Mary Rose Llanora Soliva-Garzon
MIS, AY 1993-94 (1st Sem.)

8 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV)

To my dearest MU SIGMA PHIans, I am your Sis Mary Rose Soliva-Garzon, Batch July 13, 1991.

Remember our poem, “Don’t quit”? During our college years, it’s our motivation especially in my academics that I should never give up. But at this time, allow me to analyze by paragraph to uplift everyone on this challenging period.

Everyone of us experiences struggles, hardships, failures and even the fear of death when the whole world shaken with the Covid 19 virus. When things go wrong……as the poem started……when it hit you, you will either be symptomatic or asymptomatic. We need to see doctors, get treated, hospitalized and our “funds going low and our debts getting higher. You can’t even smile and only sigh.” No one wants to get near you – nobody seems to care… but you have a choice. You must rest – as in avoid getting stress. And don’t you ever quit.

9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; (2 Corinthians 4:9 KJV)

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 KJV)

When Apostle Paul was put to jail, God gave him a thorn on his flesh in order to prevent him from exalting himself. In spite of receiving unmeasurable gifts, he experienced insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties. He contented himself to suffer because he knows that suffering in this world is not worth comparing to the glory of eternity.

Grace defines as courteous goodwill – It’s not asked for nor deserved but is freely given.

All that goes wrong in our life is God’s test if we are faithful in Him. God does not want us to rely on our own strength. Rather than be upset, Paul used this opportunity to praise God and surrender to God’s will by entrusting everything to Him. With God’s grace you don’t need to quit, feeling inadequate. We are just human and not perfect. And His grace is sufficient. Just trust Him.

To continue, the second paragraph describes, “Life is queer”. Queer means strange or peculiar. How we live now is not normal anymore. We used to not wearing masks and don’t care if our hands get dirty with mud. We used to shake hands, hugs and kiss cheek to cheek with our friends. Now, more than sometimes, we could not even do it with our loved ones anymore.

With its twist and turn, our life is like a road. You are driving on a straight road then suddenly it curves to the left or to the right. When our government requires us to stop working and stay home, our company has to close down. We can never see the future ahead. We don’t know what will happen if the ECQ, MECQ will last longer. Our life became complicated. It’s either will bring good or bad. We must continue to survive and not depend on our workplace. Alternative livelihood like selling cooked meals, homemade breads and native delicacies cannot put enough food on our table. Don’t give up. You will gradually survive, until comes another blow or a draught or a pandemic.

4 Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return? (Jeremiah 8:4 KJV)

6 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. (Proverbs 24:16 KJV)

Our previous situation is totally the opposite and we must not dwell and have to move on.

In some point of our life, we will eventually experience failure. It’s part of a learning process so we can do better next time.

Thirdly, “Often the goal is nearer than it seems to a faint and faltering man……..You think what we want to attain or accomplish is just nearby. Sometimes when we are so weak and lacking strength, this unable us to think clearly. Then regrets it. Too late to realize that for fear of striving or fighting, you could have been victorious if only you have not given up.

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” (Romans 8:37 KJV)

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 KJV)

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:6 KJV)

Several lockdowns had been going on…we reach the point we want to give up. That stressing feeling you can’t reach out with your friends and relatives, especially those living alone. It’s hard to buy food, medicines – the comfort stuffs you been longing and if this persists, you feel like hopeless. You are still alive, you can still breath, can talk, can walk and can see. It’s not too late. You are not alone. Everyone is experiencing it so pull yourself together and believe that you can do it! Giving up is not the answer. If you are sick with covid you could easily die due to not fighting against it, physically and mentally. “And you learned too late, how close you are….” to getting healed.

In the last paragraph, “Success is failure turned inside out—“

Success and failure come together. We can learn from both. In life experience if it does not work, we try improving until we succeed. We became resilient. If we will not develop resilience, we could not cope stress. It’s a life skill that moulds our character to be stronger, it strengthens us physically and mentally and the confidence to face life uncertainties.

The metaphor, “The silver tint of clouds of doubt” is an evidence of hope. We need to look forward and our life should not end there as a failure. We may never know our objective in life is just around the corner. So you must continue fighting, struggling, even though you were affected severely still…..don’t give up, carry on the battle.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11 KJV)

“Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.” (2 Timothy 4:17 KJV)

9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.(Proverbs 16:9 KJV)

God has a plan for us. We might feel overwhelmed what was going on around us but if you just pray – talk to Him and give all your burdens to Him. During Apostle Paul work ministry, there were no horses, trains, vehicles and they have to travel by foot and experienced hardships. After been imprisoned, tortured he never give up. Until his death, he conquered and he became the greatest apostle of all time.

I want to share my favourite bible verse, Psalms 121:

“(A Song of degrees.) I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” (Psalms 121 KJV)

Thanks so much and may our Lord Jesus Christ keep us safe and healthy.