By Atty. Antonio P. Pekas
About four years ago, I suffered from heart and kidney failure. After my condition— difficulty in breathing and runaway blood pressure—were stabilized, I was so thankful I was still whole and would be able to function as such. Not the way the young version of me was, but relatively normal. Though I stopped driving just to be sure, I think I can resume gain in the very near future if my recovery continues the way it had been going since. Now, am going to the office every working day though I don’t entertain clients during my dialysis days which are on TThS. In a little while also, I should be back to doing legal work involving out-of-office activities. Litigation, for instance, which are now on hold.
The Almighty must have heard loud and clear my prayers on the way to the hospital which on the main was for me not to become bedridden. Another fear then was how would I be able to cope financially with sustained medication requirements and periodic medical procedures. These are not cheap. Thus, Juan Flavier’s caveat, “bawal magkasakit.”
As all religions would say, surrender to God or welcome Him to your heart and He will take care. So He took care of me and my family. My only child should be graduating from college in a month or two. If he decides to go to graduate school, am sure, it will also be taken care of.
Having seen first hand how God’s grace was and is being showered around there should be no worries. It was like being a millionaire or even a billionaire. Well, how else would you call those whose needs were and will be sufficiently taken care of?
Yes, things are gonna be fine. After all, I have been living like a good Christion, at least during the past 50 years. Not only was I kind to others that whole time. I was also kind even to animals. Never did I compromise on my being a vegetarian in those five decades and have no intention to.
For my bad karma or sins or mistakes, I think I already suffered for the big bulk of these, also during that period. For in conjunction with my main health vagary, all sorts of other debilitating illnesses came a visiting the past year or so. So much so that, if only it was not a big sin to commit suicide, I would have gladly crossed the great divide to be spared from the pain of it all.
In addition, during all those times, I had been doing social service and regular acts of penance such as fasting for days.
And in the darkest of moments, I never doubted His grace would soon be pouring on me. And so it happened.
The moral of all these, is to keep on living like a Christian or even more, for in the end, your riches, other worldly possessions and achievements are irrelevant.
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