God's Covenant

We woke up early to a cold and rainy Saturday morning of September 26, 2009 to prepare for By-Ann’s Outreach and sports fest practice at school. Ruben accompanied By-Ann to school because I wanted to be sure she arrived safe in school because of the unusual rains.
Ruben left for the BCBP Breakfast and Badminton play afterwards. I stayed home with Michelle, Pancho and Manang.
Around nine in the morning, the girls told me that there was water building up on our street. We even watched the dried coconut that drifted or would get stuck awhile in front of our house.
An hour later, the water was already approaching our garage. Never had floodwater approach us that close so I asked the kids and Manang to bring all that they can to our second floor. I could hardly help because of my recent surgery.
By past one in the afternoon we could no longer see our gate. That means the water from our street is already about five feet deep.
Michelle and Pancho were both afraid to see the rising floodwater because they never experienced this in their entire life. They saw these phenomena only in the news. Out of great fear, they both prayed the Holy Rosary twice.
As the floodwater surged, we prayed and asked that God take control of the situation and protect our family. We also surrendered those who live near the rivers and creek side, those who are afraid for their lives and their loved ones, those who do not have anything to eat and who could have lost their tiny homes.

Even after praying, Michelle was still troubled that she refused to eat. So I reminded them of God’s covenant to his people… the Rainbow. “Let’s claim God’s covenant”, I urged them.
I asked Michelle to open the Holy Bible and read aloud the Scripture in Genesis 9. Verses 11-13 read as: “I will establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed by the waters of a flood; there shall not be another flood to devastate the earth.” God added: “This is the sign I am giving for all ages to come, of the covenant between me and you and every living creature with you: I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”
After reading the Scripture, even as the floodwater continued to rise, we praised and worshipped God the Father, Creator of the rain and sun. We begged for His love, mercy and protection through Jesus Christ, Mama Mary and our Saint friends. We claimed His words in Genesis 9:11-13. I asked the Lord Almighty to show His mighty power to my children by giving us a sign of His protection.
We also discussed if we would leave the house and take the bold step of going to safer land but we had to go against the strong current in the murky and deep floodwater. Michelle then uttered: “Ma, let’s stay here. This is a test of our faith.”
Around 3:25 P.M. on top of the car’s hood, as the water moved, was God’s Covenant with us: HIS RAINBOW! Soon after, the floodwater started to recede.
I thank the Father, for answering our prayers and for honoring His covenant with us. I thank him for the sign of His love and protection and for the gift of faith He has given us. Lastly, I thank, Jesus for the hope in His resurrection.