I'm the youngest of two, My Mother works abroad eversince I was young and My Father has many issues.
My Grandmother was the one who literally raised me and my sister including the three of my cousins.
I can say that I grew up in a difficult setting...My Father got addicted to drugs and I was able to witness him using drugs for so many times. It was really difficult for us specially financially since my parents seemed not to earn anything with my father's vices. He's not actually a bad father because he was a loving father, he just had vices.
Back then, I wouldn't wonder if one of my toys are gone specially those that are expensive because my Father would sell it to buy for drugs.
But you know what? Inspite of all those difficulties, I didn't grow up as a rebel or wild kid. By the age of 7, a group of missionaries came to our place and I was able to be discipled by them. I would sneak just to attend saturday bible class eventhough my father would not allow us sometime.
I grew up fearing God and was regularly praying for my Family.
One Sunday afternoon, while praying for my father...God was telling me that some day my Father will enter His kingdom. I didn't know what it meant until the next day. Coming from school, my grandma approach me and gave me one of the shocking news..."Your father got caught"...
The prison was located just beside the school I was attending...I was ashamed to enter prison since my grandma would instruct me to visit my dad during schooldays to give him food. But then I realized that he is still my father and so I opened it up to my friends and later on wasn't ashamed to visit my Dad.
Upon entering college, My dad decided to be moved in Muntinlupa because I was attending college in the city...I always prayed that My father would be free before I would graduate and so it was...A month before my graduation, my father got out. I had the priviledge to speak in front during our parents night. The teachers gave me a small paper to read but after that I took the courage to tell my Father how much I appreciate him.
"I know you are not perfect but you are still the best dad for me" I returned to our table and I saw my dad crying. I was so blessed to show how much I appreciate and Love my dad.
2 years later, I decided to join missions in Mindanao for 6 months and during the 3rd month while cooking french bread my Grandma called breaking one of the shocking news I had...
"Your Father is dead, he got shot"
It was a heartbreaking moment for me...I tried to question God and seek answers...
I found His comfort...
We filed a case and it went for 2 years but in the end we lost the case...
but yet we are comforted that Justice on earth is different from God's justice...All of us shall be facing The greatest Judge in the future...
In times of our hardship, always remember that God is still good...In death, in failure...God doesn't change...
I have kept thanking ang praising God for all of the things that He has done. He made me a better person and more mature in time...
