Unusual Channel
By Ma. Renette B. Uy

My own passion and death

This Lenten season week was quite a meaningful week for me and my family. I saw through the bad times and the good times and it had an important effect on my life after going through it.

A few weeks back, I received a text from my sister that my brother who lives in New York will have to go through a heart bypass operation. For such a young soul, I said to myself, “why?” Is it the fast pace kind of life in New York that brought about his heart condition? Maybe, his lifestyle? My brother as how I remembered him, was a chain smoker and he drinks to be merry as the cliché goes. Maybe, somehow he had too much of everything and its reckoning time because for me, it was untimely because he is still young. Anyway, despite my surprise and saddened by the fact that he will have to go through it to be able to survive, I had to accept the reality of it. Of course, I immediately asked the help of the BLD community for prayers. And as always the community stormed the heavens with prayers for my brother so he can survive his bypass operation.

As expected and never a doubt in my mind, God never ceases to amaze me. HE is truly an awesome God, because only a few days after the bad news, my sister-in-law called and told the family the good news that my brother did not have to go through the heart bypass operation. I believe in faith that it was a miracle and another victory for God! My brother is okay and well, thanks to the powerful prayers of the members of the BLD community, friends, family and most of all to my One, Mighty and Awesome God!

The past week was my most trying and my darkest week. It was my son's birthday last week, March 21 and he turned four years old. He was feverish that day and since it was his birthday we didn't want to take him to the doctor yet for my husband and me anyway earlier that day, decided to bring him to the doctor the next day. The following day, my son started to have frequent trips to the toilet and of course, it was alarming. We went to the doctor and we were told that he has amoebiasis and later on after several tests, it was also found out that he has typhoid fever. My heart was running a 180-miles-per-hour, I felt like I was hit by a truck and I felt I died instantly! I couldn't stop myself from worrying how he will be able to handle it looking so fragile and pitiful because he is starting to lose weight already. How can a little boy go through that pain and suffering? I felt so helpless and despite my strong faith that he will be taken cared of by God, as a mother, I just felt tears running down my cheeks like anything. My son has always been vibrant, energetic, and talkative. He was far from all three because I saw a physically weak, quiet and pale child in front of me. As a mother, my heart went out to him and I wished at that time that I am the one sick so he didn't have to suffer. As a Catholic, I never doubted my faith and I never doubted that my God will abandon me during these trying times. Again, I asked the community to pray for my son. My husband and I did not only receive prayers but also help from members of the community. Members of my family and friends came to support and help us during that week. HE truly is faithful and compassionate, I never doubted that. Despite my feeling of despair and sadness because of my son's condition, I have so much to thank for. I felt blessed with the kindness and love from my family, my community and my friends. My son is still in the hospital but there are signs of recovery and that is enough for my husband and me to be thankful about.

I would like to relate my experience this Lenten season to Christ' passion and suffering. Although of course, how Christ suffered to save us from the bondage of sin is nothing compared to what I have experienced. During my darkest hours, my husband and I was with my son all the way and I felt GOD was with us all the way too. During Christ' passion and suffering, HE knew GOD was with HIM all the way too like a father to a son. In times when I felt so alone and things seem helpless, I have always felt HIS presence. HE will always be there for me at all times even when sometimes I seem to forget HIM, I know that now. And I thank HIM for HIS passion and suffering, HIS death and HIS resurrection. Only in HIS Way and HIS time I was saved from my sins. Only in HIS resurrection I know I will have eternal life when I leave this earthly plane. What better reward is there other than HIS proclaimed salvation and HIS promise of eternal life? That is the question and for that I ask myself…. “AM I READY?”

The Lenten Season is over and we celebrate Easter. Like Christmas, Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving and other holidays, we celebrate it with a grateful loving and compassionate heart. HAPPY EASTER, everyone!

“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you got to put up with the rain.”