Mama Mary and Her ChIldren Book Six

Are you in need of a miracle at the moment? Here is something that might help. I recently read my copy of Mama Mary and Her Children Book SIx which is a collection of personal faith testimonials edited by Cherry Aquino and Rowie Matti. I attended its book launch last September 7, 2019 to support my friend Rowie. Little did I know that this book would reinforce my faith during a global pandemic.

As of this writing, Metro Manila is still on lockdown due to Covid-19. To pass the time, I have revived my passion for reading. After finishing a few books of late, I decided to read this book as I need prayers. I am currently facing some delays in publishing my first book due to the pandemic. I am also feeling cabin fever, and I really wish that I can go out again.

The book features personal testimonials from Catholics who experienced Our Lady’s intercession. I have reflected on those that have touched my heart, and I prayed the Marian prayers interspersed with the essays. I was not expecting much, but I kept an open mind while doing so.

I was surprised when an overwhelming feeling of peace and serenity washed over me as I finished reading this book. I got to sleep better, and I also felt less anxious about my status quo. I realized that the prayers were working.

I realized that Mama Mary’s got my back.

I am no longer worried about the delays in my book’s registration and publishing. My publisher will handle all the legwork for me. I am also optimistic that the pandemic will end soon. I no longer feel sad about being home all day. I am healthy, and that is all that matters.

I highly recommend this book as it is helpful during these trying times. May you experience Our Lady’s mantle of hope upon you. I wish you all the best, and may God bless us all!

June Pink Sisters Visit

I make it a point to visit the Pink Sisters Convent in Quezon City from time to time. It used to be a monthly visit, but due to the pandemic, I could only make it every other month. This visit was particularly special as it was Father’s Day. I made sure that I prayed for the eternal repose of the soul of my late father and grandfather.

I am so lucky to live near a convent that houses sisters of perpetual adoration. If you also have worries and prayers, drop by the Pink Sisters Convent. It is free and calming.

On Grief

Today, I reflected on the significance of grief in my life.

I first experienced grief when I lost my high school best friend Diane in a car accident in 2008. It was devastating to lose a sister-figure at such a young age as we have just graduated from university back then.

Diane was a freshman at Ateneo Law School and had a promising future ahead of her. I mourned the loss of a very good friend. At the same time, I mourned the loss of Diane’s future as a successful lawyer.

It was difficult to move on from that incident because Diane was the designated sensible friend in our group. She was the first person I would call for advice. Losing her meant having to find the answers to my own questions. And by now, I can say that losing Diane has turned me into a self-assured individual.

I mourned the loss of my father in 2019. He died of cancer. By that time, I already knew how to handle grief. It was not easy, but I gave myself space and time to mourn.

There were good days, and then there were bad days. Whenever grief would hit me hard, I would find comfort in productive activities such as workouts and crochet projects. I prayed whenever I felt hopeless. And I thanked God when days were filled with sunshine, and I would remind myself to also do the same in times of darkness.

Grief is simply a part of life. It has taught me how to keep on fighting in honor of those who have gone before me!

No Time To Stop

I am writing this in the middle of a global pandemic. I am still waiting for my Covid-19 vaccine, and I am mostly staying home to keep myself safe. This period has taught me that amidst all the uncertainties in the world, faith can be a powerful tool to carry on.

I started reading the Bible last year when I was experiencing the breakdown of my previous relationship. My goal then was to finish the Bible in one year. I am currently in the middle of that journey, and I have since started a better, healthier relationship with a friend of mine. I am happy because I did not only appreciate the Word of God, I also found myself enjoying it. As for my current relationship, I can say that it is something that I truly prayed for because the person I am with is a good man.

The rosary has also kept me centered during these crazy times. I use a rosary podcast to guide me through this prayer which is instilled in me by rote. The auditory experience has provided an interactive dimension to my prayer time. I sometimes pray the rosary while driving or running errands, so this is also a tool for me to practice more patience. Who knew that prayer could be a sanity saver amidst the pandemic?

