Someone close to my heart gave me a book sometime this month. Every time I receive one I always read the dedication first. The date, I noticed, instead of 2007 she wrote 2004 by mistake. My mind drifted to that particular year. What have I been doing three years earlier? What were my plans? The term ALS was a stranger to me then. It will not introduce itself to me until after two more years.
Three years ago I was doing what I love the most: being a Nurse. Half of my 27 years in this profession was in bedside nursing- actual, hands-on care giving. As a nurse supervisor, 2004 gave me the opportunity to respond to challenging roles of being a teacher, adviser, mentor, role- model and a friend. It was a year full of life and dreams. Two friends suggested we pursue PhD. I began counting years, told them jokingly by the time we finish the degree, only a few more years and it will be retirement for me.
Now we know that I will no longer be looking forward to retirement as soon as I stopped working since July of this year. But what was significant in 2004?
It was the year I started to ask the Lord to bless my desire to sing and pray for the sick and the dying, specially the dying. I remember praying and singing to a young, mentally challenged girl in a coma…” in heaven, no more sickness, no more pain”, I read from Our Daily Bread.
“…only what is done for Christ will last.”
By the way, the title of the book is Always a Springtime by Helen Steiner Rice.
For life on earth is a transient affair,
Just a few brief years in which to prepare
For a life that is free from pain and tears
Where time is not counted by hours or years
-H.S.R.
May de Jesus-A. , Oct. 25, 2007 (Manila)
12 comments:
Dear Ate,
When I took you to the hospital last July, I saw with my own two eyes how your being a NURSE is not just a job which brings food on the table. Your ministry in the lives of people is something that even I in the "full time" christian work cannot match. I was envious for a moment, but then, I prayed that more and more people will be blessed even if you have stopped working as a Nurse, and true enough, you are continuing to bless many more by your writing and your personal walk with God during this time.
Keep writing Ate.
love you,
Nina
Dear Ate May,
One thing that i admire with you, you never stop doing good things for others.
Another good thing that resulted from your illness is that now you are highly technical. Imagine you have your own blog. If you are at the bedside i doubt if you will have the time to do this. And because of this you are reaching out to so many people out there. In fact you are uniting most of these people thru your blog and emails.
Speaking of books, 2 books are coming up. Will pass by this week to bring the books.
When are we going back to MOA? I think we need to go somewhere else. Trinoma kaya! "If there's a wheelchair, there's a way!"
See you!
With love and prayers,
edna
And for May's email, telling us how she is, in spite of. Mahal kita...Mahal ka namin...higit sa lahat iniibig ka ng Dios ng walang hanggan...if you can't write keep on reading...we' ll keep praying, we'll keep writing, i promise Malu will......este...tawa kalang ha...si Manang Debbie na lang, ang galing galing na talaga...maiiyak na ako kaya...magpray muna tayo...don't give up....
"Our loving and awesome Father in heaven, strengthen and encourage by your Holy Spirit through your eternal Word. In Jesus' name."
Thank You for your informative wisdom.. and i will appreciate very much if by the Spirit of The Lord you will be a partner in the endtime ministry that the Lord has entrusted me to Preach in this lastdays. God Bless You and your effort to spread the good news. Please listen to the radio Program entitled "The truth that changed my life" at DWBL 1242 Khz am Band Every Saturday 8:30pm to 10:30pm. I am the anchorman of the program.
I just loved your blog - keep writing and keep inspiring . . . .
I just loved your blog - keep writing and keep inspiring . . . .
Read all your write-ups and I was blessed by them
all---
Rene and I were not able to attend our prayer meeting last Wednesday as we
were still jetlagged, but Carlos was able to go and he asked the Church to
continue to pray for you and Ate. Remember, you are always in our prayers
and our hearts
We continue to pray for you and Mercy and May. God has wonderful reasons why He let us live in such a time as this. While we all still have hearts beating let every beat be for the glory of His name.
May, i read letters from your blog, very touchy. i am so happy, for you. I pray laging masaya ang araw mo kahit marami kang struggles, your life is a trophy of God's love.
May, thank you for blessing me. You are helping realize that I don't
have the right to complain about being tired and overwhelmed with work. I
know that God placed you in our lives to be used as His mouthpiece.
Love you. Happy Thanksgiving!
Beth
My dear pampangkin...you're more beautiful now than ever. Even in this difficult situation, your life is a testimony of unwavering faith and submission to our Lord's will.
I love you so much, your always in my thoughts and prayers...tatess
Dear May,
Your sister Nina is right. you are blessing many lives and touching many hearts. Even mine.
If your life in Slo-Mo. I felt my life have been on warp speed in the last 9 years. After 25 years of being in the pastoral ministry both in the Phils. and here in the US, the redirected my journey of faith. I cant even say I walked with Jesus as much as I have flewn with Jesus. I may have done more than 2 million miles just trying to be faithful to God;s call upon my life. The phase have been incredibly fast. I really regret not having seen you in my visits to Caloocan. Sometimes when I'm in the Philippines, I dont even get the chance to spend time with family and friends.
I found your blog today. Let me just say simply that you are in my thoughts and prayers. When you find time to pray for me, pray for safety, wisdom and favor on my endeavor to bring the Great Commission to a close and usher in the glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
By the way, I saw Debbie Lelis Grice sometime last month on her visit here in Virginia Beach, VA.
Kuya Paul
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