Lessons Learned from My Sickness Part 33: Friendship
By Pastor Ronny Luces
It has been said that if you have two persons that you consider friends, you are lucky. But if you have one GOOD person to consider a friend, you are fortunate.
Perhaps it goes without saying that if you have more than one good person as your friend, you are not only lucky – you are blessed!
The Bible has a lot to say about friendship. According to Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loveth at all times.”
Is it not interesting? Why does it not say, “brothers or sisters loveth at all times”?
Because in real life, even brothers and sisters may hate each other to death because of greed and quarrel over the inheritance.
But we know of friendships that overcome the tests of loyalty and the passage of time.
I’ve known J since I had my fieldwork/internship at the Institute of Religion and Culture, holding office at CPBC HQ, Jaro, Iloilo City.
We were staying at their house as boarders. He was still a student then.
I will only come in contact with him when we are queueing with our pails at the water pump near the house and have our conversation.
He seldom talks, but whenever he is in the mood, he will blurt out his plans for his family, how to help his parents, and how to send his siblings to school.
For that brief period, we became friends.
I was hospitalized and brought to the operating room, where a CTT tube was attached to my body. This procedure rendered me almost immobile.
Upon my release from the operating room and still feeling lightheaded, I sensed someone looking closely at me. He was also wearing a mask and a uniform of a hospital orderly.
“Manoy, ikaw diya?” (Elder, is that you?)He asked.
Even with a mask, I recognized him, so I replied, “Yes, J. I was operated on just now, and I have a tube attached to my body.”
He then replied, “Don’t worry, Manoy, ako bahala kanimo.” (Don’t worry, Elder, I will take care of you)
After that, he made everything to make my return to my room as comfortable as possible.
He would procure every gadget that he thought I might need because of my limited mobility.
He was doing to me what Jesus taught, “Go the second mile.”
When the nurse assigned to bring me back to my room observed the way he was doing things, he just told her, “Friend ko diya si Manoy.” (Elder is my friend)
Posted on FB: Thursday, 26 March 2015 at 2:36 PM
About the Author
Rev. Ronny Luces was the Minister for Administration and Community Service of the Jaro Evangelical Church (JEC), Iloilo City, Philipines. He and his wife, Martha have been with JEC’s ministry since 1994.
Pastor Ronny graduated from Central Philippine University College of Theology in 1985 and was pastor of several Baptist churches.
In January 2015, after tests and two long hospital confinements, Pastor Ronny got the word he had lung cancer. He underwent chemotherapy.
Praying for healing and going through all the medical processes, Pastor Ronny wrote his reflections “Lessons Learned from My Sickness.” In July 2015, he passed away.
May Pastor Ronny’s series of reflections and meditations strengthen your hope and faith as you go through your own life’s battles.
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