So far, for my blog entries, I have tried as far as possible to steer away from controversy and it is from this perspective that I had left out names. For those within the “circle”, you would know whom I were referring to in my entries. I will continue to strive to be as “apolitical” in my entries as possible but often it is hard because of past “bad” experiences or “hard” feelings. I am human none the less but that is not an excuse but an honest confession of sort of my human frailty.
You might be wondering why I am saying all these things and it is because over the last 2 days, I had met 2 old friends that provided such joy and encouragement but at the same time a reminded me of what I had gone through in the past. Wish I could write about the actual circumstances and say who exactly I am referring to but that’s not the point and the direction I wish to go. To forgive is also to forget and not bearing grudges also mean letting go of the hurt.
On Wednesday, I had visited an old friend and her husband’s pastry shop at No. 7 Ang Siang Hill (near Club Street). I must say that they make really beautiful cakes but I was not able to try any on them because I just had lunch and I cannot afford the sugar rush from the cake(s). The husband was very nice and mentioned that he went through my blogs and prayed for me. He mentioned about visualizing me been old or saw me growing old and I witness my son’s graduation. I take it as a prophetic word and will carry it with me.
Singapore is really such a small place as it so happened that one of Josie’s good friend and husband (who is a French chef) patronises this shop.
On Thursday night, I met another old friends and her husband that I literally had not seen for the last 14 years. They have 2 boys, aged 9 and 3. For both set of friends, found out that they got to know about my condition from the Facebook entry of another friend, mother of my god-daughter and god-son. For this couple, we talked and we reminiscence about the past, spoke about who is who and where these people are now. She is much more connected and knows more than me so it was refreshing to know who is doing what or where they are now.
In both instances, there were a little hesitation about meeting because I do not know how the meeting might turn out but fortunately it turned out to be pleasant, refreshing and joyous, knowing that there are old friends who are still concerned despite the years of not having seen each other.
Today, I went back to the office as it was “Bring Your Little Ones To Work” day and I had not met a lot of my colleagues since I started my therapy and so I thought today will be a good day to visit but sigh… a lot of my colleagues are not in the office as many were either on leave or had taken off days. Those colleagues that were still in the office who knew me were very warm and asked how I was doing. It was so refreshing to meet these colleagues again and wish I could be back to work as soon as possible.
Relationship is such treasured thing. I kept saying that we need to value our family and friends and possibly some close colleagues for they are the ones who will see and carry you through difficult time. It may be oxymoronic to say this in light of my Christian faith but we need to choose our friends carefully for when you find one that is true to you and is close to your heart and vice versa, you would have found something that is more precious than gold or diamond. There is a song the liken God to being more precious than diamond, gold or silver but I say that the family and friends that God gave is also equally or if not more precious than diamond, gold or silver. You don’t go out and buy or sell your family and friends, they are either gifts or they are cultivated and like pearl, cultivation of friendship takes time, patience and tender care, it cannot be rushed.
Love your family, love your friends and love those around you. God gave the example of the kind of love He has for us and exhort to love unconditionally.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NKJV)
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
Above all, love God because if you call yourself a Christian are not able to love God, how then can you say that you those around you. God has summarised His commandment into 2 concise commands.
Matthew 22:35-40 (NASB)
35 One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
Love God and love your neighbor… hmm…
Because of love, I had also written an email to the church staff that is taking care of the Sunday Service’s Worship team. Not sure if I should be calling him “worship pastor”. Anyway, I was trying to be as open as possible with this church staff member and hoped that what I had written will not be taken negatively but will form the basis of bonding and future open sharing.
I leave you with these thoughts. Think about your relationship with God and those around you.
In God I Trust.
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