23 Jun Si Lord ang Number One
Faith brought this father and daughter closer to each other
For Jerome Caguioa, 39-year-old father of 2, life was all about his role as the provider of the family. Jerome worked during the day as the security guard for Victory Greenhills and after his shift, he would try to earn extra as a same-day delivery courier. He found faith the more he heard God’s word preached and later on, underwent discipleship to know God more.
“Nagkaroon ako ng pag-asa. ‘Yun yung naramadaman ko kaya mas lalo ko pinursigi ‘yung sarili ko para sa mga anak ko. Kasi ‘pag hindi ko naman kaya, nandiyan si Lord,” Jerome says. He recalls experiencing difficult moments when he would be tired from work but needing to do extra before going home so that his family could have budget for their daily expenses the next day.
“Hindi naman ako gumagawa ng masama noon, pero wala din akong alam masyado,” Jerome says. As He grew in his faith, he would share worship songs to his family including his college student daughter Ayessa, which she dismissed at first.
But soon, God also made Himself known to Ayessa and she could no longer resist Him. Each time Ayessa attended her Victory group, she would excitedly return home to her family and immediately tell them what she learned. “Sa kadaldalan ko, na-sh-share ko sa kanila ang natutunan ko. Tapos ang sarap ng feeling na ‘yung na-share ko, para sa pamilya ko,” Ayessa says.
Before responding to God, Ayessa describes herself as being in between. “Nag-sisimba ako, alam ko si Lord. Head knowledge lang. Pero ngayon bumaba na sa heart–ang corny pero totoo talaga!”
Jerome and Ayessa’s bond as father and daughter deepened as they began to walk with the Lord. Ayessa recalls seeing her father doing the same things she would see in church videos like closing their eyes, lifting their hands, and being content in prayer. “Sabi ko, ‘Uy bakit si Papa, ganun na ‘rin?’” she says.
Through their faith journey, Ayessa realized the importance of family and faith in the family. “Madalas ako nag-re-rely sa kaniya. Mula sa pag-gising hanggang sa pag-tulog ko, lumalapit ako sa Kaniya, tinatawag ko Siya,” Jerome says.
The pandemic has affected Jerome’s work but despite the difficulties, he acknowledges that he is not alone. “Si Lord talaga ‘yung number one. Kung titignan ko from one to ten, number one siya sa ‘kin.”
Ayessa says, “’Pag naramdaman niyo na, huwag niyo i-neglect. Yakapin mo at patuloy mong papasukin si Lord sa puso mo. Makikita niyo ‘yung changes.”
Jerome agrees. “Huwag mag-hesitate tumawag kay Lord at mag-dasal. Mag-tiwala kayo at huwag mahiyang lumapit.”