Filed under: Things I want my Children to Know | Tags: appreciation, elizabeth noble, For My Children, humanity, life and death, things i want my daughter to know, words of encouragement
Been reading the book “things I want my daughters to know” by Elizabeth Noble. I picked it up because I thought it was about time for me to deal with humanity – life and death. It is not an easy book for me to read. As a cancer “recoverer” it is difficult to read about another person’s struggles with the disease. It is painful to read about the final stages of pain, weakness and loss of faculties. Hence I avoid visiting patients, because I cannot help but wonder what will happen to me.
Actually we really do not know when our life on earth will end. James says do not boast about tomorrow. So while we are alive, it is good to leave a legacy for our loved ones – a letter, a small gift, and definitely our words of love and appreciation. There are many similarities between the protagonist in this book and myself. She was an only child born to parents who were older than the parents of her peers. Her parents were virtual strangers to each other; she was determined to be different from her mother; and obviously her love for her children. Of course, a book in this era does not value sexual morality in the way I do. As I read, and I have not finished it yet, I can see her thoughts for her daughters are fairly similar to mine. I am reminded to write to them, for them – for my son too, of course, before it’s too late.
Me and My Girls
In a way, that is the reason I started blogging. By and by, I want to let them know my childhood, triumphs and struggles, why I am the way I am. Whatever binds me, I want them to be set free from. Whatever triumphs and victories I had, I wish they will have a greater measure of.
The Men in My Life
There is no way I will tell them everything – some things are best left as secrets – it edifies no one to let the skeletons out of the closet. There will always be questions that I will not answer. But what I want most of all is to let them how much they have meant to me, how much they have enriched my life. I may not have been the perfect parent – only God is perfect and still we complain! I have done as good as I humanly can.
And the legacy I want to leave them is one of emotional security – knowing that they are wanted, loved and appreciated. They are free to be whoever they want to be in Christ. I have no vicarious dreams for them. I know that they too will have their share of heartaches and pain. I hope I will be there for some, but there is no way I can be there for all. The best legacy I can leave them is one of love, and I hope because they have tasted maternal love, they might have a better understanding of God’s perfect love for them.
Filed under: I was made to praise You, nostalgia | Tags: praise, songs, worship
Psalm 145:10 (New International Version)
10 All you have made will praise you, O LORD;
your saints will extol you
You know the Abba song – Thank you for the music? Two lines go like this
Mama said I was a dancer before I could walk
She said I could sing, long before I could talk
Well, my mum also said I sang before I talked. I love singing – for when I sing, I feel like I could manage my emotions, whether grieves or joy. Even before i became a Christian, i used to sing Christian songs. One of my favourites was “He”. I know that when i sing, I feel an immense pleasure from the Lord. This is perhaps what liberates me.
i used to do the dishes – that was my chore. And the kitchen sink was right next to a narrow back alley that separated two rows of houses. My neighbours would say that they looked forward to my repertoire every evening! Ha ha – talk about back alley fans. That was high praise – considering I had a ge tai singer neighbour. He used to sing at the top of his lungs – and they were powerful lungs indeed. Well, i guess they appreciated my gentler rendition – especially since the lyrics were much more meaningful than Jin Tian Bu Hui Jia – if i get my hanyu pinyin correct.
