A Widow’s Story

A heart-breaking loss turns this mother to helping other widows like her
By Susan Dimayuga-Javier

As I share to you my story, I pray that you will learn the value of marriage and protecting your family through a W.I.S.E. decision. W-ork, I-nvest, S-ave, E-njoy.

I started saving when I was only 16. I used to sell sandwiches to my classmates and schoolmates and learn to save and deposit my profit to the bank. After graduating in college, I worked as a consultant to a manufacturing company of skin care and fragrance products. I learned to upgrade my savings through pension and educational plans. I decided to have these when I was 20 even without family yet knowing that I will have one someday in God’s perfect time.

I met my husband Arthur year 1997. We’ve known and discovered each others’ strengths and weaknesses for less than three years then decided to get married year 2000 of January 12.We are blessed to have a very loving and sweet daughter Sabrina.

With Arthur’s motivation and encouragement I continued to save and invest to protect our income as well as my family. My brother Bernard was my insurance agent. I had my first plan with Prulife year 1998. He also offered and explained to my husband the benefits of having a protection and coverage. Yes, he agreed but did not make a decision to have one.

We were both working and providing income for our family. Praise God for providing all our needs without any loans and mortgages. I can say that we have a simple and yet enjoyable life. We can travel once a year and enjoy to have bonding with our daughter.

Last June of 2002, my husband called and told me to proceed at the ER of Makati Medical Center. He was so drowsy and numbed that time. I ran to the hospital, good thing my office was only at the back of MMC. He was still conscious and I can still talk to him. Until the doctor evaluated him and ordered to have a CT scan. He had haemorrhage on left part of his brain. This is what they call stroke. He was confined for two weeks and was able to recover for two months with determination to live for our two-year old daughter. He learned to have a healthy lifestyle. He had a regular exercise and proper balance diet to reach his ideal weight.

He enjoyed playing badminton and even joined tournaments and when you see him play as if he had not suffered from stroke. After three years of continuous effort to live longer. Nobody expected that his way of prolonging his life which is playing badminton will stop his heartbeat

June 18, 2005, I got a phone call from my brother-in-law and told me that Arthur collapsed. My daughter and I were watching a show at RCBC auditorium in Makati which just started around 6:30pm. We ran to the hospital just a five-minute drive away. We saw him unconscious and doctors were trying to revive his heart beat until 7:00pm he was pronounced dead. Relatives were coming and crying. I was in the state of showing my daughter that I have to be strong for her.

I thanked God for giving me enough strength and courage to accept what happened to my husband. I always think that nothing is permanent in this world and we don’t own anything. Everything belongs to the Lord. That time was Arthur’s time to go. As the Bible says: “For our perishable earthly bodies must be transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die (1 Corinthians 15:53).”

We planned to have a wonderful life but our Lord has the best plan for each one of us. My husband passed away without life coverage but taught me to be more passionate in sharing my own story for other people to learn that we don’t know when will be our last day on earth. I always tell my clients especially to both parents to get insurance (Susan can be reached through 0919-357-0825 or 890-3205 – Ed). As we start the day and do our tasks to glorify God, preparing ourselves spiritually, emotionally, and financially is very crucial.

Let me enlighten you that life is so beautiful. Here are some lessons I would like to share:

1. There are times we encounter trials and challenges but we should consider it pure joy because that is the testing of our faith which develop perseverance.
2. Enjoy your marriage. “You should be faithful to your wife, just as you take water from your own well….Be happy with the wife you married when you were young (Proverbs 5:15-18).”
3. Be strong. “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
4. Encourage your partner to save, invest, and protect your family.