Something More

Hope

12th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Imee Therese's POV:

"Uumm...aah...Eeeh...."

This is the first time I speak in front of a large crowd...I'mso nervous!

"Hey, Imee!"

"Hmm? What is it, my love?" I replied to Anthony's call of attention.

"Don't worry about your prepared speech, Imee. Just say what's on your mind and make them happy. I'll pray for you."

"Hehehe! Thank you, Anthony."

Then I was helped to get into the stage. As one of the leaders of the organizing committee, I was asked to give a speech in front of hundreds of beneficiaries.

"Good morning, my dear brothers and sisters in faith." I started my speech with the beneficiaries. "Thank you all for accepting our invitation to share with us the blessings of Our Good Lord. Actually...umm...this is the first time that I was able to speak in front of a large crowd...so I'm a bit nervous...ehehehe..."

Then the crowds roared out to cheer me up...

"You can do it, sis!"

"Don't worry, Imee! We're here for you!"

"Imee! Imee! Imee!"

All those cheers make me smile...motivating me to continue...

"Thank you...thank you all for your support...okay, what we are doing here is a community outreach program for the people like you. God has fated us to meet and help you start believing that the Lord will lift you up from poverty to prosper in life..."

After giving them about the brief talk on how the activity will run, volunteers from the Archdiocese and the orphanage run by Kyle's relatives begins to give services to those in need. Of course, Anthony and I will do our part on it...

"I told you, Imee. I know you can do it." Anthony praises me. "How could a brave and intelligent lady like you will be shy to speak in front of a crowd?"

"Ehehehe...my bad." I giggled in embarrassment. "But anyway, thank you, my love, for supporting me."

"Always be my pleasure, milady."

Our client for today is a teenage girl, disabled like me, and seeks some spiritual advice. Father Jean is supposed to be in our place but he's on leave today.

"Hello, milady." Anthony greets her for me.

"Oh...he...hello, guys..."

Like me, the lady is on a wheelchair, but...as compared with me...she was able to move her body a bit...but most of the time...it is frozen...her arms and hands are bent, her legs are hanging in midair...and her speech is slurred and stuttered...perhaps she has cerebral palsy...

"Hello, sis. What can I do for you?" I asked her with a sweet smile. "Don't worry, just speak what you can. Don't push yourself."

The lady smiles at me...as she begins to gasp for air...so she could speak properly...

"Aaah...go...good...morning...tha-thank you...fo-for...accepting me." Her folded arms and hands begins to shake as she speaks. "I ju-just...wa-want to...ask yo-you...ho-how will...I ab-able...to se-serve...God? Eve-everything...tha-that I...wa-want to do...my mu-muscles...re-restraints me...to do it. Ple-please...he-help me, guys."

"You know, sis, you should accept how God created you." I began to explain everything. "Don't blame your parents why are you born to be in that condition...you should be happy about it...you should thank Him for giving you life...you're giving a opportunity to serve God and neighbor. And as how will you able to serve them...you should know that not all of what you want will be granted. Everything has a reason...there's a reason why your stiff muscles restrains you to do anything that you want. I'll tell you again, don't force yourself...your body can't take anything that it won't take. Try something simpler...like preaching the Word of God."

Despite my reply, I saw disappointment within the lady's...telling me that my answer is not enough to solve her problem...

"Mi-milady...eve-everyday...I pra-prayed...to Go-God...tha-that...He wi-will...cu-cure me...all my li-life...I wa-wanted...to ha-have...a no-normal life...I'm so-so...fru-frustrated...tha-that...I ca-can't...do any-anything...I wa-want...to he-help them...but...bu-but..."

Then the lady's disappointment turns into frustration and sadness...as tears begin to form around her eyes...I feel awful...I feel pity...on the lady who has the same fate as mine...if only God give me a sign on how could I do for her...huh?

"Don't worry, milady. We feel you." Then, I saw Anthony approached the lady and hugged her. "Imee was in that same situation...when I met her, she was just lying in the bed...she can't do anything...she was helpless...but she doesn't surrender to fate...she trusted in God just like you...and because of it, she was able to do wonders...she doesn't want anything for herself...she is contented...she only want to make other happy. So please, don't be frustrated...there will be always time for you..."

His words not only calmed the lady...but also make me smile...I should have said those words...but I was blind to see it. Yes, I am the Servant of God...I was chosen by the Good Lord...but...I'm not stainless from mistakes...

"I beg forgiveness from you, sis. I'm such inconsiderate to you..."

"I-It's al-alright, mi-milady." She then puts a bright smile at me. "I kno-know...wha-what yo-you're...thi-thinking...yo-you are...cho-chosen...chi-child of God...I still...be-believe in you...I wa-want...to be...li-like you..."

"Yes, you can be like me, sis." I smiled back at her. "Alright, if things are gonna be alright for you, I will start praying over you..."

Then I closed my eyes and uttered a silent prayer for the lady, I prayed to the Good Lord to bless the lady...that, despite her condition, she will able to serve God and people...surrender her personal wills...and accept Him into her heart so she could do wonders just like me...

And just as I finished my prayer to her, I suddenly felt a strange feeling...that God has just gave me a sign...the sign that I was hoping earlier...

"You know, sis, can you try standing up from your wheelchair and walk?" I smiled confidently at her.

"Hu-huh? Wha-what...are you...ta-talking about?" The lady seems confused by my plea. "I do-don't...ha-have...enough...ba-balance...to wa-walk! I ca-can't...even sta-stand!"

"Please, sis. Believe in me. I have prayed to God for you." Then I directed Anthony to help her. "My love, could you aid the lady to stand and walk?"

"Why, yes. Certainly."

Anthony then approaches the lady and detach the belt that keeps her on the wheelchair. He then holds her folded arms to help the lady stand on her feet.

"Anthony, let go of her. Let her walk."

My love was about to complain about it...but when he saw the deep confidence in my eyes, he smiles at me. Anthony broke off from the lady and let her stand on her own.

"Go on, just try it."

With her arms still folded, the lady then take a few little steps...crisscrossed and wiggly...but the thing is...she can walk now! Hehehe!

"I...I can walk! I can walk! I CAN WALK!!!"