The New Year is the perfect time to think of our future and what we truly hope for–for ourselves, and especially for our family.

We work and invest in so many things to ensure our future. But we find that our best laid plans are just those–plans. The best investment for the best possible future for you and your family is investing in eternity, our relationship with God. For He is the One who holds our future and His plans are perfect, no matter what we may think of it. 

That is what Jigo Garcia, Production Compounder of our Dry Cosmetics line, learned through his walk with the Lord. He is super dad to four amazing kids: Jiel Zianne, 14 years; Vienne Sophia, 12 years; Zac Jeicob, 7 years; and Ellesse Neri, 9 months old.

Jigo and his family

He first learned how to trust in the Lord when his second daughter, Vienne, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

“Actually, dun gumuho ang mundo ko. Umiyak ako sa Lord. I asked, ‘Jesus bakit sa akin, bakit ang anak ko pa?’” Jigo relates. “Now, 12 years old na si Vienne at still, napakabuti ng Diyos sa buhay niya.” 

Vienne Sophia

At that time, Jigo thought he was past the most challenging time in his life where his trust in the Lord was tested. But in 2022, another challenge came their way. In her latest pregnancy, Jigo’s wife gave birth to their baby girl, Ellesse, who had multiple congenital heart problems, hydrocephalus, spina bifida, cleft lip, cleft palate, and clubfoot. “Sa sobrang dami, hindi namin inakala na mabubuhay siya.”

Ellesse Neri

That time was one of the darkest moments in their lives and their faith was tested to its limit. Aside from Ellese being in the ICU right after birth, Vienne (at 12 years old) also had to be rushed to the ICU due to hypoglycemia. He and his wife had to separately watch over their two daughters who were fighting for their lives.

“Sabi ko, ‘Panginoon, alam ko na kung mahal ko ang mga anak ko, mas higit ang pagmamahal Mo para sa kanila. Kaya po kahit ganito kadilim ang dinaraanan namin, still, magtitiwala pa rin ako sa Iyo.’”

In the end, he can only be grateful that when their family went through these trials, they already knew who God was. He could not imagine how they could have survived them without the Lord’s help. 

“Before pa naman, nakaka-attend na ako ng mga bible study. Nung umpisa, boring… corny. Kasi ibang ‘Lord’ yung kilala ko nung time na yun. Pero nakilala ko talaga ang Lord personally nung na-encounter ko Siya sa buhay ko. Yung mga pagsubok ang nagpakilala sa akin sa totoo at buhay na Diyos!”

He also learned through these dark times the importance of his role as a father, and how important it is to personally know God our Father, who cares and has good plans for His children. He knew that God’s love for His children was even greater than his own love for them. 

“Sobrang nabaligtad yung pananaw ko sa mga pinagdaanan namin. Sobra akong na-bless kasi, ang daming pwedeng maging magulang, ako ang pinagkatiwalaan ng Diyos na mag-alaga sa mga anak ko.”

He has learned to be grateful to God not just for the blessings but for the challenges He allowed in their lives, for even he was able to test and prove how truly trustworthy God is.

“Habang tumatagal, nakita ko ang kabutihan ng Diyos sa buhay ng pamilya ko. Lahat naman ng pagsubok hindi Niya kami pinabayaan. Maganda yung mga plano ko para sa mga anak ko, mas higit na maganda ang plano ng Diyos. Yung kagalingan ng mga anak ko ay dahil lang sa kabutihan ng Panginoon.”

He is also grateful to the people of Human Nature for their prayers and support.

“Buong pamilya ko nakita ang pag-ibig ng Diyos sa buhay ni Dylan Wilk at ng lahat ng tao na nakapaligid sa akin sa HN. Hindi lang sa trabaho, lalo’t higit sa personal na buhay. Lagi silang nandiyan sa tabi ko sa lahat ng pinagdaanan namin. Yung mga panalangin nila ang nagpalakas sa amin during the darkest part ng buhay ko. Lagi din nandyan si Pastor Jun Milo, at pinapaalala niya yung pag-ibig ng Diyos.”

He encourages everyone to hold on and entrust our lives to God, “Lagi lang po tayong mananalangin, lagi po tayong magtitiwala sa mga naisin ng Diyos sa buhay natin. Ipagkatiwala po natin ang buhay natin sa Kanya.”

As we start a fresh year, a new chapter in our lives, let’s always be reminded that God our Father in heaven is who He says He is–dependable and sure, our true hope, and can be entrusted with our plans and our lives.

As it is said in Psalm 103:13, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.”