Mario As Is

As is, Mario does not look like he was the sick man in intensive care just a few months ago. Except for a few more hundred strands of gray hair and a few less thousand bucks in his pocket due to hospital bills, our deacon looks just fine and normal.

The effects of the potentially-debilitating stroke which he suffered have practically vanished—thanks be to God! Our deacon has been given a new lease on life.

Deacon Mario is a quiet, humble, peacable and unassuming person who loves the Lord and his family. He is one who would be content in humble circumstances if that meant peace in the home. He would rather have tuyo and lugaw than having Max Fried Chicken and a dainty Red Ribbon dessert if that meant family discord. Yes, I heard him say that.

But tuyo and lugaw we did not have when we visited his home in Pasay. Instead, we were served by his cook yummy Chinese lomi and tasty coffee-braised chicken with coffee-based sauce. It was a meal made in heaven. It was topped by chocolate ice-cream for dessert.

Mario’s cook of course is his wife Susan. Susan is Mario’s wife of 19 years. She is a versatile chef. With her kitchen skills, I doubt there will ever be a time when her family would suffer malnutrition.

The kids were there too. The two shy budding ladies emerged from their cozy makeshift bedroom. I can’t believe that both are now in college. Sam is training to be a teacher while Pam is a bookworm working her way through Mass Com. I believe she took after her mom who is a news-buff, I realized just lately. Susan is a follower of all imaginable newscasts on TV. If she was a student, she would score a perfect grade in current events!

Playful Ben was out with his peers but later joined us. He showed us some of his artworks-the kid has a talent in drawing.

We had a few good laughs when the kids pressured their father to tell them everything about his love life. We enjoyed the fellowship as we reminisced old times. 

Let’s pray for them. Mario’s medication has been lessened. He has since returned to work. Let’s ask the Lord to preserve His life and health amidst the pressure-laden environment of work and the additional labor of being a deacon in MCBC. Let’s pray that Susan would continue to be a support to her husband and a caring mother to her children. Let’s pray that God would bless the godly influence at home and the gospel preaching in church to the salvation of the children.

Let’s pray that Mario and Susan would remain faithful as they are to the Lord and to each other. Let’s pray that they would remain as is.