This poster on the Feast
Alabang Solo Ministry Facebook wall sums up what it’s like to be a solo parent.
We carry the burden alone so the rewards of raising our children are returned
to us in double portions.
It’s stressful and tiring
to be a solo parent. But not a trace of that was seen on the faces of 78 happy
moms (including 10 from Feast Bataan) who gathered for the Solo Parents Retreat
on October 18 and 19, 2014 at the Angels’ Hills Retreat and Formation Center in
Tagaytay.
It was a cool weekend and
it rained – with an abundance of blessings.
Blessing
#1
The people who organized
and conducted the retreat.
They made the experience
something we will remember as a rejuvenating break in our hectic solo mom
schedules:
- Juvy Ramirez, Solo Ministry head, and her Core
Group
- Cris & Lani de Guzman, Discipleship Pillar
heads
- Fr. GC Carandang, retreat master
- Bro Arun Gogna, guest speaker
Blessing
#2
The fun, the laughter and the
new friends.
It’s an all-female retreat,
so tears were expected. We had trials to share and insights to reflect on. But the
laughter, the singing, the dancing and the camaraderie overshadowed everything
else.
We rollicked with glee
during group activities like the alien invasion – an exercise that showed just
how confused the picture gets when we don’t communicate.
We danced with abandon –
during worship, during the retreat proper and during the impromptu Sunday
morning exercise. We zumba-ed and swayed like the Atomic Bomb Dancers that we
felt we were.
And, we found sisters to
share our lives with. Some have taken the solo journey before us while others
are just taking the first steps.
Blessing
#3
This last one is personal –
the anointing to lead a spirit-filled worship.
It was a wish whispered by
my heart that was granted, not a privilege I asked for but was freely given. I was
honored yet anxious about it because I didn’t know the arrangements
about the music. I didn’t want to assault the attendees’ ears with my solo
singing so I prayed to the Lord for angels who will sing with me – heavenly or
earthly, I left it up to Him. I got my
angels: the keyboardist and 2 music ministers. Not only that, God gave me a
bonus, a dance minister, to rev up the worship.
The retreat’s blessings are
God’s reminders that we have a special place in His heart. We may stand solo
but we get double the love and a host (many times not just three) of God’s
graces.
*Photos courtesy of Annabelle Ignacio
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