‘With God, all things are possible’ (Matt 19:26) – this verse from the Gospel of Matthew is the one that I go to when I need the strength to overcome difficulties, and when even the simplest things in life seem so difficult.

I am born with Cerebral Palsy. Living with this brain injury has made my daily life very challenging and I experience much difficulty when performing my chores. Of course, I would love to do things like the rest of my primary school mates – but I cannot. I have to learn and work really hard to get to where I am today.

I need to stretch and exercise daily to be able to stand and walk properly. The Circuit Breaker period was especially challenging as we were mostly at home. When I finally made my first trip to see my doctor, it was really difficult to manoeuvre myself into the car.

With the sedentary lifestyle I have been having since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, I find that I am taking a longer time to eat as I cannot scoop up the dishes well and I take longer to ingest my food. It is also taking me longer to write, so I need more time to complete my work. But I always try my best.

Living The Faith Daily

Every day is an exercise in trying to do my best and my faith is helping me in everything I do. I pray very hard to Jesus and He has been with me through everything, particularly in my health.

Last year, I had to undergo a surgery a week before the end of my mid-year school holidays. I did not want to do it but it was a necessary procedure and my mother said it would help me.

I asked Archangel Saint Michael to pray for me and for my healing, as Saint Michael is the Angel of Healing, Protection and Victory. I did not cry before and after the surgery. We prayed very hard as a family and my mother was very proud of me.

Adding to the stress was the absence of my father who was away for work, but we made it through that episode. My recovery journey was a collective effort between my family, friends and school – I insisted on returning to school in a wheel chair and I was very grateful for the help from my home and school during that one month of recovery.

Keeping The Faith, Sharing It

In my daily walk with Jesus, I read a lot about devotion and the lives of holy people online.

A holy person I am particularly interested in is Blessed Carlo Acutis. I want to have the same devotion as he did – with Jesus living in his heart and mine. His life inspires me to remain faithful and his strength in living with his illness gives me hope in always doing my best.

“my faith is helping me in everything I do”

I do not know if my ordeal has made a difference to others, but I know people around me are watching over my growth and journey in school.

I enjoy sharing with my classmates about why Catholics pray and the role of Jesus in my life. I have a friend from another religion and I enjoy sharing my faith with him, just as he shares with me about his religion.

I share with him Proverbs I pick out every morning for the day. It is through this sharing that we learn and respect different religions.

 My Home Church

Sunday is very important to me. Even though my family is not able to attend mass physically, we attend mass online. I attend catechism class and bible studies online with my brother too.

At home, my mother always reminds me – keep the faith and God will set my path in the right direction as I grow. On my part, I pray and do my best to remain faithful to this, for I believe –

‘I can do all things through Him who strengthens me’ (Phi 4:13).

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My prayer for the Catholic Church’s 200 anniversary