Octopus Hands

“Mum, the light is green now!” I jumped from my 100-seconds nap and engaged my car gear. My helper left last Thursday. Since then, we were frenziedly getting meals ready, putting out the laundry, getting the children to school and ….. the list goes on. And here I was, trying to ‘nap’ at the traffic light at red to get some extra pound of energy.

In moments like that, we wish we have octopus hands. Hands that can comfort a crying child, stir the stew and wash some dishes! And so, I wonder when this madness will ever stop. If I look at the calendar, it’s another 2 months before the extra help arrives. This seems eternity already.

But, if I look up to God, he says “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)

In Pursuit of Excellence

In our first attempt in having a tuition class for my 2 sons in my house, it turned out a disaster. A re known mandarin teacher was hired as their personal tutor. They giggled, played a fool, and giggled time and again. They might have even caused indigestion to her breakfast that day. She never came back the second time (well, partly she met with a car accident on her way home. She’s OK, not her car though.) Since then, I had neither dared to call another tutor to the house nor engaged them to any tuition classes.

Lately, my eldest son needs assistance in Bahasa Malaysia (BM). And so, I had him start the BM tuition. This time, I decided to have him sent out to the tutor’s (Mrs Ng) home.

With his ingenuous questions on why, what, when, where and how BM was related to him, the tutor spent 30minutes explaining its relevance and urgency. She commented on fulfilling the Great Commission* for God by excelling in different languages. Lo and behold, that got him a little excited. She also read him some common Bible stories in BM.

Can you believe this? Now, am I going off tangent or she is? The next thing I knew was that I agreed with her teaching my son about the Bible in BM in the first half of the session. Following that, will be the school syllabus proper.

God is super creative, you know. He can turn the stones into bread, water into wine, and even make blind men see. The next time you think your children cannot be bent, think again. God sends people like Mrs Ng!!

In our pursuit of excellence, we truly need God’s grace.

Luke 2: 40 – “And the child (Jesus) grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.”

*The Great Commision – Matthew 28:19,20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

The First Day

Do you vividly remember the first day you go to school? May it be in the kindergarten, or Standard 1, we must admit that there’s this looming, dreadful fear. What if mummy or daddy leaves and forgets to fetch me? What if some boy calls me names? What if my teacher scolds me for wetting my pants?

Four of my children reacted differently on their first few days of school. Emerson decided to flee when we got down the nearby school parking lot. Evans was cool about the whole thing. A tearful Estelle had to be consoled and carried around the school premise. Elgin was rather quiet at first but admitted that he had 2 tearful episodes after that.

No matter what the reaction was, I thank God that He gave them the courage to face it.

Remember to praise your child today that he or she has been so brave in facing this first day – the day that will mark a difference for the rest of the year 2010.

Blessed New Year 2010!

Joshua 1:9 – Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.