A Tribute to my Lolo

What a month this has been.

God has once again showed another side of Him. Of all the traits of God, His Sovereignty has always been the one that interests me the most. I recognize and submit to His will, and I humble myself that He is always in control of all the events in my life.

Now, he has put that to the test through the death of my loving grandfather. Lolo Jesus has been like a father to me, closer than my real father ever was - if I might say. I grew up with him, in his house, and he was the one who reared me. Being the eldest grandchild of his eldest daughter, little Ayiin was like the apple of his eye. When my family recollects lolo's life, they say that lolo was lucky in the lottery when I was born. He would frequently win with every bet, some would even reach to 5-digit wins. So I grew up with all the "luho". Almost everyday we would go to SM and eat at Ding Qua Qua, I remember that was his favorite restaurant - which eventually gave me the taste for chinese food. Growing up, I was blessed with all the love and sometimes too much love showered to me by my family, most especially my lolo.

Remarkably also, he suffered a stroke which paralyzed half of his body just two years after I was born. But that did not stop him from taking care of me and giving me all that I need. Our neighbors would even recall to me how my lolo would carry me very early in the morning so I could get the sun I need. Then when I was learning to walk, he would walk me around our village, stopping by to pick wild flowers in vacant lots, while playing with the goats that are feeding on them.

When my grandfather was paralyzed, and had to be hospitalized every now and then, I was always there to watch over him whenever my lola or mama had to be away to buy medicine. And when I was old enough, I would be the one to buy his meds or other things that he needed. I distinctly remember, whenever the nurse would take his blood sugar, he would always tell me to climb up his bed and observe how the nurse does it. It was his dream for me to become a nurse just like my uncles and aunt. And ever since I was little, I never dreamed of another thing.

He inspired me to do good at school, to always excel and do my best. Being a lawyer, his love for good grammar, dictionaries, and well-written prose has been passed on to me. My other grandfather of the father side, Lolo Gabriel, was a huge bookworm. He would lend me volumes and volumes of Readers' Digest Condensed Books, while my Lolo Jesus taught me to underline words that I do not yet know. He was a walking dictionary, as my lola would say. He would read books with a dictionary in his side. My earnest request for my lolo Jesus was that he would be able to attend my high school and college graduation. And indeed, he was. He even attended my Capping and Badging Ceremony. I thank the Lord God that I shared those moments with him.

June 7, 2015 at 5:17PM, the Sovereign God Almighty has taken my Lolo Jesus into His loving arms. I was on the 7AM-3PM shift, and heading to the hospital near our town was like the longest and most painful ride for me. My soul was like teared to pieces, praying so hard to God that I would just reach in time for my lolo to be still alive. But God has another plans, and I still submit to that.

While waiting for the funeral parlor to fetch my lolo, I remember crying till no tears were able to fall down from my eyes. During those times I remember asking the Lord the classic question where most hurt hearts would absentmindedly ask, "Why, Lord?". The hurt has blinded me so much to see the greater picture. Sometimes even now, when I dwell on the loss and pain my lolo caused when he left, I would again ask the Lord why. But the Lord is so amazing. Everything that happened to me is all for His greater glory and I am thankful that that is His will.

Because of this life changing event, God has taught me that He IS:
Almighty, Sovereign, Lord over All, Comforter of the weak and weary, His Word is perfect, and is a great comfort. His wisdom is greater than mine. His strength is perfect for my weakness. And that He is still a God whom I can rely on, trust on, put my faith on, and through JESUS CHRIST who has been the perfect atonement, and how John 3:16 has been one of the greatest verses that came to life when my grandfather died, and how God is over, above and beyond everything - even in LIFE itself. He has conquered Death, and He has given us the life that is truly life! All to His Greater Glory!