Online masses have also been my gateway to the Eucharist during the lockdown. I realized that it is possible to connect to my faith and prayer life through technology. While this cannot replace in-person masses, I am thankful to be able to attend mass from the safety of my home. I am also grateful that social media allows me to hear mass, type in my intentions, and even send offerings through e-money.

I must admit that the beginning of the pandemic has been challenging for me because I did not know how to live my life at home. I coped by promoting my online business, playing the flute, blogging, and watching movies. I also read books to feed my mind. To help our medical frontliners, I made earsavers with local charity Earsavers for Lifesavers and beanies for NICU premature babies with Bayaniyarn. And while I never considered myself religious, the pandemic has taught me that faith can be a lifeline when everything seems topsy-turvy. My daily prayer routine has given me a sense of hopefulness and optimism.

I look forward to better days ahead. I know that things will not return to “normal” as the pandemic has given us a whole new reality to live with. But whatever happens, I know that God and Our Lady has allowed my faith to be my guiding light when the world seems dark and dreary.

I feel lucky to have a strong and enduring faith. I can only keep going on!

Seeing 20/20

The year 2020 has been a roller coaster ride for me. The Covid-19 pandemic has forced me to a home quarantine for several months, which was a drastic adjustment as I was used to going out everyday. I was sad on the first few days, but I focused on working out and practicing my flute again. Eventually, I got used to home life with my mom and our helper.

The lockdown has taught me to be thankful everyday. I realized that life is too short, and with the world on a standstill, I noticed that the past does not matter anymore. Only the present matters, because the future is not promised to us. I decided to make use of my time at home wisely by crocheting earsavers for health care frontliners under the organization Earsavers for Lifesavers. I grew my hair, which was in a pixie cut for years. I practiced my own kind of self-care, by reading books, listening to music, subscribing to podcasts, praying, and participating in webinars and virtual parties. Life became colorful again, thanks to the online events I had.

I also switched from drinking instant coffee to brewing my own coffee at home. I bought a French press, and found a local coffee distributor who delivered choice selections from Sagada and Kalinga. This may seem like a small change, but the results have cascaded into the other aspects of my life. I learned to wait for my coffee to brew, rather than just drinking my coffee straightaway. I appreciated the aroma of strong coffee, and realized that black is better than sugary concoctions in sachets. I learned to take things slow. And I became more awake in the process.

With all the negative news and energy in the world during the pandemic, I realized that my life is the only thing that is mostly within my control. This led me to being more selective with the guys I was entertaining. I decided to stop wasting my time on men who ghost and have shady intentions. Probably the biggest quarantine plot twist was meeting my boyfriend, who was an upperclassman of mine in university. Reconnecting online was a blessing as it made the quarantine so much better. Finding love also made me appreciate how I am as a person. I have so much love to share because I already feel confident in my own skin. Indeed, when I was at home, I got to focus on my truest self, and this led me to really enjoy being in a relationship.

Dating during the lockdown does have its challenges, as most restaurants only allow takeout. This did not stop us from having coffee in the car or just seeing each other once a week. The pandemic made us appreciate the time that we spent together, as this also made us get to know each other better. My favorite moments are when we talk on just about anything while driving around the city.

The Blessed Mother has been my intercessor all throughout the pandemic. I asked her to help me get though each day, and I got so much more than that. I learned how to manage my expectations, emotions, priorities, and to let go of past hurts through my daily rosary. As a result, I became braver to face the future because I know that the present is the best gift I can give myself.

I will look back on the pandemic with affection as this period in my life taught me how to be a lifelong learner with a prayerful and loving heart. With Our Lady’s help, I know that God will continue to help me thrive in an imperfect and unpredictable world.

Sam Lucas graduated with a degree in Humanities from the University of Asia and the Pacific. She is a Human Nature online dealer and Core Advocate. When she was 14, her vision was restored to 20/20 after a trip to Lourdes, France. Her fibromyalgia was also healed after this trip. She has a lifelong devotion to Our Lady.