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Ask and Thou Shall Receive
by JOHN DE SILVA Pius Silva was in his early seventies and was enjoying his well-earned retirement. He was a father and a grandfather too. On the perspective of his personality he was a man with very few words. He never smiled or acknowledged another. I was very curious to know how he communicated with his own family! He had been our neighbor, at one time, and he never missed his regular visit to my parents' home even after moving out. However, during his visits to my parents, I found him to be chipper and he chuckled, yes he actually did. Observing him, I thought he had at least one place in this world where he could to let his steam out. Uncle Pius was a born Catholic but never attended church services; not even on a Sunday or on a day of obligation. While he maintained his order, his wife, children and their families not only followed the religion but also took great interest and helped in church matters. He was not known for indulgence in alcohol, but was a smoker. One day in 2001 when I visited my mother she had a sad story to tell me: Uncle Pius had been diagnosed of cancer and that time the doctors had not indicated his exact position with regard to the horrible sickness. I also learnt that he was under heavy medication. Having listened to my mother, I asked her if she could persuade him to attend a certain prayer meeting and also to arrange for me to meet with him. She agreed to both. After meeting with my mother, I pondered into the matters: At what stage of this dreaded illness he may be in, what are the medications and treatment he had to be given . I was sure that there were limitations; he was living on retirement benefits. How much could his children help him? When I met with him, my immediate observation was: weakness and paleness. Despair had engulfed him. I thought he needs a morale booster first. Thus I told him that there were many who were cured and were now leading a normal life: named a few, too. Thereafter, I went on to tell him: "Uncle, at one time I thought that I was God. The power of money and the power in the political and social sphere possibly lead me to such a fallacy. It did not take long for me to find out exactly who I was. That was when I had a severe drop- financially and consequently found myself in an abyss. All those people who were around me, then, were hard to find! It was at this point of life, I experienced the presence of God; living God. Thereafter, the tenacity in faith and confidence in my creator lead me to see and experience a better life life as per his plan and will". Having narrated my experiences with God, I advised him to have faith in providence: I told him that In God everything is possible. Then I requested him to start attending the prayer meetings that were held on every Wednesday at a Catholic school. I knew his immediate problem was transport, and I assured him that, I would arrange. Without any hesitation, Uncle Pius agreed to attend the prayer meetings. On his second day at the prayer meeting, there had been a word of knowledge from God. That was with regard to "curing of a cancer patient". When he visited his doctor, he had been put through the regular tests. As the reports of all tests were "Negative," the attending doctor had confirmed that, he was cured. Praise the Lord! To my knowledge, he still does not visit church but had confided that he does pray silently and in his prayers, he thanks and praises God for curing him and giving him a more healthy-life. Further to his prayers he has also started social work - helping poor, in his own way. From the scriptures: Matthew 6 : 6. - "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your father" Copyright 2009 John De Silva www.captainswriting.com Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |