The Agonies that Brought Me to a New Perspective

 A lot of my experiences brought me to the verge of despair and hopelessness.  I went through a lot of spells of feeling down. I felt sadness during difficult times. My life episodes dealt more on challenges and struggles. I really felt the agony of battling with life daily. But such experiences brought me to a new perspective. I usually feel that I often fall short as a mother on providing the needs of my family. Thank God, I've got a real friend who always reminds me of things about how I managed to face life's journey. Thank you Dear Sally for always inspiring me to move forward. 

The agony started when I learned that my youngest son has gotten  a congenital liver disease called biliary atresia that is only curable by having him undergo a liver transplant operation. It has been already a decade when we came to know that our precious youngest son was afflicted with a dreadful disease that eventually might lead to his death anytime. But God worked in mysterious ways. He has given us a chance to save our son JC from dying. He has helped us to meet people who were very willing to help us in different ways.  We were able to raise funds for his liver transplant operation that cost so much. My son was able to have his new liver in 2009. My precious had a lot of complications before and during the transplantation for six long years. It was indeed agonizing to see my fragile son in and out of the hospitals fighting for his own life. The unbearable pain that my husband and I felt during the times we were looking for millions of pesos to fund the operation. The mockery and the rejection that were thrown to our faces by a lot of organizations, foundations, and even famous personalities as well torn us into pieces. But GOD STILL PROVIDED.  A lot of people came for help. Many people were used by God as instruments into helping us cope with the difficulty.  A number of people supported our family during the tormenting struggles. The agonies that I felt brought me triumph and joy. JC was discharged at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Kaohsiung, Taiwan in March 2010 after almost six months of admission. Trials were also severe during those times. Funds were not enough then. But what was wonderful then was meeting a lot of people from different walks of life who treated us like their own family. And the tormenting pain helped me to become closer to God, reminding me of his faithfulness, love, and mercy. 

Another harrowing pain brought me to depression when I learned that JC had to be brought again to Kaohsiung for stent placement due to mild stenosis. God surely worked again in mysterious ways, Jan Ciryl did not have to undergo stent placement. The said diagnosis was proven otherwise in 2011. 

Two long years have passed, I have fully realized and proven that the quote "TOUGH TIMES DON'T LAST BUT TOUGH PEOPLE DO." is indeed real and true. The words struck me deep. My son's medication is lifetime and financially draining. Having four kids studying at the same time and providing medical needs for JC are my top and tough priorities. I work as a public school teacher and my husband Ronnie sells snacks daily in our neighborhood to support the family needs. Our income can not really provide the medical needs of my youngest child regularly. Expensive medicines and laboratory tests are really part of our periodic struggle. Trying times basically are chunks of my day to day crises. 


What indeed brought me to light after all these and shaped my thoughts were indeed Norman Vincent Peale's quotes. 

1. "The way to happiness: Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, give much. Scatter sunshine, forget self, think of others. Try this for a week and you will be surprised."

 2. "It's always too soon to quit."



 3. "Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You'll find  they haven't half the strength you think they have."


 4. "I place this day, my life, my loved ones, my work in the Lord's hands. There is no harm in the Lord's hands, only good. Whatever happens, whatever results, if I am in the Lord's hands, it is the Lord's will and it is good." 

5. "Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities, always see them, for they're always there." 

6. "Believe it is possible to solve your problem. Tremendous things happen to the believer. So believe the answer will come. It will." 


 And most importantly, verses from the bible 


7. Philippians 4:13
 "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me."

8. John 5:30  
"I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me."

9. Philippians 4:6-7

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 

10. James 1:2-4 

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." 

11. Isaiah 43:2-3 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. "For I am the LORD your GOD, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place." 

12. Jeremiah 29:11-13 
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." 

The agonies I felt brought me to a new perspective. We all could choose to begin the day with a thought that strengthens us or disempowering thoughts that will paralyze us. Coping with life brings a lot of glitches. Our hopes with God should exceptionally be impeccable. Life's voyage will surely not be always straight and serene, but with Him everything will always fall into the right perspective. Let us all choose God's words to guide us daily. Choose to become an optimist thinker rather than the pessimist one. The choice lies in our hearts, hands, and mind. We can all make things better with the thoughts that we think through Christ who always erases all our agonies in life. Our Christian life is indeed full of trials and hardest times as God wants us to turn over our problems to Him.Surrendering  to God all your worries and agonies during the midst of your trying times help you feel peaceful. Let us pray that God will help us use all these verses from the Bible to speak to us. 

And if you are also going through tough times, please read these quotes and scriptures again to give you encouragement and inspiration to face life's journey towards happiness.

Sources:

Norman Vincent Peale Quotes 
The Holy Bible-New American Standard Version