Inspiration

This morning, after completing my latest entry “Post-Chemotherapy Cycle #06 / Comment #03”, I was hoping to continue to blog but was too tired to continue and went to bed.

The subject matter was going to be about “inspiration” and recently, there seen to be a lack of inspiration on what to write and I was thinking of blogging that there is relatively less entry in my blog due to this lack.  God must have His sense of timing and humour because this morning, I received a sms and there was a comment posted on my blog. Both messages gave me the inspiration to post this entry.

I had signed in and posted a message on a church friend’s blog on Caringbridge.com. I was a little surprised to receive a message in response. No, no… there was no reproach or repercussion with regards to the messages but it was an open communication and very much appreciated as it is. When this friend’s little daughter was in hospital for cancer, it was a little tough for me because both Josie and me loves kids and at that point we didn’t have any. Therefore, to see the little girl the way she was in NUH was somewhat “heart wrenching”.

Sidetrack here:

I worked in the healthcare sector as a project manager and there are many places in the hospital that I have to go to as part of my work but there is always one place that if I can help it, I would not want to go and that is the Neonatal ICU. Seeing the tinny premature babies ALWAYS brings sad tears to my eyes. A close 2^nd place would be the Burns ICU.

PLEASE… PLEASE!!! Watch your child in the kitchen. I once had to witness a little girl having her wound cleaned in the hospital because she was scalded by hot water at home. For those that knows me, I’m not a “softies” but let’s just say her cries were something I could not stomach and I had to leave although I was providing support for the equipment in use

Back to this friend…

I used to be quite hesitant when it comes to socializing been lacking (in my personal opinion) in certain social skills and EQ. You will have noticed by now that I refers to Josie a lot in my blogs.  In many ways, she is my “saving grace” because without her, my social life would not have “improved”.  So it was a little awkward, at that time, in that I do not know what to do when I was in NUH and whether I should visit or not. Of course there were other considerations like I had go to ICUs and certain areas where construction are going on and so not really wise to visit a cancer patient after that not knowing if I am “clean”.  I know this friend don’t blame me if I did not visit but regardless, through this period, I know from personal experience that very often, it is the very small things that could mean the whole world to the family. The little gestures, the little word of encouragement, the little “look” to say “I am with you”, the messages or comments on the blog.

It is with Josie’s influence that I got a little “thick skin” and not be afraid of what others’ think but to do what would encourage others. Worse case is that the recipients do not appreciate the gestures but what lost is there for the giver?  For Christ also did not wait for willing recipients of His Grace and Mercy before he choose to become man to show us the fullness of His Grace and saved us.  Christ is the greatest example that we can follow.

Take time to love, take time to be with a friend, take time to empathies, visit those in need, help those that need help, make the telephone call, send a message BUT just be mindful and considerate to the recipients because we should love at the recipients’ convenience and not our own because if we do it at our own convenience, it is selfish and not selfless.

You may not think it, but these little things do matter to us and are appreciated.

The second message was a comment posted on my blog entry "牵我的手 主耶稣". I was again very surprised! Really did not know what I had done way back (I guess more that 9-10 years ago?) could have such outcome. It does show that the “little” things that we do sometime do go a long way.

What I wish to say in this case is that we are a community, not saying or doing anything does not improve anything. Saying or doing something may have negative impact but it also offers up the opportunities where lives could be touched. What’s the risk? The only risk is when you do what you do out of selfish concern rather than what Christ had taught. Let Christ show the way even as Christmas approaches, let Him come into your lives, dwell in you and in return, let His love flow to those around you.

John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. (NASB)

Mark 12:31

The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (NASB)

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (NASB)

He touched me, he sent others to touched me and In HIM I Trust.