Put thought unto Giving

My grandma lives in my hometown Medan, Indonesia. I don't really know her that well coz I've been living in Jakarta ever since I was 10. Then I was in Malaysia for my study and now I stay in Sydney, Australia. I pay her a visit once a year during my summer holiday in Medan. Since I started working, always manage to prepare a *red pocket* and regard myself as a good grand daughter.

This year I decided not to go back for christmas nor Chinese new year. Then I was thinking, "Should I just send a *red pocket*". But the idea of sending and not giving it myself during Chinese new year is kinda meaningless. So I thought, lets buy a gift :)

I brainstorm ideas of what my grandma likes. Looking to the past, I was satisfied with my own idea of giving A$ as she would be able to buy things that she needs or likes. Now when I want to buy something she would like, I had a lot of things to consider. I need to put thought into giving!

Then I remember my mom always tell me how stressed my grandma was before every Chinese new year. The question of a million women, "What should I wear". Given my grandma is old and not as slim as she was, it's hard to find her clothes in Indonesia. Size above 10 is not exactly popular there compared to Australia. And so I went to a plus size shop near my office.

That minute I got into the shop, I realised how clueless I am. I had absolutely no idea of what size she should wear left alone her favourite colour. I'm truly ashamed. I almost cancel my plan to buy her clothes simply because it's pricey and I couldn't guarantee if it would fit. But then I heard a voice, "Why are you being reluctant to spend your money? Even if it does not fit, the thought itself matters." And so I bought the clothes with good faith.

A happy ending, clothes fit my grandma well. She's so pleased with the gift simply because I put more thought on giving this time compared to the *red pocket* in the past years.

Next time when you want to give, put
your thought
into it :)

*red pocket*
It's a chinese tradition to give “Hong Bao”, or little red envelopes filled with money, for special occasions.

(Miss)understood

Have you ever been misunderstood? Been judged harshly by someone who read a false motive into something you said or did? It is the feeling of dissapointment when we have done our best for a good intention yet ended up wronged by others.

Well I do.. Then I'll ask myself so many times, "What did I do wrong?". When I'm done asking myself, I decided to ask God.

me: "God, am I not doing my best? Why would this happened to me?"

God: "Are you saying you don't deserve to be misunderstood? So tell me... what do you expect from them?"

me: "I do not expect a 'Thank you' but at least I expect them to trust and understand my good intention."

God: "Well child... Have you ever played the game called Chinese Whisper?

me: "Yes, of course. It's a game where one whisper a phrase to the next person and so on. The sentence would then be greatly differed when it reaches the last person"

God: "There you are. Don't you get the idea that most people find it's hard to listen? Even Jesus knows about being misunderstood. When he preached in Nazareth, his boyhood home, the people dismissed him as a nobody. 'Isn't this the carpenter's son?' they asked. He must have felt terribly alone when people misread and misjudged him. "

me: "I understand what you meant. But it still hard to face these people."

God: "This is what you should do. Pray for them, be kind and respectful, seek the good and privately work in the best interests of those who are working against us, and purposely avoid telling them what we do for them."

Me: "Alrite God. I'll do that"

God: "Good. And remember one thing, when you feel like you're abandoned know that I'll always by your side"

"You will all leave me; yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me"
(John 16:32).

Travel in time

I remember the time when as a child I fancy the cool stuff in Doraemon movie. It's a story of a robot called "Doraemon" who travels in time to the era of 19s. And he has all these cool amazing stuff in his 4-dimensional pocket. Of all the stuff he has, my favourite is the time machine in Nobita's desk drawer.

I could think of a lot of things i could do with that thing :) On the top of my list is traveling to the exam day and get all the exam questions. Well, what more could you expect from a child... But now when I grew up, I wish i could go to the future and get the answers to all my questions.

A lots of time in my life, I ask myself "Am I doing the right thing?". I wonder if I'm taking the right degree, doing the right job, having the right guy, serving in the right ministry and so on. I may not have all the answers in life but I do know Someone is watching over me.

Lets travel in time! Imagine it is the last day of your life. A picture of you and your partner sitting on the bench in the park. Ask yourself these questions:

"What would you be proud of?" "If there's anything you could change, what would that be?" "Would there be any regret?"

Ponder on your answers and hopefully you'll know what to do now..

A sip of T E A

T E A is what I have to start my morning, to fill me up during my afternoon craving and to warm me up in cold winter nite. In other words, I have cuppa tea for almost everyday regardless of any moods I'm in.

I do hope I could consume the 'words of God' just like I enjoy my sip of T E A. Starting my day being thankful of having a gud nite sleep; craving for a new revelation each day and embrace His loving words during the toughest season of my life.

Just like there's always a milky cup of English Breakfast tea to start my day, a hot cuppa green tea to relieve my stomach after a big lunch, God words is always able to teach, comfort, encourage, challenge, strengthen me from time to time.

"Isn't it wonderful to have our sip of T E A in each day of our lives?"