P
Pilgrim525
Guest
He said to him, “Follow Me.” And he got up and followed him. (Mt 9:9)
I have always been a religious person even as a child. We (7 siblings) have all been brought up that way by a very prayerful and religious mother. Our parents struggled to make a living so they could send us to Catholic Colleges and thus avail of the catholic education. I had also been an active member of the Sodality of Our Lady since grade 5 and on to college at a Jesuit University. That was my orientation.
But somewhere along the way, from mid 70’s to 1987, I started living the life of the prodigal daughter, unmindful of what my Father in heaven would have thought of me. I happened to turn into a wrong bend on the road and I lost my way amidst the vain attractions of this worldly life. I began to look up to the Lord as one who only provided for all our needs. Oh yes, my consultations with Him continued but whatever personal relationship I had with Him (which I nurtured in college), it was obviously a one-sided affair. He was doing all the giving and I, the taking. I never gave a thought of serving and pleasing Him. I had been completely selfish, arrogant and insensitive to His needs most especially His need to be loved in return. I had indeed become an ungrateful wretch! Now I shudder at the thought that if He had taken me during those times, I would have merited damnation in hell.
But the Lord is kind and merciful. Most of all, He is a very loving Father. All throughout, He had patiently waited for me to come to my right senses. He had allowed me to have my own spoiled way, squandering all the graces that He had so abundantly given me in the past maybe because He had always known that in the end He could easily tap me on the shoulder and whisper “That’s enough; enough of your selfish ways. Come follow Me” and He knew I would obediently follow.
In March, 1987, the Lord decided to tap me on the shoulder via an ailment that made it necessary for me to undergo surgery. I was diagnosed to be suffering from intestinal obstruction. Within 48 hours after I was operated on, I needed to undergo a second surgery. I took the doctor’s decision very calmly. As was customary of me, I surrendered everything into His hands and I was completely resigned to His will. Of course I didn’t know the extent of my condition at that time. I did not know that the 2nd operation was going to be very crucial. I did not know I was given a 50-50 chance to live.
That operation was the second major turning point in my life. While recuperating in the hospital, the 700 Club program would always be on TV. One time I saw this guy giving personal testimony about his life in Jesus and something just touched the very core of my soul. I requested for the hospital chaplain and went to confession after years of not going to the Sacrament.
I stayed in the hospital for 14 days (it was Lenten Season and I associated it with the 14 Stations of the Cross), after which I still had to undergo anti-biotic injections for 10 days. The 10th day fell on April 19, 1987, Easter Sunday. **Easter '87 ** was indeed very providential! It beckoned a new life for me; a rebirth; an awakening!
At the time of my operation, my husband had just been elected Charter President of the Kiwanis Club in our village and that initiated us to community service. This eventually introduced me to Parish Ministries. In May, 1988 I attended a Life in the Spirit Seminar of the Charismatic Renewal Movement which was another major turning point in my life because it started me towards the call of discipleship. Eventually I joined the Third Order Carmelites in 1991 and this is where I am right now. I am so grateful to Jesus for giving me the chance to serve Him in this life.
What are the major turning pojnts in your own life? Please share.
God bless,
Nimfa
I have always been a religious person even as a child. We (7 siblings) have all been brought up that way by a very prayerful and religious mother. Our parents struggled to make a living so they could send us to Catholic Colleges and thus avail of the catholic education. I had also been an active member of the Sodality of Our Lady since grade 5 and on to college at a Jesuit University. That was my orientation.
But somewhere along the way, from mid 70’s to 1987, I started living the life of the prodigal daughter, unmindful of what my Father in heaven would have thought of me. I happened to turn into a wrong bend on the road and I lost my way amidst the vain attractions of this worldly life. I began to look up to the Lord as one who only provided for all our needs. Oh yes, my consultations with Him continued but whatever personal relationship I had with Him (which I nurtured in college), it was obviously a one-sided affair. He was doing all the giving and I, the taking. I never gave a thought of serving and pleasing Him. I had been completely selfish, arrogant and insensitive to His needs most especially His need to be loved in return. I had indeed become an ungrateful wretch! Now I shudder at the thought that if He had taken me during those times, I would have merited damnation in hell.
But the Lord is kind and merciful. Most of all, He is a very loving Father. All throughout, He had patiently waited for me to come to my right senses. He had allowed me to have my own spoiled way, squandering all the graces that He had so abundantly given me in the past maybe because He had always known that in the end He could easily tap me on the shoulder and whisper “That’s enough; enough of your selfish ways. Come follow Me” and He knew I would obediently follow.
In March, 1987, the Lord decided to tap me on the shoulder via an ailment that made it necessary for me to undergo surgery. I was diagnosed to be suffering from intestinal obstruction. Within 48 hours after I was operated on, I needed to undergo a second surgery. I took the doctor’s decision very calmly. As was customary of me, I surrendered everything into His hands and I was completely resigned to His will. Of course I didn’t know the extent of my condition at that time. I did not know that the 2nd operation was going to be very crucial. I did not know I was given a 50-50 chance to live.
That operation was the second major turning point in my life. While recuperating in the hospital, the 700 Club program would always be on TV. One time I saw this guy giving personal testimony about his life in Jesus and something just touched the very core of my soul. I requested for the hospital chaplain and went to confession after years of not going to the Sacrament.
I stayed in the hospital for 14 days (it was Lenten Season and I associated it with the 14 Stations of the Cross), after which I still had to undergo anti-biotic injections for 10 days. The 10th day fell on April 19, 1987, Easter Sunday. **Easter '87 ** was indeed very providential! It beckoned a new life for me; a rebirth; an awakening!
At the time of my operation, my husband had just been elected Charter President of the Kiwanis Club in our village and that initiated us to community service. This eventually introduced me to Parish Ministries. In May, 1988 I attended a Life in the Spirit Seminar of the Charismatic Renewal Movement which was another major turning point in my life because it started me towards the call of discipleship. Eventually I joined the Third Order Carmelites in 1991 and this is where I am right now. I am so grateful to Jesus for giving me the chance to serve Him in this life.
What are the major turning pojnts in your own life? Please share.
God bless,
Nimfa
