December 5, 2023
I was remote-working in a café just beside Padre Pio Shrine in Quezon City today. There was a scheduled power interruption at the condo I live in, so I took a short walk down to the church for some quiet time and afterwards decided to just work at this coffee shop inside the same compound. It was a sleepy afternoon, typically a down time at Cucina di Francesco. For me it’s a conducive place for working: a small cozy café that’s not so busy during work hours. I knew I could stay there until 4pm when my building restores power.
A family of four came in to dine–well I never really noticed since I was deep at work–but after a few minutes, peace was broken when one lady literally fell down from her seat wailing and shouting and crying. She stood up, went outside for a second panicking while talking to someone on the phone, then went back in again still deliriously wailing and shaking. I was literally in shock, eyes widened in disbelief, a little bit annoyed but more confused and bewildered, like WTH what’s up, what’s wrong? What’s with the commotion?
The older woman, who I learned was her mom, suddenly stood up as well, now also in tears, looked at me and two other customers. She was very apologetic, and shared to us the news that her daughter just passed the bar. She’s now a lawyer. She was apparently rejoicing and exulting in her achievement, as for sure other bar passers as well right at that moment. We then congratulated and shared with their joy, and for like a minute there we were cheering for her like a mini victory party.
“Nakapasa sya! (She passed!) She passed! Thank you so much for mentoring her, we’re here at Padre Pio having lunch when we learned. Answered prayer talaga. Answered prayer talaga, (It was an answered prayer indeed.)”, her mother gratefully telling someone over the phone.
They were all in tears now, her dad and her sister too, and it was such a sight to behold, a true blessing from God when you witness Him real-time answering other people’s prayers. Such manifestation of power and such tales of triumph allow us to soak in God’s glory and trust more in His divine will. This verse then echoed in my mind:
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. -Proverbs 16:3
It’s not everyday that we get to share with the joys of others, more so of strangers, and when we do, it reminds us that God always answers prayers in His perfect timing, in accordance to His perfect plans. He is never deaf; He hears and listens to our prayers according to His mighty purpose for our lives. Sometimes you may think you’re left behind, abandoned, alone, and nobody cares for you, but look back five, ten years ago. Everything you have now were just wishes and prayers from many years back, and that He indeed has been faithful.
Dear God, thank you for the gift of grace. Thank you for random testimonies of your power and glory. Thank you for answered prayers in my life, the lives of the people I love, and of strangers in random situations. Help me to trust more in You, and to align my life more towards Your purpose for me. Continue to use me, make me an instrument of your love and let me be a blessing to others, as they are to me. Amen.
//NBI