Page 13 - eLamdag July 2020

ENDURANCE AND RESILIENCE THROUGH FAITH:
UPDATES OUR STORIES
Like most typical parents, Inday and I have always dreamed of giving our family a decent life. This explains why we have been working very hard to be able to earn enough for our living. Thank God that we are coping with our family’s needs. Our three teenage children are all studying and we are paying our monthly bills on time and with meager savings. At times, we are also able to help financially our parents and siblings.
We are not rich but we are happy. We could not think of anyone to thank for but Jesus Christ whom we are serving faithfully in the capacities we are equipped with. We thought we have grown stronger in faith and we never thought that we would be shakened by fears and anxieties during this time of the pandemic.
I realized that after almost 16 years of serving God faithfully, I still have little faith. News updates on the new confirmed COVID 19 cases would always frighten me. The worse, I would even feel like I have its symptoms when I am only at home. I am afraid of getting closer to anyone every time I go to the grocery. I could even smell the odor of the hospital at home because of too much usage of alcohol. Paranoia is hitting me hard.
But my little faith told me that I can conquer paranoia before it hits me harder. I have my family, who can pray with me daily and attend the daily online masses. We also pray the rosary every night and we pray for our family members, the community, friends, associates, office mates and even to people that we do not know personally. I am talking to God in any time of the day and at times even cry before HIM. I watch and review the lives of Jesus Christ, Mama Mary, Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham and Sara, Moses, the Apostles, Disciples, Prophets and Saints. All these keep me sane and my faith growing.
In one sermon I listened to at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, the Presiding Priest pointed out that the weakness of God is our unceasing prayers. According to him, God could hardly say no to our fervent prayers.
In this time of the pandemic, we
do not really have anyone to go to except HIM, our Lord, our God and our King. Let us hold onto HIM. He should be on top of our daily routines. He demands no specific time. At any time and place of the
day, He is available for us.
I have also realized that indeed health is wealth. No matter how fat your bank account is, how booming your business is and maybe you have reached the peak of your career but if you cannot keep yourself healthy, those will not matter. It is a must to be safe and healthy always. Let us follow the health standards and protocols set by our duly constituted authority. Let us keep our faith and serve HIM despite of the restrictions left and right. May God bless us all.
PARANOIA HITS ME HARD
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GOLAGAT .P NUJ .RM :YB