Check the previous articles here:

Part I

https://read.cash/@Jeaneth/how-i-spent-the-holy-week-part-i-353f20cb

Part II

https://read.cash/@Jeaneth/how-i-spent-the-holy-week-part-ii-33522a52

Woman, Behold Your Son. Son, Behold Your Mother.

Benedict is the youngest among the 4 siblings. He has 3 elder sisters. He comes from a very loving family. They go to church regularly and have a strong relationship with God.

2015 when his mother was diagnosed with Diabetes. His mother took medications and injects insulin regularly. However, his mother got wounded on her foot and since then, it never got healed.

0ctober 8, 2017. Benedict just got home from school. He fetched his nephews first and then head back to their home. Upon arriving, his mother asked him from her room to carry her outside the house to take a look at the surroundings and breathe fresh air. Probably she got bored staying inside the room, in hot weather. Benedict carried her and they had fun conversations. They talked about how he was doing in school if there are requirements to comply.

Minutes after, they noticed that their mother was already having a hard time breathing. She was gasping for air. So they hurriedly called a vehicle and brought her to the hospital.

When they arrived at the emergency room, the attending physician told them to prepare themselves for the possible situation. Their mother did not look good. She has been fighting with the illness for quite a while already.

Upon hearing the doctor's statement, the family went blank. They couldn't imagine their lives without their mother. They are still not ready for the worst situation.

There was no available life support machine at that time so they have to manually support their mother by pumping air into her mouth. Hours after, the doctor told them if they sign the waiver whether they continue to resuscitate their mother or let their mother rest from the suffering.

The rest of the family could not answer the doctor's statement as they were all overpowered by emotions. So Benedict has to decide. The entire family is represented by him.

He told the doctor to keep it doing but if his mother gives up, then that's the time that they will stop too.

What goes through Benedict's mind was his faith in God. He asked God's grace to keep their mother alive but if it's God's will to let their mother rest, then thy will be done.

Just like how Jesus Christ asked John to behold his mother Mary, and vice versa, it was a message to let go and accept whatever the outcome.

The 3rd word was a message to appreciate thy mother and also to her son.

What struck Benedict the most is the acceptance to let go of his mother. He may lose his mother but God gained an angel to his kingdom.

Sometimes, bravery is not always about not giving up. Sometimes, it is about letting go. The same goes for love. If you truly love a person, even if it means to hurt you, as long as that person is happy then you are ready to accept and let go of that person.

Benedict also shared that his mother taught him the true purpose of prayer. If you pray, you ask everything that

want to God and never refuse to accept the answer "No". However, that is no longer prayer. It is already an order.

When you pray, you ask God what you want but you should surrender everything to his will. That's what a prayer is.

My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?

Ellen is a nurse working in a government hospital. She was the 4th sharer of the 4th Last Word of Jesus Christ. She shared the story of her husband. Her husband was a lawyer. Her husband was shot to death on his back right after he got out of their residence to buy vegetables nearby.

It was believed that the people who shot him down are against his contributions to stop illegal logging programs.

As a lawyer, he made sure that those people who cut down trees illegally must be punished. While these people are believed to be NPA or New People's Army.

As everyone knows, this form of rebellion causes chaos to society and because of it, many innocent people are suffering.

Ellen shared how the journey was to her moving forward without her husband. Atty Winston was killed last January 2021.

It must have been extremely hard for her to move on especially they have kids to take care of.

At some point, Ellen questioned God about his will and decisions for her family. Why did he allow this to happen? My husband has been a very good man. He's a good husband, father, uncle, and friend to society. She felt that her husband doesn't deserve to be in that situation. Killing doesn't justify whatever the reason is.

Months later, with constant prayer and guide from her family, Ellen was able to realize that forgiveness is not just for the people who committed the crime. It is also to forgive herself and letting go of the blames she put on herself.

The remaining last words of Jesus Christ will be published next to this.

Thanks for reading!

Keep safe everyone ❤