Confessions of a Grafted Branch

It’s been a rather challenging first few weeks for me this July. My back pain, which has not bothered me since 2005, has returned. I’m already on my second bout of rehabilitation, after an MRI revealed an early onset of degenerative disc disease on two of my spinal discs in my lower back.

Three days ago, my daughter was admitted to the hospital for dengue fever. My wife and I are both staying with her at the hospital, praying that she will have the strength to recover and that there will be no complications arising from the dreaded disease. We are told that it usually takes 7-10 days to recover from the virus.

In the meantime, my wife and I will have to endure seeing my daughter tethered to an IV line while she in turn endures the high fever and daily blood tests.

Over three years ago, I would have cursed my fate for such a turn of events.

Today, I face these events with a calmness that I myself find surprising given what kind of person I used to be.

Where once I allowed myself to be tossed aimlessly to and fro by life’s whims and caprices, I now find myself standing on Solid Rock.

I used to scoff at the idea of having a Savior that is not even from my own culture or people. I had dismissed Christianity as something alien and therefore irrelevant to my own circumstances as an Asian and a Filipino.

Now, there is no other place that I feel more at home in than among the elect.

I say these things, not with conceit or condescension, but with much humility and thanksgiving.

Humility because I didn’t choose to become a Christian. I was grafted in.

“Some of the natural branches have been broken off. You are a wild olive branch. But you have been joined to the tree with the other branches. Now you enjoy the life-giving sap of the olive tree root.” - (Romans 11:17 NIrV)

Thanksgiving because I realize that my having become a Christian is itself an act of mercy and grace from my Creator. For no one can come to Him unless He draws him/her to Himself.

 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.” - (John 6:44 NIV)

And now, the privilege of membership in God’s family has allowed me to weather life’s storms. Though the pain of suffering is as real as it ever was before, I find great solace and strength knowing that the Ruler of the Universe is for me and not against me.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people whom He used as instruments to channel His mercy and grace upon me and my family at this time:

My orthopedian and our brother in the faith, Dr.Fernando Acance, without whom I would probably still be immobilized and in pain in bed.

My boss and mentor, Assistant Secretary Alejandrino Vicente, whose kindness and understanding eased the guilt of my having been away from work for so long. I am truly blessed to have him as my superior.

My workmates at the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Coordination: for their constant words of understanding and encouragement.

My mother, who is a living testament to God’s strength in healing, and thus acts as a constant source of great encouragement for our family.

My mother-in-law, who, contrary to the popular perception of mother-in-laws, is a true blessing for her Godly love and support.

To my Pastor, Dan Harder and my brothers and sisters in the faith, who helps keep my fire ablaze for the Lord.

And finally, to my One True King at whose feet I lay all my earthly crowns. You have known me since even before I was born, but I only came to truly know you during adulthood. You are truly the First and the Last. You deserve all the Glory in the world.

Soli Deo Gloria.