Seeing God’s Goodness January 7, 2009
I don’t want to sound like I’m going to preach here on this article that you are about to read, but I think I needed to somehow share the things that I have learned this past week. This week has been a test not only for myself, but also for my family. It all started when my grandmother was rushed to the hospital due to her severe asthma attack that led her unconscious, up to now… she stopped breathing by the time my mom and my brother reached the hospital but with God’s grace, she was revived by the CPR conducted by the resident doctor.
I believe that God has allowed this revival to happen. If she wasn’t meant to live, God would’ve not allowed it. Yet it happened. Some of my mom’s friends say that we should’ve let her go the moment she stopped breathing. I would like to contest to that. If she was meant to die at that very moment, she could have no matter how much effort was put into it. Though I respect this opinion, but I think it is also my right to disgree.
Then she was brought to the ICU for observation as she started having her seizures. The seizures, as I’ve witnessed it, breaks my heart. This was the first time I’ve seen my gramma like this and but there was nothing we could do for her then but to cry and pray. Her doctor wasn’t there yet. The doctor took like 5 hours before he came for her. While the other doctors of course, can’t do anything due to professional ethics and issues that may occur after. But as we waited, a doctor who apparently was a parent of a student of mine and a close friend of my gramma incidently was there also to visit his patient. We told him about my gramma we took him to the ICU so he could pay her a visit. At that moment, we’ve found our gramma having those seizures again, this time, worse than before. The doctor was so troubled about it that he went out of his professional ethic boundaries and called for a neurologist right away to examine further her condition. He told us that she has to be examined right away so she can be given medication to stop her seizures or else we’ll be putting her heart at a greater risk. Again, I’ve seen God’s goodness and His hand in action as He put that doctor to the scene and did what was necessary. I mean, what are the odds of that doctor being there in that hospital who is not even a resident or have a clinic there. It is real obvious how God lead us into what we needed to do.
Second day of confinement- she’s still underobservation. The doctors told us not to expect much anymore. There is a possibility that my gramma will remain like that, they term it as vegetable. She is given 72 hours from the day that she was brought to the ICU, fro her to wake up but as said, she won’t be the same anymore- that well, strong, active mama (that’s what we call her). This news pains us so much and still unsure of what is going to happen for the next 42 hours. Though her seizures minimized, her mouth couldn’t stop moving, and she has bitten her tongue. She was given a pacifier to prevent her from biting her tongue. This sight seems to blind us from the fact that God has not heard our prayers, but again it didn’t. We are still at His goodness amidst all these.
Third day- we were all hopeful that she would wake up, but still, up to this day, she hasn’t. But there were signals that made us believe with faith that God is really on the move. Her seizures stopped, she responds to pain inflicted to her… her eyes would blink, her hands move as she reacts to the stimuli. If God isn’t good, He would leave my gramma suffering that way… but no, He didn’t. This condition still has highlighted His goodness and His amazing grace and mercy.
As she slumbers deeply, we still talk to her. Yet I have told her to come home to Jesus, because that would be the ultimate goodness that God will grant her if it is really her time, I am still at my highest faith that she will get well. As what had happened to Jairus’ daughter, or even with Lazarus. While everyone thinks that it is too late, but in God’s time, it is never late. With the Lord nothing is impossible. As His goodness continues to shine right at this very situation we are into right now, that my gramma is into right now… His will be done.
In closing, Psalm 116 has made me feel relieved and God has revealed His nature. Also, another emergency meeting was held last Monday, with some of the school staff and admin. This has also revealed His greatness and power and how He looks after us despite of His majesty and of how small we are compared to Him. I have read from a pamphlet that sometimes, it seems that we are too familiar with our faith that we tend to forget who and how great God really is.
As a conclusion, when we say let God be the pilot of the plane and the captain of the ship, then let Him drive and lead us to where and how He want us to be and always glorify Him in every situation that you are in to and be grateful. Because in all these, God is the center and no one else.
And to my mama, we’re here for you and we love you. Get well soon and see you soon!
