Saturday, November 2, 2013

A Filipino Tradition

Flowers on every grave at the Loyola Memorial Park
Every 1st and 2nd day of November, we Filipinos honor our dearly departed. It is a tradition that shows how much we love and respect those who have gone before us.


Earlier this morning, as I was looking for a pretty flower bouquet to take to my father's grave, I heard a voice inside my head saying.. "Don't spend your money on flowers for me. Feed a hungry child instead." All I could think of is "Daddy, is that you?"


I will be going to the cemetery tomorrow. I will still bring flowers, but I will remember to feed a hungry child, just as I was instructed.

Sharing this poem with you.


Do not stand at my grave and weep
by Mary Elizabeth Frye (1932)

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

Missing you Daddy.

My daddy

11 comments:

  1. I've nominated you for the versatile blogger award!
    http://zoepym.blogspot.co.uk/p/awards.html
    XxX

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! I will be paying this forward! :) xoxo!

      Delete
  2. Wow! Great post.
    Fabulousperks.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love this poem. What a wonderful way to think of our friends and family who have moved on before us. Such a beautiful tradition.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I remember this when I lived in the Philippines. Full festivals and we would spend tons of time at the cemetary. The kids would even play in the ones where you could hide inside the places where some people are put into.

    ReplyDelete
  5. thank you for sharing. beautiful poem :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. beautiful! today is the 3rd anniversary of my niece's death, I think I am going to pay it forward like you have done. thank you for the idea!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great poem! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is probably your shortest and your most touching post! May your Daddy rest in peace :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Well honoring the dead is a great tradition to have. I usually celebrate the loved ones in my life who have passed on on their birthday.

    ReplyDelete

Feel free to share your thoughts. However, kindly refrain from adding links in your comments because they will be marked as spam and filtered out. Thank you!