How Little That I Know

When we are young, we enjoy exploring our dream world. We are so eager to learn that we can't wait to get up from our bed every morning. Each day brings new adventure. And nothing seems to stop us from pursuing the things of the world.

From very early, we are told to seek knowledge. Knowledge can free us from ignorance, and empower us to live more consciously and to engage in life with greater understanding. Knowledge can give us the wisdom to lead the life successfully. Knowledge can give us comfort. Knowledge can give us the wisdom to make superior decisions. And knowledge can give us guidance to overcome problems we meet in the daily life.

As we grow, we discover that there are so much to learn and there are so much that we have learned. But there is no end in our search for knowledge and wisdom. We delve deeper and wider into our fields of expertise, and we are feeling proud of all our advancements and achievements. We become experts in our fields of work. But deep inside, we are aware that we are far from perfection.

Some have dedicated all their time and effort to perfecting the knowledge they have learned. They engross themselves in the study of their knowledge. And many of them begin to worship their knowledge rather than God the Creator who has given them the knowledge and wisdom.

And then we grow old. We find ourselves unable to pace our life according to our knowledge. We often spill our food and drink, we slip and fall, we doze off easily while watching TV, we walk with shaking knees and legs, and we easily forget the things we say or do. Heaven knows how frail and venerable we have become.

Then we begin to treasure every breath we draw, every step we take, every food we eat, and everything we see, hear, or smell. Life has become so wonderful, and we begin to marvel at God our Creator who have given abundantly all our needs and wants.

And then we sigh at our folly. All the years we have been chasing after the wind, not knowing that life is so simple. From the beginning, God has designed us to worship Him and enjoy Him forever.

Oh God! How little that I know.

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Innocent Children

If you ever spend quality time with your children, you will realize that you know so little about them, yet they know so much about you.

If you just spend a little more time with your children, you will be surprised at how much you can learn.

When you draw near to your children....

• They will yearn for your attention.
  
• They will touch you, hold you, and hug you to tell you how much you mean to them.
• They will wait attentively to what you have to say without interrupting.
• They will look at you in the eyes. You have their full attention no matter what you say or do.
  
• They will answer you promptly the moment you ask them.
• And they will speak sweetly, softly yet audibly to you.
• They will do all your biddings.
  

When your children do wrong...

• Their speech is always so simple yet so true.
  
• They will disclose to you all the truths.
  
• They are never good in making up stories. They will giggle or hide their hands behind their back the moment they are discovered... or they will be scared and start to cry.
• And they will say how sorry they are and try to make amends.
  

When you play or joke with your children...

• They never fail to laugh heartily.
• They laugh and laugh without reserve, and they never fail to make you laugh even if you try to control yourself.
• Their laughter disperses all your toils and troubles.
  
• And you can really feel the joy and love of your home.

When you bring your children somewhere...

• They never fail to look up to you.
  
• They will not let go of your hands even if you try to.
  
• They will follow closely to you until they are sleepy and tired. Then they will urge you to carry and yearn for your hug as you continue your journey. And they will rest and sleep on your shoulder knowing they can rely on you.
  

When you see your children grow....

• They will never give up their struggles.
  
• They may fall often but they will never fail to stand up.
  
• They may make many mistakes but they will never fail to make amends.
• They will always try to perfect their knowledge and skills.

Never look down on your children. They are your inspiration. And the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these. The children learn to trust 100% upon their Heavenly Father.

How about you?

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Children, We Have Dreams For You Too

I believe as parents, we desire to see our children enjoy a happier and a healthier lifestyle then what we are having now.

I believe many of us are working very hard to provide for our children and to prepare them toward this end.

Sometimes some of us do feel like giving up managing our ever disillusioned world and just let life runs its course. And many of us have since given up all hopes for a better lifestyle.

The present economic downturns have fed many with tears and sorrows. It is even harder for us to meet our basic needs now than before, more so if we wish to fulfill our children' desires.

But deep inside every parent is the dream for their children to enjoy a better life.

