It feels only yesterday that we were sharing happy moments together but today only their memories
remain in our hearts …
Since the beginning of the year 2020, family trials have happened month after month. I can say this is a year full of pain and heartbreaks. Problem comes one after another. Tears flowing like an endless stream. Emotional pain is harder to bear than a physical torture.
Family members were brought to hospital one after another. It did not just stopped there, because three of the close family members have gone ahead of us.
What make things worse is that we are still on the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Staying beside the hospital bed of the sick family member is dreadful for the fact that we might be infected by Covid-19 virus in there. The fear is killing inside silently. These family trials are trying to knock us down and our faith has been tested the hardest way. Our strength is slowly consummated.
We get weak and weary but never lose hope. We have no one to seek comfort and consolation. But we do not feel deserted at all because we know God is by our side in every trial we go through.
Everybody is staying home because of the strict community quarantine which is still being imposed. We had many sleepless nights for the wakes of a departed one. And we bury our own deads. Losing three wonderful people in just a short span of time is painful. Many family friends and relatives wanted to see, attend and offer prayer for their wakes but they could not come. This gave us so many heartbreaks. My heart is full of wounds and covered with many bandages and I feel I can no longer be identified. But still I believe that time heals all wounds.
It feels only yesterday that we were sharing happy moments together but today only their memories remain in our hearts. They may have gone from our sights forever but never from our hearts. How we wish to have them stay longer by our side but God has a different plan for them. God rather wants to take them home to his kingdom than for us to see them suffer the pain they do not deserve. Despite all the trials we do not have the right to question God’s plan. We just ask his grace to help us embrace his holy will.
We may have lost our loved ones but we have gained spiritual warriors closer to God in heaven to watch, guide and protect us from enemies. I believe they are now happy and at peace with the angels and saints in heaven.
For us all who are still struggling in this uncertain world, we are hoping for the joy of the morning to come in our lives. May we learn to love, appreciate, enjoy and live out life as God’s beautiful gift. And only God knows when to take it back.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
Lynn Salinas
The Philippines
