I lost a good job at one of the biggest companies in the world in the early 1990s. I was devastated, but then I realized what greater gift I had to gain in what God prepared for me: being a mother. My daughter Cyrene was born and though life was simpler, the whole world was aglow. I fell in love with motherhood, so my heart was filled with much joy when Ashley was born three years later.
Sad to say, my husband Joe also lost his job. The severance pay was helpful, but it didn’t last. At this point we were actively involved with a Catholic group that gave us the support we needed. God drew us to himself and to his Word, particularly to his call to walk in faith and to be obedient always to his will. In our emptiness, he nourished us well through Bible studies, the teachings of the church and prayer.
God, I thought, had to act upon his nature to test us to see how far we would go in our faith: He wanted us to have another baby. “What is God thinking? How are we to provide for another child?” These were the thoughts that crossed our minds. Already grounded, however, in his word to listen to his call and obey his will (see John 10:27-28) how could we not say yes and just walk away?
I became pregnant. We continued to hope in the Lord and, in due time, he rescued us: My husband found a job a month before Joseph was born. I was expecting a big medical bill for having skipped a monthly payment as our funds were fully exhausted, but it turns out the birth and hospitalization were all covered. God’s grace built our faith stronger that we said yes to him again in two more similar occasions; Faith and TJ were born.
My faith is a work in progress. I continue to learn from Jesus whose faith was exercised in his obedience to the Father; in fact, obedience to the Father was food (John 4:34) that sustained him. St. Paul persevered in his faith as he ran the race to the finish line (2 Timothy 4:7-8). Faith, according to St. Thomas Aquinas, is a habit of the mind that leads to the perfection of the soul (Summa Theologica). Thus, I am encouraged to make faith a habit in my daily walk with Jesus. I encourage everyone to make faith a habit in your daily journeys with God.
Joe and I cannot imagine life without our five children. Surely “faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things unseen” (Hebrews 11:1). Aside from love and joy, I have already seen countless fruits of faith exercised in obedience to God. I’m sure you have too; for, truly, God is faithful and his grace will always see us through!
Easter Almuena is the author of “Serving God Joyfully Right Here in Hawai’i.” The second edition of this book, available in 2014, received a “nihil obstat” from diocesan theologian Msgr. John Mbinda and an “approbation” from Bishop Larry Silva. You are welcome to submit your story of faith to Easter at Easter.Almuena@gmail.com for part II of the book.
