Hot

The day was exceptionally hot—recorded as the hottest day in years—but I was having chills. Tony’s lined jacket felt like tulle; and our blankets, lace. No wonder, the thermometer registered a 39°C fever.

Worse, I had a prolonged coughing fit. Within a few hours I had lost my voice.


It was the wrong time to get sick. I was to facilitate a writing workshop in three days. And I had a series of appointments before that.

“You are overbooked,” JR chided me.

Well, I had just arrived from an overnight trip to Cebu and I had been lecturing in our MT school for three straight days and will continue to do so in the next two days. I was also expected in several meetings. I had to cancel.

But the seminar was non-negotiable. It was for World Vision and the 20 attendees had already reworked their busy schedules to be there. I texted my prayer warriors; they got on their knees.

My doctor prescribed anti-biotics and paracetamol. That night I was KO'd. The chills were gone and in their place was a furnace. Then something wonderful happened. In my sleep, I felt ice water being roughly rubbed on my legs, arms, and face. It was like suddenly being pelted with rain after being scorched by the noonday sun. What a cool, glorious dream.

Except for my voice, everything seemed back to normal the next day. Tony said he panicked when he felt my burning skin. His common sense told him ice cubes were the best antidote to heat and got to work. It wasn't a dream. (He had not paid attention—with three boys running high fever every so often, over the years—he missed seeing the ice cubes!)

God’s grace creeped into everything—the medicines, the thermometer, the ice cubes, my doctor, and the rough hands that cared for me.

I made it to my seminar with 50% of my voice on the first day, and 75% on the second day. But I certainly received 100% blessings through 20 Christian writers, hot with enthusiasm to write about the grace that healed me.