COVID as Crown or My Life
BY CYNTHIA U. SANTIAGO
Chapter 7
SINCE our COVID experience is about “crown” naturally, there’s a Coronation. Not mine, nor Ed’s. But for those who have had amazing experiences following our battle— yes, they who were crowned with blessings.
Some names are withheld to protect the privacy of our “crowned”
friends.
1. Tough Guy. Once drug addict, ‘black sheep’ of the family, cried when he heard about our ordeal. A rare moment manifesting his heart of stone has turned into heart of love he now wears as a crown.
2. Not ‘With the Lord.’ He squirmed every time I said “Lord, Lord.” Never mentioned the word. During a chat while Ed and I were still confined, he said, struggling with lump in his throat, “I really asked the Lord to heal you.” That transformation is a glittering crown worth more than the biggest diamond!
3. Long Lost Friends. I had not heard from you for ages. Some of you not even my Facebook friends. But you sent messages, you sent support, you prayed like never before. Simply reaching out to someone in need is kindness which, as I always say, will come back to you a hundredfold as the Lord promised cheerful givers. A precious crown.
4. Discovered Readers. Beautiful media colleague, Joanne Ramirez, published my COVID story in her People column in the Philippine Star. And I discovered friends among her readers as they sent messages how we met, or came to know each other, and wishing for my healing. Finding each other is crown for them and for me.
5. Missionaries. Since Ed and I could not attend to our Media Ministry, Chelle Crisanto, Chichi Barba, and co-missionaries in our Shepherd’s Voice Radio and Television Foundation (SVRTV), along with my co- member in our LOJ Library Ministry, Gail Bayto, IT specialist and writer, promptly took over and continued publishing our online magazines serving Mercy Ministries founded or supported by Bro. Bo Sanchez. As missionaries, each one wears a crown of pleasing sacrifice for God’s glory
6. Pilgrim-to-Be. After our miraculous healing, a relative who found hard to have true, deep faith in God and answer His Call to be His disciple, told me he received a sign that he will go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. What an amazing crown!
What about you? Share the Crown of Life you received. Yes, let your crown add precious gems on God’s Crown of Love, and let’s end this humble sharing with His Coronation.
