That’s what I experienced when I lost my brother Atty. Rogelio who died of a hypertensive stroke a couple of weeks ago.

My brother and I shared many happy times together, talked of boyhood reminiscences during outings and get-togethers. We had lots of fun and laughter.

* * *

I recall, for instance, one funny incident. When reviewing for the bar exam, he made a panata (vow) to join the Holy Week procession in our home city of Laoag bare-footed.

So when we met a long procession, I stopped the car and said, "There’s the procession," and forthwith he removed his shoes and socks.

* * *

The procession wended around the city and then returned to the church. Not used to walking bare-footed for a long stretch, it was, indeed, a big sacrifice.

When the religious event was ending however, to his consternation, he saw the statues entering a non-Catholic Church.

He had joined the wrong procession!

* * *

Worried, he asked me afterwards, "Do you think my vow was valid?" "Don’t worry," I replied, "it was very valid. What matters is the penance. Besides, you didn’t know…You’re new around here."

He went on to take the bar exam and passed it. "So that proved true your panata, Brod!" I reminded him.

* * *

I wish we could have more time together. But God’s will is not always our own will. Trials like this are challenges to our faith. That’s why some who go through similar experience get angry at God. They complain God had been unfair to them.

But those who believe there is a loving God could still make an act of faith to this effect, "Lord, I can’t understand why this had to happen but I know You always will the best for us. So I trust in You."

* * *

The death of my brother came swiftly. When I anointed him with holy oil at the hospital, I was very confident he would pull through since he was a health buff who exercised at the gym four times a week.

That was not the case however. Anyway, as I prayed as he lay unconscious, I tried to talk to him. Maybe he could hear but could not respond. I tried at that moment to tell him I loved and cared for him, but he was beyond reach.

* * *

The experience taught me dramatically that while we’re still with our loved ones and have the chance, we should show our love, our time, and caring for them. Very often when loved ones are still with us, we take them for granted, forgetting to tell them how much they mean to us and to affirm their good qualities.

How true what one writer once said, "When you bring me all your flowers, I’d rather that you give me a single flower when I’m still alive than a truckload when I’m already dead."

* * *

Another lesson we can learn is, if we may have some misunderstandings and conflicts, let us be quick to forgive while our relatives are still with us.

It’s a great feeling of relief and peace both for the dying and the living when they have been reconciled long before the hour of death.

* * *

Finally, when, one by one, members of our family and friends have gone ahead, it’s a reminder that our lasting home is not in this world but in God’s Kingdom about which the apostle St. Paul wrote: "The sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).

* * *

TODAY’S JOKE. A priest, bishop and a lawyer arrived in heaven simultaneously. The priest was given his reward – a bungalow house, a motorcylce and a R5,000 monthly allowance.

The bishop was awarded a two-storey house, a Pajero and R10,000 allowance.

* * *

But when it came to the lawyer, he was awarded a mansion, a Mercedez and a P50,000 allowance.

Disgruntled, the two complained to St. Peter. St. Peter offered this explanation: "I hope you understand. The reason is because he is the first lawyer to enter heaven. So he deserves a handsome reward!"

* * *

SVD ORDINATION. Ten deacons of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), class "Mithi" will be ordained priests on February 3 at 9 in the morning at the Divine Word Seminary Chapel, Tagaytay City.

The 10 SVD deacons – five Filipinos, four Vietnamese and one Congolese – are: Fathers Ramilo MAPAYE; Roger SOLIS; Ronie TEMAN; Flaviano VILLANUE-VA; Anthony YNZON; Peter Nguyen TRONG HIEU; Anthony Nguyen XUAN HUE; Vincent NGO HUNG; Anthony Nguyen THONG; Raphael KAKAMA.

Ordaining prelate is Most Rev. Luis Antonio Tagle, DD, bishop of Imus.