The Best is Yet to Be

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LYLETTE LUDAN-LORENZO

If I was to describe the first 35 years of my life, the lyrics from Frank Sinatra’s song would be most apt — “I Did It My Way.” My goal then, as it is now, has been to grow closer to the Lord, and I thought I could do it through my own carefully thought out agenda and through various interactions and ministry work.  

My husband Vic and I have always been in community service. My persistence to shoot for the stars and to focus my eyes on the results of my own efforts motivated me to blaze the trail, so to speak, in performing many functions in our community. Many times I depended solely on my own power and know-how, even feeling that I was way ahead of the Lord in the journey. 

But then the journey took an unexpected twist. 

Five continuous years of suffering, unexpected sicknesses and varied life-threatening issues challenged to an almost breaking point my seemingly ideal mid-life season then. I thought I did not deserve all these trials because I had been faithfully doing so much for Him. But slowly I learned to take comfort in His words that “He disciplines whom He loves.”(Hebrews 12:6) and “His strength will be made manifest in my weakness.” (2 Cor:12,9). 

Of course, it took time for me to understand and trust His promises in the midst of my unexpected pains and afflictions. Slowly I came to realize that He was telling me to do it His way, not mine.  He was calling me back to His heart, to come home to Him. I thought I was already having a love affair with the Lord with all my efforts.  I was wrong. My long love affair with the Lord was just beginning.

One of my medical issues at the start of my love journey with the Lord was my battle against a malignant cancer of my thyroid glands. My oncologist told me I would lose my voice because the malignancy also affected and enveloped my delicate tracheal chords, which therefore needed to be scraped. Prior to the scraping, both my left and right thyroid glands were removed.

Back in the recovery room, alone, with my neck fully bandaged and with intravenous tubes dripping fluids into me, my ulcers acted up. I reached for the intercom behind me and asked the nurses to come up and bring me rice and two pieces of chicken. Two nurses hurriedly came up with “my order” plus a glass of crushed ice. It was only then that I realized they had actually heard me! What was amazing was that despite my doctor’s dire warning, I got my voice back. I like to think I even had a better singing voice after the surgery! My throat specialist agreed as his prognosis two weeks after the surgery was “Excellent voice pitch.”

For someone who grew up holding to the myth of self-sufficiency and perfection,  this bout with thyroid cancer was a painful but noble way of humbling myself and unlearning the clutter in my heart and mind. I learned obedience through suffering and letting go of everything. It felt liberating to let go and let God move in His perfect time. I allowed Him just to be my God and for Him to do all the healing, restoring, and renewing.

But God, it seemed, was not finished with me yet. He wanted me to really slow down. Someone once said, “The steepest mountains are climbed slowly, step by step.” Luke 21:19 says, “By your patience, you will gain possession of your soul.”

Three more life-threatening medical issues followed over the course of three years. Then, in 1998-1999, a dengue epidemic hit the whole country. I was not spared. I hit the lowest mark of my platelet count, 26,000 (400,000 is the normal count). Many people die at that count. After much prayer and a tough deliberation with my doctors, I decided not to have any blood transfusion, mainly because of my recent cancer surgery. I would later learn that a young girl who had a blood transfusion from the same batch offered to me, died of Ebola virus two weeks after. The blood was contaminated.

With a smile, in prayer, I told God that He had taken everything from me, including so many of my vital organs, and even emptying me of my thoughts and cleansing my inner being. With an indescribable inner joy and peace welling from deep within me, I professed to God, “I am totally yours!”

I have never felt more grateful and deeply joyful of God’s affirmation as His beloved child during my years of unexpected sicknesses and trials. I discovered my authentic self that I could present before my Creator. My trials also allowed me to move fast forward to the “harvesting” or “autumn” of my life.

I can truthfully say I am now more prepared for the last season of my life — my winter.

Robert Browning’s words, “Grow old with me! The best is yet to be,” resounds deeply in my heart.

11 COMMENTS

  1. Your journey with God , through God, and to God gives me additional trust and courage to rely in God’s Providence. He will never ever leave us. Thank you for sharing!

  2. truly inspiring! how I’ve always admired your resiliency and that CALMNESS you exude, amidst all the family’s pains and trials. now I know why. thank you for sharing, Ate Lylette. i am truly blessed to be related to you. 🙏🏼💜

  3. How beautifully apt for what I am experiencing at this time. Thank you for sending this to me. Perfectly timed after our Senior’s retreat yesterday and the many troubles in my life right now, and questions in my heart. It was as if God whispered to you, send this to Patsy. She needs to hear your journey. It seemed like God has been silent, but no, he knows exactly what I am going through. I will send this to our Seniors’ Viber group. I think they will appreciate this too. God bless you, and many many thanks again.

  4. Like gold, we are perfected in fire! The ones God chooses for perfection are, beyond those He loves, also those He has equipped for this perfection! They are TRULY BLESSED!

  5. Your life is an inspiration to many. May you continue to encourage others to follow and trust in God’ love and goodness. Blessings!

  6. You have always been a great inspiration, Ate Lylette, from when I was a young bride (BCBP days) til now, as I enter my senior years ❤️ Thank you for always encouraging and inspiring us to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, and soul! God bless you always 😘🥰

  7. Thank you for sharing this profound love of Hod in His miracles on your life, Lylette.
    Surely your life is one to Praise and Glorify God and be a living witness of God’s Fidelity

    Carry on !!

  8. We hope to hear that singing voice in one of our women’s night..i know its so beautiful Tita Lylette, singing with all your heart🌷💗! Take care po..Love you😘💗🙏

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