Happy Birthday Papa Rolly!

Choosing to Trust God

Today is my papa Rolly’s birthday. He would have been 69 years old. Even after 23 years since he went home to be with the Lord, I still feel his presence in the everyday moments of our family. It amazes me how memories can remain alive even after so much time has passed. My sister Ruth messaged me this morning. She shared that her son, Izer, was supposed to have an inter-school chess championship today, but it was postponed because of a strong typhoon in the Philippines. 

Like our Papa, it seems our children are inheriting his love for chess. My son David has started to take interest as well. He even joined the chess club at school and has been practicing regularly. He may not be at Izer’s competitive level yet since our nephew has been playing tournaments representing his school but I believe each of them reflects a piece of our Papa’s passion. I won’t be surprised if one day Izer becomes an international player. That would be such a blessing to witness.

I smiled as I remembered how Papa would travel from one province to another, just to play chess. For him, it wasn’t just a pastime but also a way of connecting with people. In fact, chess was one of the favorite games of pastors and elders during men’s church conventions back then. Somehow, Papa blended his love for the game with his calling to serve, and through that, he built friendships and connections.

Papa was simple and cowboy in his ways. He never tried to be someone else. He was genuine and approachable, a man who loved life and loved people. Ruth also told me this morning that Mama still gets emotional whenever his birthday comes around. Tonight, we plan to call her, just to cheer her up and remind her that though Papa is no longer with us, his life still lives on through each of us.

Remembering a Father’s Life and Legacy

Papa Rolly passed away when I was in my twenties. Losing him so suddenly left an emptiness that cannot be replaced. His death was tragic, an unjust act we had to wrestle with. Yet by God’s grace, we chose forgiveness over bitterness. That decision has marked our family, shaping the way we live and love today. His life was not defined by how it ended but by how faithfully he lived with purpose.

A Man of Faith and Action

Papa was a man of deep faith. He loved God and had an unshakable conviction about the gospel. In fact, he planted a church in my mother’s hometown in the Philippines. What amazes me is that, even after all these years, that church still stands. By God’s grace, it has grown and continues to impact lives. One of the pastors serving there today is my niece, Cielo. She picked up where Papa left off, carrying forward the torch of faith.

Papa also saw my calling into missions long before I recognized it myself. He believed in me and encouraged me to pursue what God placed in my heart. Today, I carry his influence with me in the way I serve, teach, and disciple others.

A Present and Purposeful Father

Papa worked hard to provide for us. He wore many hats throughout his life, history teacher, security guard, cook. His jobs often required moving from one place to another, yet he made sure our family stayed together. He refused to become an absentee father. Even in his strictness, we knew his discipline came from love.

He introduced us to sports, taught us the value of hard work, and modeled faith through action. He cooked meals that brought us together as a family, and above all, he showed us how to love by the way he cherished Mama. He consistently shared his faith with her until, one day, she too accepted Christ. That was perhaps one of his greatest joys, seeing his wife come to know the Savior he loved.

A Legacy That Lives On

Today, his influence is still felt. My youngest sister serves as a pastor. My brother is also active in ministry. I myself followed God’s call into missions. Papa’s commitment to faith and family set a standard that still guides us.

When I look at my husband, Vandy, I see many of Papa’s traits reflected in him. Vandy is steady, faithful, and God-fearing. I consider that one of God’s sweetest blessings, that I married a man who shares so many of Papa’s qualities.

My son David never met his grandfather, but I often think about how Papa would have played chess with him, or taught him how to swim, or told him stories of faith. Though David missed knowing him personally, I believe he is still growing under Papa’s shadow. His grandfather’s legacy lives on in the lessons passed down through us.

Papa lived a life of purpose, and that purpose did not end with him. It continues with every decision we make to walk faithfully with God.

Who Do You Trust?

Losing someone you love always forces you to confront the question of trust. Who do you lean on when life feels uncertain? Where do you place your hope when the ground beneath your feet feels shaky?