We want our children to enjoy a healthier lifestyle filled with regular indoor and outdoor exercises. We want them to be more relax. We have been busy chasing after our life that we have forgone the luxury of exercise and recreation. We are getting more tense, more anxious and more worrisome. Sometimes even our weekends are filled with business activities and we hardly spend times with our family. We definitely want our children to live a fuller and a well-balanced lifestyle.

We want our children to be ready to face and to deal with their problems. We want them to be better prepared. We don't want them to always have the inclination to avoid problems or to run away from problems as soon as they arise. If they are well prepared, they can have a more successful life. Some of us are still living a defeated life, and have no desire at all to change. And we don't want our children to be like that, battered by every wave and the storm of life...bent and withered by toil and age...

We want our children to cultivate good fellowships and relationships with others. We want them to enjoy the peace, the joy and the love of living in harmony and unity with their neighbors. We want them to be helpful and loving people. We have been self-seeking and self-pleasing all this while and we have failed to establish close and intimate relationships with others. We are living a detached life and we are getting lonelier as time goes by.

We want our children to develop proper goals in their life. We want them to find purpose and meaning to their lives. We want them to be more positive and optimistic in their outlook of life. We want them to aim and to plan carefully for their future. We want them to carefully monitor every step of their life. We want them to adapt to change or to completely reorientate their lives whenever necessary. We don't want them to live a miserable and meaningless life as we do, and we don't want to see them bogged down in their works and lives.

But will they recognize and appreciate our love and sacrifices?

Oh children, do you know that we parents have dreams for you too?

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Mutual Love

It is Chinese New Year, the year of the ox.

We are ready to celebrate it.

Though the economy has slowed down, we make up our mind not to be too thrifty on this special occasion. We spend quite a bit and everyone in the family has all their desires and requests satisfied.

We spend time and effort cleaning and decorating the house. We deem it is inappropriate for us to overdo on the decorations since my mom has just left us few months ago. Anyway the house looks decent and we are ready to celebrate the year of the ox.

As usual, we have many visitors from different races and backgrounds. Some even come with gifts. We have a great time eating, drinking, and sharing with one another, dwelling on all topics under the sun. It was indeed happy hours filled with joy and love for one another. They really brightens up the house.

Even since we have our own home 10 years ago, we always remind ourselves to make more friends and to develop better and deeper understanding with one another. We learn to avoid foolish arguments, meaningless chatters, selfish strife and quarrels. We strive to cultivate good relationships with our families, relatives, neighbors, and friends.

We realize the fact that we will have fewer relatives and friends as we grow older. Some of them may have stayed away because of misunderstandings, arguments, quarrels and strife. Some of them may have passed away. Others may have migrated far away. If we remain aloof and unaffected for long, we will be a loner in no time.

It really takes courage to leave the gate wide opened during the festival. But it is a good indication of how we fare on mutual love. A large and cheerful crowd indicates that we are successful while a dwindling crowd should alarm us to make amend as soon as we can.

I believe it is high time we examine on the issue of mutual love.

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When the tide turns against you

Maybe it doesn't matter to you when you turn away sour-faced when someone wants to speak to you.

Maybe it doesn't matter to you to speak so harshly to others after they have wronged you.

Maybe you feel very pleased with yourself when you dominate a situation, and you sneer and curse the one you step on and trample.

Maybe you feel that the world hasn't been fair to you all this while. So you make up your mind to do the same to others.

I feel sorry for you because you don't know what you are doing and what you have missed.

You are so self-righteous. You think you can never make any single mistake. Time will tell how true it is, when the tide turns against you.

You are so arrogant, so imposing and so unforgiving, and you don't even give a second chance to others to make amends. And you are so judgmental in everything you say. Time will tell how bitter you will be, when the tide turns against you.

I wish you are not like that because I can see that your friends are slowly leaving you and avoiding you. You are hurting everyone including yourself. And you seem not to care at all.

I stand from afar and watch. I can see you are lonely. I don't know how to console you. You really have to change your attitude.

We all need to live together in peace, justice, mutual respect and love. We must be more tolerating and kind toward one another.

