Indomitable Matthew (TTMT #2)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

WHEN you finally got the things you've been praying for your whole life, hindi puwedeng hindi ka magdalamhati sa oras na mawala sa'yo ang mga bagay na iyon.

Then you'll start to rant about how life sucks and how life is unfair. But the time you were enjoying everything, you loved living.

That's the conditional love you have for your life, kapag hindi na magiging maganda ang takbo, you'll start hating it. Pero kapag masaya, halos yakapin mo ito.

Sabi ni Crystal Jane, kapag ganoon daw ay conditional lang din pala ang faith ng tao sa Diyos.

Sa tuwing masaya lang saka nagpupuri at nagpapasalamat sa Kanya. Kapag naghihirap at nasasaktan na, kinakalimutan na Siya. Kukuwestyunin at sisihin pa.

"In all circumstances, we must praise Him," pahayag ni Crystal Jane habang silang dalawa lang ang nasa pantry ng opisina at katatapos lang ng pagli-lead nito ng Bible study sa mga officemates niya.

"Parang ang hirap naman magpasalamat pa sa Diyos kung nasasaktan at lugmok na lugmok ka na. Naghihirap ka na, magte-thank you ka pa?" nakalabing sabi ni Frances.

"Diyan na makikita kung hanggang saan kakilala ng tao ang Diyos. Kung hanggang saan tayo nagtitiwala at naniniwala, kung gaano kalalim ang pagkakakilala natin sa Kanya, kung talagang alam natin na siya lang ang nagbigay ng lahat ng tinatamasa mo, at nasa Kanya ang lahat ng karapatan para kunin ulit iyon."

Crystal Jane smiled at her. "Kapag may inalis siya sa buhay natin na nakapagpapasaya sa'tin, hindi naman Niya iyon ginawa para saktan o parusahan tayo kundi para palitan iyon ng mas maganda at mas makabubuti sa'tin."

Napahalukipkip siya. She absorbed everything she said.

Sa bagay, kahit pa noon ay naranasan naman niyang kapag may nawala sa kanya, bigla rin naman siyang nakakuha ng mas magandang kapalit.

When they migrated to Australia because her father lost their business, she lost Terrence. But she gained Cyla. When her perfect relationship with Brandon messed up and almost destructed her, Matthew came in.

Faith. It is the confidence of what we hope for. An assurance about what we do not see.

"Pero, hindi rin naman natin maiiwasang masaktan at malungkot kahit matibay na ang faith natin, 'di ba?"

"Oo. And when we're hurt, doon mas kailangan nating lumapit sa Diyos. God wanted us to be dependent on Him. God does not want us to be obsessed or too dependent on someone or in something, so He takes them away.

"He wanted to remind you that He is enough. God is enough. So when things do not go the right way and everything seemed all wrong, do not worry. He's just taking us to the path where we can find Him. And God is always there waiting for us."

Napayuko siya.

Dinantay ni Crystal Jane ang kamay nito sa kanya. She assuringly smiled at her. "Don't think too much. Just trust God. We're discussing this not to make you worry but to let you know na kapag may mangyari mang hindi maganda sa buhay natin, hindi tayo dapat sumuko."

Tumango siya at napangiti na rin. "So kapag naka-encounter ako ng pain and trouble, I'll just...pray?"

"And surrender and cry, if you must. And still praise."

Now, Frances does not really know how strong her faith is. Though, she's standing in front of the cross right at that moment. Inside her head... there'snothing.