By Pastor Ronny Luces
Lessons Learned from My Sickness Part 37: Books
My mother taught me to read before I started going to school.
Perhaps that’s what prompted her to enroll me in Grade 1 even if I was not yet at a proper age.
That wasn’t much of a problem though because she was also my Grade 1 teacher.
From that experience, I developed an early passion for reading which continued until now.
Whenever her journals of education arrived, I was the one who first open and read it.
My father was also a wide reader. I remembered that he brought issues of Free Press, newspapers of different titles, Reader’s Digest, and magazines at our home whenever he arrived from work.
He was also the first to introduce me to pocketbooks.
That kind of environment and early training had imbued in me an intense desire to purchase books written by my favorite authors, whenever I had extra resources.
I’m also grateful to have befriended many bookworms who shared my love for books.
They introduced me to new authors and encouraged me to explore new genres, aside from what I already gotten used to.
When I got sick, my priorities (and our whole family’s priorities for that matter) changed.
Every resource that our family raise was appropriated for my medicines.
That is why, when my daughter and her cousins decided to help so that they can contribute to this fundraising campaign, I give them the go-signal to sell my pocketbooks.
Anyway, they (my books) had already given me the unspeakable joy of adventure when I was reading them.
They have brought me to different places, introduced me to many characters, regaled me with different plots, surprised me with different mysteries, and above all, taught me valuable lessons of life, which I was also able to integrate into my sermons, bible studies, and counseling sessions in the church.
If you are interested in being a bookworm, please contact my daughter. She will introduce you to my world – of books!
Posted on FB: Monday, 30 March 2015 at 4:45 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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