Come, my friend... Show a little kindness and make this world a better place... for everyone and especially for you.

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Why Baby Cries?

Some of us can understand why baby cries. They can readily tell us that:

Babies cry because they are hungry. Let them keep eating if they want to. They will stop crying once their stomachs are full.

Babies cry because they need fresh diapers.

Babies cry because they are either too hot or too cold. They will stop crying when they feel comfortably clothed.

Babies cry because they want to be held. They like to see familiar faces, hear their voices, and listen to their heartbeats, and maybe their unique smell.

Babies cry because they are overstimulated and too tired to take it anymore.

Babies cry because they do not feel good. They need to be taken to the doctor.

But sometimes babies just cry and cry for no apparent reasons.

What do you think.... why babies cry?

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Please Calm Down

Some of us can stay calm and cool in our life. This virtue is the result of a long and patient effort in self-control. When we have ripened our experiences and have a deep knowledge of our thoughts, we become calm and strong.

When we are calm, we know how to govern ourselves and we know how to adapt ourselves to others, and we revere and rely on our God more.

The calmer we are, the greater is our success, our influence, and our power for doing good.

Calm people are always loved and revered. Who doesn't love a tranquil heart, a sweet-tempered, and a balanced life? Calm people are always sweet, serene, and strong.

Some people sour their lives, and ruin all that is sweet and beautiful by explosive tempers. But calm people control and purify their thoughts and makes the winds and the storms of their souls obey them.

Remember my friends: self-control is strength, right thought is mastery, and calmness is power.

"Be Still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10)

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Mom Sometimes Grumbled

What would you do if your aging parents grumble?

I yearn for my mother's grumbles. God has taken her away when I miss her grumbles.

Every time when my mother paid me a visit, she would relate to me the latest happenings of all her others children. Sometimes she was full of joy and laughter because of some good tidings. Other times she grumbled a lot, speaking the same incidents over and over again. Often I felt irritated and only listened to her half-heartedly while doing my own works. There were times when I couldn't stand her anymore that I told her not to trouble herself so much about her children, just left them alone to manage their own lives. But I knew she just couldn't because her heart cried out for them everyday.

Now that she was gone, I began to understand why my mother grumbled at times. She was carrying the burdens of her children in her heart. She just couldn't bear to see them being tortured by their problems. She wanted to help them herself but she didn't know how. She felt helpless and so she grumbled.

Oh mom, I really miss your grumbles. They help me to behold the tender loving care of my good mother.

Mom, forgive me for not understanding how heavy your burdens are for all your children.

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She Is My Mom

She was a typical chinese lady who kept all the chinese customs, traditions and rituals well.

Though she was illiterate, she had a good memory of everything she learned or knew, and could share with us all the things we needed to know or understand.

She married early and had 7 sons and 6 daughters.

Her husband passed away more than 30 years ago. Ever since, she alone had raised up all her children, until her older children could play the supporting roles.

She had all her children in her heart and mind. She always went on a long journey, worshiped and prayed in any temple, just for her sick child and the well-being of her family.

She gave up everything she had for her family. She played a major role to settle any dispute among her children, sometimes even to the stage of begging and crying. She wanted to keep her family united and strong.

She started to enjoy the fruits of her labor 20 years ago. All her children and grandchildren had prospered in all walks of life. Since then, she traveled a lot merely to visit them and to take care of them. Though at times they started to grumble at her interfering, she would just smile and would continue to play her role quietly.

She never forgot her children's and grandchildren's birthdays. To her, it's very important to remember to celebrate one's birthday and all other important days. She always reminded them wherever they were.

Few months ago, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Since then, a few of us who have believed in Christ started to share with her more often than before the love of God the Father and the plan of salvation through Christ.

God touches her heart and she quickly repented of her sins. She declared to all of us that she is now a child of God and she would no longer involved herself in any ancestor worship and temple worship. She had found a new lease of life and had started to worship and enjoy God.

She was ready to meet with the Lord. She loved to listen to christian songs and hymns, and she always hummed along. She told us that she had freed herself from the worries and cares of life; she had learned to take things one at a time. We are very happy to see her transformation. Mom, wait for us in heaven, we wouldn't be long; this world is not ours to stay on forever.

