The Power of Encouragement - Part I

It's now exactly 12 hours before my general comprehensive examination tomorrow, May 29th,will start. This exam will determine if I will qualify further for the degree in MS Plant Breeding at the University of the Philippines Los Baños in Laguna.

Earlier this day, I received 'good luck and God bless' messages either as greetings or text messages from my dorm mates and friends then gave them the usual 'thank you' welcome answers. It was later this evening when I realized the sincerity of friends who really cared to send me messages of blessings. It was also the time when I realized that the power of encouragement was really pouring over me. When I received a missed call and a message early this evening from someone close to my life, I was expecting it to be a message of blessing. But it was a message of Discouragement, the tool that Satan uses to harvest victims into his fold. The message was just one word but it meant a lot. It immediately devastated my flow of thinking that very minute I received it. I was stunned and got so quiet for a moment but then the Lord calmly reminded me to stay cool and just meditate upon His promises which instantly brought back peace and understanding in my spirit. Then after a minute or two, I received again a text message but it was from an unexpected person who had been a source of encouragement since the time I entered UPLB. The messages gradually neutralized my feelings that moment afterwhich I gave back sincere thank you's after her pieces of advice that came one from another.

From my room I went in front of the residence hall where I lived and met the coolness of the evening after the late afternoon rain. It smelled of fresh earth and greens that was preparing the birth of this year's month of June. The evening surrounding helped me overcome the ruined mood that I earlier had because of that wrecking message.

It was also this time that I recalled how golden were the seconds, minutes and even hours that concerned dear friends had spent to tell me how they really cared for me through their words of encouragements that they either verbally told me along the way wherever I met them or through their yahoo messengers or through text messages. Some even were so thoughtful to call from long distances just to say 'keep going'; 'God bless you'; 'just relax' and 'you can do it!'

I slowed down for a moment and recalled since yesterday all those precious people who sent me encouragements particularly for my exam tomorrow. Ate Bing, my former dorm mate, treated me for a 'halo-halo' break at Chowking-Vega around 2:00 this afternoon as well as prayed for me and my exam. It was unusual for her to give me favors like this but I still thanked her for her sincerity and kindness.

I tried to recall all those whom I met during the last 36 hours who gave me handshakes, smiles and greetings of blessings. The following are some of the encouraging messages that I was able to archive from my YM and mobile inbox:

Vijay (5/27/2007 2:29:40 PM): good luck Yoli

Vijay (5/27/2007 2:32:04 PM): nothing will happen.... they will try to prove that u don't know anything but u must be firm with ur answers..

Vijay (5/27/2007 2:35:53 PM): what is the time of compre?

Vijay (5/27/2007 3:36:19 PM): .. and just relax on ur exam

Vijay (5/27/2007 3:36:24 PM): GOD BLESS U

Ate Bing (5/28/2007 10:00:00 AM): God bless sa compre mo tomorrow

Ate Angie (5/28/2007 19:10:29 PM): God bless and good luck sa compre

Ate Angie (5/28/2007 19:12:51 PM): Pag ninerbyos meaning prepared! Just give your best kick!

Ate Angie (5/28/2007 19:16:20 PM): That's true! Tulog ka na. Hwag ka na magreview para relaxed mind mo. Sleep and meditate ka tomorrow early morning.

Sisaphaithong Thongkoun (5/28/2007 20:07:11 PM): Hey..I know u can do it tomorrow. Good luck and don't be too serious.

The words of these caring people helped me brace myself and put on more confidence to face my panelists tomorrow.

I can't give back any other things to them only my sincere thanks and prayers for them.

I thank the Lord for giving me these caring people as well as those who constantly downgrade my image - they strengthen my faith in my Lord God and Creator!

I also give thanks to all those who are praying for me.... Praise the Lord!