In Loving Memory

 

Pinky

But He knows the way that I take; 

When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

- Job 23:10

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, 

who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness 

and reveal the counsels of the hearts. 

Then each one’s praise will come from God.

- 1 Corinthians 4:5

This is an incredible season of grief and pain. Many of us have experienced the pain of losing friends and family members to the virus.

My friend Pinky is one of them. 

Pinky and I met each other about thirty years ago. She began attending the church that we used to call the 18th Street Church, under our pastor Jerry Osbron. The years went by and I lost track of her. Every now and then, I would see her at an event, but that was all. Ours was a "hello and goodbye" kind of relationship.

The only thing we had in common was the fact that her daughter and mine were classmates in high school, and they became close friends.

Fast forward to October 2020.

I received a call from Pinky asking if she could try a bottle of the kefir probiotic drink that I was advocating.

And that was how it all began. We began to see each other more often. It turned out that she had also enrolled at the weekly Bible study classes held every Wednesday at our church. When the IATF started allowing churches to meet for Sunday worship services again, Pinky also started attending the 7:30 a.m. service at Ikthus.

She would invite me to have lunch together with her after the service. 

On some Wednesdays, after the Bible study class, she and I would go out for coffee or pizza, or an early dinner somewhere.

"Let's be friends, Lidj... because our daughters are best friends," she jokingly said one day.

Sometimes she would pick me up at my home. There would always be many stopovers. I would sit in her red Tamaraw while she dropped off her laundry at the laundrymat. Or pass by the Pet Food store to pick up a bag of dog pellets for her dog Angus. We would go to Ayala Mall to pick up some groceries, then go to the Fiesta Market where she would buy her vegetables for the week. Or go to Tita Pita to get her dinner of lamb burger and pita bread.

In the process, I got to know her better. She was open and honest and did not hesitate to tell me her stories.

Many things struck me about Pinky.

The first thing that struck me was that in listening to her, I began to understand her heart. One day before 2020 was about to end, she said that the past months she has been looking back at her life and wishing she could go back to people she had offended or hurt and make it up to them. She said that being confronted by so many people dying made her realize how short life is, and that whatever time she has left should be used for the glory of God.

I came to know how careful she was about her diet, and her health.

And her spiritual life.

Her Wednesday mornings were spent studying for our Bible study class at 1 p.m. Pinky took time to study her lessons to make sure she came prepared with her answers.

She really appreciated the Bible lessons. Pinky once said to me: "Reading the Bible in depth has opened my eyes to the beauty of God's word. This is how I want to live the rest of my life - for His honor and glory."

 

The last time I saw Pinky was after our CBSI class on the last week of August. She approached me and asked if we can go out together for  a snack. I replied, "Not today, maybe we can go out next week."

The next thing I knew was that Pinky had contracted the virus and was fighting for her life. That was not even two weeks since I last saw her!

On September 20, a Monday night, I received a request for prayers for Pinky as her blood pressure was fluctuating. On Tuesday morning, at around 11 a.m., Pinky breathed her last. Her earthly suffering came to an end, and her eternal life in heaven began. 

Without my asking for it, God had given me Pinky as a friend in the last year of her life. Her last year, I believe, was her best year. She was often so sad for not being able to be with her children because of the pandemic, and she was sick several times as well, but I believe this is what drew her closer to her Savior. She read her Bible often, her faith grew deeper, and it became her goal to live her life for the glory of God.

What a special privilege it is for me, to get to know her in the best year of her life. This is not the same Pinky I met thirty years ago. The Pinky I got to know this past year is someone whose life has been redeemed and transformed by our Lord Jesus Christ.

I wept many tears the morning Pinky passed away. She was gone too soon, just when I was beginning to know her better and appreciate her friendship.

But while her children Timothy and Kadeen, and family members, and other close friends mourn her passing, we can rest in the assurance that God's comfort is real. 

Blessed are those who mourn, 

For they shall be comforted.

- Matthew 5:4

Farewell, dear Pinky. Enjoy the loving presence of our Savior in your eternal home, in that place where there is no more death, no more tears, and no more saying good-bye! 

Here is a song that I believe sums up what Pinky desired in the last year of her life.