time for one another (quantity and quality)
- H-elping each other become a better person
With God as the center of our family life, we know that we will always be strong, come what may, because we are anchored in faith, hope and love on the strongest of all, that is, Christ Jesus, our Lord.
With our children as toddlers during the time we joined the BCBP, we would always bring them with us in most of the activities as we want to spend as much time with each other, specially during weekends. At the same time, we want our children to see and feel the warmth of the community, and the service that each one gives to proclaim the goodness of the Lord.
When our family immigrated to the U.S. in 2003, we knew that we will not only miss our parents, brothers, sisters, other relatives and friends. Having been in a community for almost eight years at that time, we knew that there would be a void left by the BCBP in our life.
Once we were able to settle, we started looking around for a community, but of course, we were longing for the BCBP family. And what joy we felt when only a few months after we arrived in the U.S., an elder from the Philippines, Tatang Sadi as we fondly call him, started gathering up BCBP members who have immigrated in Northern and Southern California!
We didn't have to look for a "new family" after all. We immediately responded. And as we have done in the past, we would still bring our children to the BCBP activities for the same reasons, and for a new one: no one to look after them while we're away (i.e., no household here!).
And now that Dianne is 13, Jerome turning 12, and Patricia turning seven, they don't just play around during activities. They now do their own (little) share of service like helping out in the registration and taking care/playing with the younger children of BCBP members.
Edith has been very helpful in starting the "prayer line" for her brothers and sisters in the brotherhood.
Copyright © 2006 Ma. Editha Galvez. Used with permission.
