I am 69 years old. I am a retired teacher, and has been confined at home since the pandemic. My husband is 80 years old. He goes to the store everyday. After work, he also stays at home. After a year, things did not get better. There are more new cases and more variants. The roll out of vaccines here in the Philippines has been sparse and slow. We are at our wit ends already. Things are not getting any better. I cried out with tears to the Lord for mercy during my prayers the other day. The count went down a little bit yesterday, but rises again today. Yet in my prayers, I reflected......the Lord has allowed this pandemic to happen, he must have a purpose........
What have I learned and gained from this pandemic?......I learn that the kingdom of God is with us and among us. It is with our families, our neighbors, our communities and the people around us. We love and suffer together, henceforth, we should care and love each other.
What have I done to help others? In my own small ways, despite being cooped up at home, I try to give a little bit of love.....
1. I pray fervently everyday for my love ones as well as for others. I pray for those who are sick, also for those who have passed away from the covid 19 and from other diseases. It grieves me when I feel somebody is in deep grief.
2. I pray for all the people around me: our employers, employees, workers, co-workers, runners, drivers, housemates, household helps, neighbors and their families and love ones. We are all interconnected to each other. This dark time has made us realized that we need each other to survive this crisis.
3. I try keeping in touch with all my children, siblings and some friends through text, calls and online messages. I am forgetting and forgiving all petty squabbles.
4. I hate to broadcast any good deeds, but I try to help by contributing small amount through online donation to typhoon victims. Although I really get so stressed doing these online things because I am so not really a techie person.
5. I share food with my in-laws. I have since become closer with my sister-in-law Rosita. We communicate by phone.
6. My sister Jeannette and I have become closer too. We exchange food and other commodities frequently.
7. Even though I have not attended mass for a year now, yet I try to help in my own small ways, two of the churches here in Cotabato City.
8. I try to control myself from getting mad as much as I can at my new (relatively) new house help. I am trying to appreciate her, because sometimes she is really trying her best.
9. I share food and snacks with my household and my in-laws helps like cakes, coffee, milk, biscuits, crackers etc, in appreciation of their chores and help. We also get to attend online mass together on Sunday and pray the rosary together on Wednesday evening.
10. During this pandemic, I have avoided calling friends to gossip about others.
11. I try my best to be more patient with my husband. We are both growing old.
12. In my heart, I have forgiven everybody who has hurt me. We are all suffering, we need forgiveness to heal. May God forgive us all and end this pandemic.
On the other hand......I am a recipient of every bit of love from my family, my love ones and all the people around me.
1. My husband has been most patient and understanding with all my outbursts and anxieties during this pandemic. He calms me down often and he prays for me.
2. I know my children are all praying for their father and me. They are all in my prayers too. O Lord, hear our prayers.
3. Thanks to friends and relatives who prayed for my sister Helen when she had the covid.
3. My appreciation to my sister Jeannette who supplies me bread. And she gives me many other things too.
4. My contacts grocery stores and drugstore personnel are very attentive and kind to my requests. Thank you!
5. My house helps are also very patient with me and my outburst of temperament. They try to help me in every way they can. Thank God for them.
6. My nephew in Manila, Benwin Yu, in my wildest dream, I never expected him to buy my Chinese medicinal herbs and sent them to me here in Cotabato City.
7. To the runners that buy my medicines and other needs. Many thanks to them.
8. Thanks to Jean Valentino for giving me and replacing my old and torn Mother of Perpetual Help novena booklet.
9. And thanks to all who have been kind and attentive to my husband and my needs. Thanks a lot.
Thank you Lord for letting me live and learn about your kingdom here on earth. Yes, we must all love and care for one another. We hope to continue to live through this life lesson we learn from this pandemic and practice love and charity without hindrance, but please put an end to the spread of the covid virus and the pandemic very very soon. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.
