Friday, October 10, 2008
Imelda speaks...
A good six weeks of attachments has passed, after series of toils and turmoils that turned my life upside down, I have to admit that I have grown yet again, spiritually. The wonders of God’s embrace, I have seen and felt it everyday. Through hardship I’ve crawled and eventually survived. Tears shed and countless worries made, all to be priceless.
As you know, my confirmation name is Teresa, gladly named after Mother Teresa, the great humanitarian whom I truly adore and admire for her selflessness and charitable heart. She once said:
“Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.”
Sometimes when I'm tired and feel like giving up, I always remember where she started off, from humble beginnings but with great strength and faith. Countless friends and relatives may have commented on “wiping asses” and “why ruin your future” and “yuck it’s a dirty job”. Never have I once turned my back and agreed, because they’d never get to know how much this job teaches me daily, lessons of what can never be found in the libraries or taught in the classrooms; lessons on God’s grace.
Amen!
Of Love
Love is unfortunately something I never really believed in since some time ago due to some forecasted reasons. Those empty promises of eternity and whatever. In my eyes, the only perfect couple seems to be Mum and Dad. Yet being in the hospital for some time kind of changed my perspective actually. I have seen countless couples rough it out and stick it through thick and thin.
Will you love him/her, comfort him/her, honour and keep him/her in sickness and in health and forsaking all others, be faithful to him/her, so long as you both shall live?
They would, and they have already done so.
I’ve seen how a man sacrifice his career, riches and time to spend the last months with his wife of ailing health. How he cried and held her hand every morning, whispering something sweet and refreshing the old memories of their courtship days. How a love so strong that a lady was willing to sacrifice her all against her family and friends advice to marry this young man whom she knew would probably not survive the next decade or spend her whole life with her. It might be folly to some of you, but to me, better than any fairytale.
How could greater love than this, possibly exist?
Of faith
Faith is like a big warm blanket that everyone would undeniably need in times of cold and hardship. In the hospital, I have seen priests, reverends, monks and possibly all the other holy men of different religions. I have seen both believers and non-believers, those who count on their faith and live each day to their fullest, and those who refuse to let God into their lives. What is faith? That is what we have been professing every Sunday. Do you belief in God, in Christ, in the Holy Spirit, in the saints, in forgiveness? If you do, good for you. If you don’t, time to read up.
My faith has brought me so far, and I do believe.
Believing is very important, its like building a house with the structures first. If you lay your bricks without a structure, you might just lose your house in an earthquake, but if you do a good foundation, the earthquake can shake your bricks and your walls, but you still have your structure.
Yes, I am referring to relationship between God and you. Do not make the mistake and wait till you face crisis, then start believing in God and when there’s no other way out, it becomes God’s fault.
Have faith, pray and talk to God!
Of humility
Do not bother to pray for the gift of humility and that you be humbled by the grace of God. Go out and be humble!
It’s been a daily ritual for me; and I must say it has been a tough one. After all I’m not a servant nor am I a slave to anyone. Humility was more of an act or a “give in” at the start of my nursing life. After some time, it grew naturally. Simple gestures like smiles and small acts of kindness or maybe a sincere apology that might be redundant yet making someone feel a little or much better.
Its not one bit of my fault the doctor left his needles and blood tubes on the bed, but I just apologised and promise it won’t happen again. I didn’t grumble about whose fault it was and push blames, sometimes we all forget, don’t we?
Also, I was being spat at and brushed off by another patient. Sigh. Haha ok lets just forgive and forget!
Of persecution
I got to nursed a leukemic patient, who was diagnosed recently. He had a nasty temper like a rhinoceros, something that I feared of. Whenever I got near him and tried to talk to him, I was brushed off, in the most hurtful way. I think I had it for two weeks, before I finally got exhausted of being brushed off, I broke down and asked God how could I go on.
There wasn’t any answer. My days went on dark but I persevered, wasn’t easy being spat at daily though :( Yeah… Right up till the last day, the patient kind of evolved, whoah, he was actually a nice chap, he sounded apologetic and explained he was on steroids (they give you nasty tantrums) and was still coping with the illness.
Those who’re facing persecution, hold on, and don’t stop praying. You will be heard!
Also to my patients, whom I have nursed and prayed for, I'm truly grateful for the little lessons that you all have taught me both knowingly and unknowingly are heartfelt and etched in my mind. I truly hope that my prayers for everyone of you are answered. Those who have been called home to the Lord, peace be with you, always and wherever you may be.
God bless!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Our Faith, Our Pride
Came across this video while watching EWTN that I'd like to share with the readers here at Faith Embraced. As much as it is so true, I found it to be extremely inspiring nonetheless. Do give it a watch even though it might take some time to load. I'm certain you won't be disappointed. May it inspire and motivate you in your faith journey! If you found it good like myself, do share it with others! :)
We are, the Catholic Church.
With over one billion in our family,
sharing in the sacraments and fullness of the Christian faith.
For centuries we have prayed for you and our world,
every hour of every day, whenever we celebrate the mass.
Jesus himself laid the foundation for our faith,
‘you are rock, and upon this rock, I will build my church.’
For over two thousand years,
we have had an unbroken line of shepherds guiding the Catholic Church
And in this world filled with chaos, hardship and pain,
it’s comforting to know that some things remain consistent, true and strong
– our Catholic faith,
an eternal love that God has for all creation.
If you have been away from the Catholic Church,
we invite you to take another look.
Visit CatholicsComeHome.org today.
Ours is one family, united in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
We’re Catholic. Welcome Home.
Labels: catholic, christianity, church, pride