Joy Comes In the Morning

"Left over raindrops from yesterday's storm"

I took this snapshot of our yucca tree early this morning.

Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.

- Psalm 30:5

It was no longer raining when I got up this morning. The birds were chirping in the trees, and the sky was clear.

I am feeling much better.

A song of joy is on my heart!



There was a Signal # 3 typhoon (winds of greater than 100 kph up to 185 kph, approximately 54-100 knots and above are expected within at least 18 hours; usually accompanied by heavy rains) up in Northern Luzon the past two days.

Manila, being in the southern part of Luzon, experienced the tail end of it, so all we had was the non-stop rains.

But it was dreary and cold and grey.

I began having a sore throat on Tuesday. Physical discomfort, ills and aches, would normally be a minor thing to me. They don't usually stay, and in one or two days, I am up and about again.

Last Wednesday night there was swelling in my throat and I began having difficulty swallowing my food.

When I woke up yesterday, I was feeling worse. My joints were achy.

I asked God to give me specific instructions. Should I see a doctor? Or will this condition improve after more faith praying and taking authority over it?

I sensed God giving me the go signal to see a doctor.

Except for the heart specialists that my husband regularly visited the last two years of his life, I was no longer familiar with any doctors in this area.

I left Manila a year after I married Ernie. That was 30 years ago. Since then I have become officially a resident of Bacolod City.

Located on another island in the middle part of this country, Bacolod is one hour away from Manila by plane. Our frequent visits to Manila stopped when my father died fifteen years ago. It was only in March 2006, when my daughter left Bacolod to begin working here, that I made frequent trips to this city again.


It was raining and I have no car. But I had the urgency to get medical advice. And fortunately here in Manila, or anywhere else in the Philippines for that matter, having no car is never a problem. We have a well developed public transportation system. For short distance trips, "tricycles", a local term for a motorcycle with a sidecar, and "jeepneys", a local mini-bus seating 10-14 persons, are readily available.

And so, armed with a big umbrella and a lightweight windbreaker, I boarded a "tricycle" to get to a nearby hospital. At 9:30 a.m., I arrived at the clinic of the ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) doctor that a friend had recommended. Upon reaching the clinic however, I did not have peace in my heart. I felt like I was in the wrong place!

So, I asked God what I was to do next. "Look for another doctor, he's not the one," was the impression I got. I called up my sister (who lives in VA, USA!) and asked her if she knew any good throat doctors around.

She gave me the name of another doctor whose clinic is in another hospital located quite a distance from where I live. His clinic hours were in the afternoon.

I discreetly left the waiting room where I had been waiting for the doctor to see me.

Feeling feverish, and weak, and achy, I boarded yet another tricycle to buy a few food items at a nearby grocery before heading back for home.

By then I was really feeling tired, so after after a quick lunch, I decided to rest a bit.

Before too long, it was time to get up and go to that other doctor my sister had told me about.

I called up a taxi pick up service, at around 1:30 p.m. Fortunately, within 5 minutes, the taxi was at my gate. The driver was kind and courteous. He also offered to pick me up from the hospital to take me back home. All I needed was to call or text him at his cell phone.

I reached the doctor's clinic at 2 p.m., the doctor arrived at 4 p.m. Fifteen minutes later, I was out of his clinic. The diagnosis: pharyngitis and tonsillitis.

After purchasing the prescribed medicines, I finally reached home at 6 p.m.

I hardly had any energy left to do anything else, not even to eat supper. So I just drank a glass of energy drink, plus two pills, thanked God for His protection and provision and loving care, and fell asleep.

Obedient One arrived from work a few hours later. After telling her how my day had gone, she said, "Now Mama, what your body needs is a healthy meal for the night. I'll help you fix it."

So, we went to the kitchen, prepared together a large tumbler of osterized fresh fruit and vegetable with extra virgin coconut oil, a bowl of yogurt and honey, some wheat bread, and we ate together.

Before sleeping, she thanked God for the healing that was already mine.

That was yesterday.

Today, the sun is out, I am feeling fine!

That sense of good things happening is back in my heart again.

True, there are many uncertain things that I am still lifting up to my heavenly Father, things that I am asking Him to resolve or provide for in the immediate future. He knows all about these needs.

I just want to see the best side of everything, believing that my life is in His hands.

Early morning sunlight streaming into our lanai this morning

My Song:
My Life is in Your Handsby Kirk Franklin

You don't have to worry
And don't you be afraid
Joy comes in the morning
Troubles they don't last always
For there's a friend in Jesus
Who will wipe your tears away
And if your heart is broken
Just lift your hands and say


You don't have to worry
And don't you be afraid
Joy comes in the morning
Troubles they don't last always
For there's a friend in Jesus
Who will wipe your tears away
And if your heart is broken
Just lift your hands and say


Oh

I know that I can make it
I know that I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands
So when your tests and trials
They seem to get you down
And all your friends and loved ones
Are nowhere to be found
Remember there's a friend in Jesus
Who will wipe your tears away
And if your heart is broken
Just lift your hands and say


Oh

I know that I can make it
I know that I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands


I know that I can make it
I know that I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands


With Jesus I can take it
With Him I know I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands
My life is in your hands
My life is in your hands