The Greatest Gift I Have Given to My Lola Cita

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Noon pa lang ay may pangamba na ako mag-share ng gospel sa aking Lola. Lagi ko itong tinatakasan. But last May, nagkaroon ako bigla ng lakas ng loob at tamang pagkakataon. By the grace of God, buong galak itong tinanggap ni Lola. Sinabi pa niyang “Jesus is my Savior and Redeemer”.  Pagkatapos nun, tinanong ko ang sarili ko. Bakit ba ako natatakot mag-share ng gospel sa kanya? Na-realize ko na pag nag-share ako ng gospel sa kanya, takot ako na baka bigla nalang siya bawian ng buhay. At pagkalipas nga ng dalawang buwan, binawian ng buhay ang aking 92-year-old Lola. 

Sa kabila ng lahat ng hirap ng taon na ito, para sa akin, isang biyaya pa rin na maituturing ang COVID-19. Dahil dito, nabigyan ang aming pamilya ng panahon ng Diyos para bigyan ng sapat na atensyon at oras ang aming Lola dahil nasa bahay kaming lahat. Naparamdam namin sa kanya kung gaano siya ka-importante sa amin at kung gaano namin siya kamahal. Higit sa lahat, binigyan ako ng Diyos ng pagkakataon na i-share ang gospel sa aking Lola, ang pinakamahalagang regalo na maaari kong ibigay sa kanya. Labis ang pasasalamat ko sa Diyos dahil nangibabaw pa rin ang Kanyang grasya.

Ang COVID-19 pandemic ay nag-iwan ng malalim na marka sa aking puso. Na-realize ko na maikli lang talaga ang buhay. Walang kasiguraduhan ang bukas para sa ating lahat. Pinili ng Diyos buksan ang aking puso at isipan tungkol sa tunay na buhay, kaya dapat kong gampanan nang buong tapang ang aking misyon bilang isang Kristyano. Ayoko maging isang lukewarm Christian who took for granted ang gospel at ginamit ito para sa sarili lamang. “Paano kung hindi ko ma-share ang gospel sa aking pamilya tapos bukas mamatay na sila?, Paano kung mawala na ako bukas so wala ng chance ma-save ang pamilya ko?, Paano kung kunin na ako ni Lord, masasabi ba Niya na ako ay isang “good and faithful servant”?” Hindi na dapat natin hintayin na umabot tayo sa punto ng pagsisi. 

Inulit-ulit ko ang pag-share ng gospel kay Lola dahil gusto ko sanang manigurado na makakasama niya ang Diyos sa susunod na buhay. Noong nagsimulang manghina at ma-hospital na ang aking Lola, nagtala ako ng 8pm prayer hour for our family every night na aming ipinagpapatuloy hanggang ngayon. Hindi ako natakot mag-share ng gospel sa aking pamilya. Naging intentional ako sa pag-build ng true relationship sakanila. I made more efforts to be close to my family through bonding moments over meals, exercise, by helping in our family business and by comforting them. I chose to accept and love them more despite their imperfections. I became more intentional and relational in building a true relationship and sharing the gospel to my family. Now, I am continuously being sanctified, and I am becoming more mature as a person and as a Christian. Without even knowing it, I have become a living reflection of the gospel by the grace of God.

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…” Genesis 50:20. Ang COVID-19 ay nangyari dahil sa kapabayaan natin sa kalikasan na ibinigay sa atin ng Panginoon. Pero patunay ang aking karanasan na intentional at may purpose ang Diyos for allowing COVID-19 to happen. That’s why as Christians, we should do our part and all the more be intentional and relational in sharing and reflecting the gospel throughout this season.

Issa dedicates this write-up to her late Lola Cita.

Issa Abesamis

Issa Abesamis

Issa Abesamis graduated from the University of Santo Tomas with a degree in Medical Technology. She then worked as an English Secondary Language teacher to foreign students. Later on, she pursued media managing specializing in digital marketing for several individuals. Today, she works as a Marketing Manager for a Traxion, a Philippine based Financial Technology company. On the side, she is continuously helping the marketing department of VS&F Catering, their family Business.
Issa Abesamis

Issa Abesamis

Issa Abesamis graduated from the University of Santo Tomas with a degree in Medical Technology. She then worked as an English Secondary Language teacher to foreign students. Later on, she pursued media managing specializing in digital marketing for several individuals. Today, she works as a Marketing Manager for a Traxion, a Philippine based Financial Technology company. On the side, she is continuously helping the marketing department of VS&F Catering, their family Business.

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