She died in the hospital few hours after saying goodbye to most of her children, living to a ripe old age of 80. She died peacefully after hugging and patting her daughter-in-law on her back and nodding her head, seeming to thank her for taking good care of her.

The funeral was on the third day after all the family members, friends and relatives had come and pay their last respects. Apparently, Mom was very kind and loving in her lifetime to everyone; many mourned and wept for her. We decided to go round her coffin 7 times and poured out all our thoughts and feelings about her. It was a painful and sorrowful hour but eventually everyone settled down to begin the burial ceremony. We prayed to God for fine weather and that all things be done properly to honor Mom. The Almighty God is great in taking care of us and all of our needs. Everything was done well and the weather was just fine and cool.

We had taken many photos with our Mom so that we will remember her always. We had taken pictures of all those who had come to pay their last respects so that we will remember to thank them. We had all the pictures sorted out and developed into DVD photo slideshow, syncing with beautiful christian hymns and songs so that we can distribute to all to watch and sing along while recognizing and remembering the tender loving care of our Mom.

Mom is indeed a very special lady to me, my family members, my relatives and friends. And she continues to be precious to all of us. I guess we only start to miss or to treasure our loved ones when they are on the verge of leaving. We just can't let them go. But God knows the best, and He doesn't want to see her suffer any longer. Mom, God loves you more than all of us put together.

Mom, we miss you, we adore you and we honor you.

You are always in our hearts and minds, but we know you are happier there with the Lord.

O Lord, take good care of our Mom. O Lord, take good care of all of us that we may be with our mother in heaven... Amen.

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Just Cry

Sometimes we question why life is so hard. Most of the time there is no reply.

We quietly let our tears fall. At first, it is merely droplets. Then it swiftly gathers strength and soon we are sobbing terribly. Our faces scrunched into the most tormented expression. But we are careful to stifle our sobs in case someone may hear.

What we find amazing and amusing is that tears sooth us. Crying becomes a form of relief therapy for us. It comforts us in an unexplainable way. We cry as we are moved. We cry when things get overwhelming. We cry when we feel extremely frustrated. We cry when we miss our dear friends terribly. And we will choose a quiet corner to cry.

After the sobbing sessions, somehow we feel renewed and have a sense of lightness. Things don't seem that bad anymore.

Life continues to be frustrating but it is no more threatening. The obstacles still remained but they don't appear to be as impossible as before. We are still alive and we took it as a sign that we have more to live and to offer.

Our footsteps become lighter and as we walk, we start to count our blessings. We are still alive, strong and healthy. We still have a loving family and we can still enjoy our works and our life happily.

Please remember, no matter how happy or how desperately anxious you are, life still goes on.

So the next time you are really sad and miserable, find some place to cry. It will soon go away and... everything will be okay.

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Love Is Blind?

They told me that...

• Love is blind because when you are in love, it doesn’t matter what the world says to you; to you, he/she is the world. Even when your friends tell you that he/she is ugly, you will say otherwise and claim that he/she is the most handsome man/beautiful girl that you have ever seen. Even if he/she has a bad attitude, you will choose not to see it anymore.
• Love is blind because it encourages you to say or to do things that you would never say or do under normal circumstances.
• Love is blind because you would normally concentrate on the physical attributes or sexual attractions of the person and overlook all other imperfections and his/her past.
• Love is blind because you get very emotional rather than logical in your relationships.
• Love is blind because your lover is your very close friend who watches over you when you are going through a bad break up.

But I presume...

• Love is not blind when you see something in him/her that other people don't usually see or know. You see something in him/her that make you want to marry and love him/her.
• Love is not blind when love is knowing him/her for whatever he/she is and accepting it with no regrets.

I believe lovers should take more time and effort to understand one another before they get married. It is said that love covers all sins. True love will only grow with time and effort. And as love grows, the blind lovers begin to undersand how their relationship has developed and mature over the years.... And so they say to themselves, "Till death shall we part."
What do you think?

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