Saving lives

His name is Kikoy. The pup’s master is named Kiko. Such is the latter’s love for his pet that he christened  him with  a derivative of  his name.

That love was proven one day this month when Kiko found a lifeless Kikoy in his backyard. Even if everything looked hopeless, Kiko was relentless in trying to revive his pup.

Kiko’s efforts were captured on video and this became viral on the Internet. I saw it in the evening news last week.

I saw how Kiko never stopped performing CPR on the pup. These actions continued for several minutes with Kiko seriously focused on saving the pup’s life. And then, after several more tries at attempting to revive Kikoy, the pup let out a sound. Wow! The pup is alive!

Kiko continued to blow into its mouth and rub its chest until the pup got up on its feet. He wasn’t an expert on animal husbandry or a veterinarian when he was younger,  he was fond of buying chicks  and when it seemed that a chick was dead, he would blow into its mouth and the chick would come alive.

Expert or not, Kiko just did what any Christian must endeavor to do —save a life.

Life is not just the body but everything in us that is part of our existence on earth. Saving a life means:

Saving feelings – be sensitive to how others feel,  learn to empathize more than just sympathize. show love even to the unlovable so they know what unconditional love is.

I was raised to be independent so it was natural for me to put myself first.  So I was so self-driven that I wasn’t aware of how my actions and decisions affected  others   until  I found myself slowly losing friends. It was painful but I learned from it. Today, I ask for God’s grace to consider others’ feelings before my own.

Saving the spirit – make time, talent and treasure to bring people to turn their lives around and be faithful to God. What we have achieved on earth is not what we will be judged on in order to gain entry into heaven. We may be wealthy and a power to contend with in society but if we can’t humble ourselves and acknowledge God’s involvement in our success, our spirit is unacceptable before

God. “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). Always be on the  lookout for any opportunity to turn others around so they can set their hearts and souls to seek the LORD.

One day, I felt empty. I didn’t understand why. I had a great job, wonderful children, a loving family. Though widowed, I realized the emptiness was not sadness or loneliness. Something was missing. And then I found Jesus (actually he found me first but I  was oblivious to his love  because I was focused on what I can achieve in this world). He filled my emptiness and I was never the same again. I am alone today, minus a husband, but with God, how can I be lonely?

Saving relationships – be humble enough to acknowledge when you are at fault and be ready to forgive those who have hurt you (this is hard I know but by God’s grace, it can be done), respect and always pursue peace with everyone around you.

I would not have felt the love of an in-law had I not humbled my pride and forgiven  her for her supposed transgressions. Today, our relationship is solid and grounded.

Saving oneself – take care of your health so you can help others. You can not give what you don’t have, so take care of your body, mind and soul. We should  save our own bodies, not abuse it, but to preserve it. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

I once made a big decision to resign from a well-paying executive position because the work was taking a toll on my health and inner peace. Well-meaning friends reminded me I still have children to send to school and that I needed my job to see them through. What I told them made them clam up. I said that it’s more pitiful if my children become orphans because I might end up dead from the stress  that job entailed.  I’d rather step down, keep my health and then move forward elsewhere. I know God will always open doors for widows like me. It’s God’s promise: “But I will protect the orphans who remain among you. Your widows, too, can depend on me for help” (Jeremiah 49:11).

I admire Kiko. He didn’t give up. He wanted to revive Kikoy by all means. Nothing stopped him. He didn’t follow a strictly conventional method but instead went with his instincts. And he succeeded.

As Christians, that instinct to save is love.  I pray we always strive to save lives, show love and share God’s goodness in all ways. Like Kiko. Let’s be relentless in this mission.