It is easy to say we trust God when everything is going well. But what about when dreams fall apart, when prayers feel unanswered, or when pain seems unbearable? That’s when trust is tested.

Maybe you are holding onto a dream that hasn’t yet come true. Maybe you are praying for a loved one to change, or for a breakthrough that feels long delayed. Maybe you are sitting in the tension of waiting, and wondering if God even hears you.

The prophet Isaiah knew what it meant to wait and to trust. He lived during a time of national corruption and spiritual decline. He warned the people of Judah that because of their misplaced trust, in idols, political alliances, and temporary solutions, they would one day be led into exile. And it happened, just as he said.

But Isaiah also gave a message of hope. He reminded the people that God is sovereign. That exile would not be the end of their story. God would bring them back. And one day, He would send a Savior who would rescue them forever.

Isaiah never lived to see the fulfillment of all those promises, but he chose to trust the God who gave them. That same message encourages us today.

Lessons on Trust

1. Trust in the Lord even when you are disappointed.
   Life will bring disappointments. People will let us down. But God never fails.

Prayer: Lord, when my heart is heavy with disappointment, help me to look to You. Remind me that You are my unshakable hope.

2. Trust in the Lord even when you are hurting.
   Pain is part of living in a broken world. Yet God promises to be near the brokenhearted.

Prayer: Father, hold me close in my pain. Teach me to see Your presence even in the tears.

3. Trust in the Lord even when you are misunderstood.
   There will be times when others do not see our intentions, or when we are judged unfairly. Jesus Himself was misunderstood, yet He remained faithful.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to endure misunderstanding with grace. May I trust Your approval above all else.

4. Trust in the Lord even when your heart is breaking.
   Grief, loss, and shattered dreams can feel unbearable. Yet God understands our sorrow, for He carried it on the cross.

Prayer: God of comfort, hold my broken heart in Your hands. Remind me that nothing is wasted in Your plan.

5. Trust in the Lord no matter what.
   Seasons change, people fail, and circumstances shift. But the God of history is constant. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Prayer: Faithful God, no matter what comes, I choose to put my trust in You.

Why We Can Trust God

We can trust Him because He knows what it means to suffer. He sent His Son to experience pain, betrayal, and even death for our sake. That means He understands us fully.

We can trust Him because He keeps His promises. Throughout Scripture, every word He spoke came to pass.

We can trust Him because He is with us. He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us.

We can trust Him because He loves us. His love is not conditional, not dependent on our performance, but rooted in His character.

And we can trust Him because He is faithful. Even when we stumble, He remains steady.

Reconnecting with God’s Amazing Grace

As I remember Papa today, I am reminded of how God’s grace has carried us as a family. From grief to healing, from brokenness to forgiveness, from loss to hope. God’s amazing work continues to unfold in our lives.

This is why it is so important to share our testimonies. Every story of God’s grace can encourage someone else to hold on to faith. Some may have drifted away, some may be struggling, and some may not yet know Jesus. But by reconnecting and sharing what God has done, we offer them a glimpse of hope.

Our family’s story is not perfect, but it is filled with God’s mercy. And that is worth telling again and again.

Maybe you are reading this today and you feel far from God. Maybe faith feels like a distant memory, or perhaps you’ve never truly known Him. The good news is this: God is near. His grace is available right now.

If He can carry my family through loss, grief, and pain, He can carry you too. If He can turn our mourning into a testimony of faith, He can do the same for you.

Today, you can choose to trust Him.

Closing Reflection

As I think of Papa Rolly’s life, I see more clearly what it means to live with trust in God. He trusted God with his calling, with his family, with his future. And even though his earthly life ended too soon, his faith lives on through us.

Isaiah 26:4 says, “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.”

That is my prayer for you and me today. May we learn to trust Him not only in the easy seasons, but also in the painful ones. May our lives become legacies of faith that point others to the God who never fails.

Missing Papa Rolly!

Tess 😍🙏

Bonus Post:

7 Practical Ways to Honor Our Fathers 👈