Opportunities

I LOVE YOU









Raya weekend was spent at a church camp for our family. We were not really up to it as we had tons to do and was quite upset that only half of our church members were going. This was supposed to be our church camp yet half of the participants were people from other churches. Nevertheless, it was all difficultly planned and the day has come for us to go so we packed up and went.

Romans 8:28 comes to mind now. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose".

The camp was a success. New friendships were forged and I had the opportunity to learn from other hearing impaired people from both KL and Singapore. I have always known that when opportunities are given us, we grow and learn better and this is so true looking at the lives of the hearing impaired people at the camp.

Comparing those from Singapore to the hearing impaired from Malaysia, I noticed that the sign language used by the Singaporeans are more sophisticated (if I may call it that) than that of the Malaysians. I believe this is due to their education system. The school for the deaf here teaches in Bahasa Malaysia but the international language is English and that is the language taught world wide. Having said that, it worries me that our country can never move ahead if our leaders do not see the need to learn from others and educate the people accordingly.

My children too had a good time. It was 3 days of no computer, and no TV. I didn't even see them use their MP3s at the camp. They learned to communicate with the hearing impaired and had a good time playing games with them.

It was very sad for us to say goodbye to our new friends but I am glad that this will not be our last meeting. The next Hearing Impaired camp is in the planning and I hope to meet more new people in future.

Uncertainty

I have always been one who can bounce back after being hit by a tidal wave. I take things as they come and when live throws me lemons, I ask God, should I make lemonade or lemon tea bread?

However, in the span of 10 days, I went through an emotional roller coaster that knocked me down so hard that I couldn't get up. I felt weepy, sad and fearful. I prayed and prayed, yet there was no answer.I asked God, "What is happening to me?"

The hardest knock came after I viewed the video of Police brutality on YouTube. 5-6 policemen beating up one man. Yes, he did commit a horrible crime of rape but does anyone deserve such punishment?

What if it was our son, brother, father, cousin or uncle who was mistakenly apprehended for being in the wrong place at the wrong time? How would we feel if they were beaten up this way?

I fear for my children. I looked at my son when I was watching the video and I cried. What if it was him in the video? I was angry, fearful and I felt helpless.

Reading the papers everyday doesn't boost my confidence in our leadership. In fact, it makes me wonder, what is to become of Malaysia? What is to become of my children's future here?

I love Malaysia. I love being Malaysian but the government is making it harder and harder for me not to encourage my children to go away and never come back.

God's answer came, as always at the the right time. He said, "soar with me and I will lift you up." I understood, my only confidence is in God, in whom I trust and the only being that has my best interest at heart.

So now I say, "Malaysians, pray. Pray like never before because we need to arise and be counted, set apart as people of God."

Mother's Day and Father's Day

Who came up with Mother's Day? Is it one of those gimmicks that Malls come out with to up market shares? Shouldn't mother's day be the day we deliver or adopt our first child? Shouldn't Mother's and Father's day be like birthdays and anniversaries?

Thinking about all these questions made me realize that someone had to create a day for us to celebrate or remember our mothers and fathers. How sad this is when we have to be reminded to honor our mothers and fathers.

One of God's commandment is "To honor thy father and mother". God didn't tell us to set aside a day for us to buy our parents presents and take them out for a meal. When God told us to honor our fathers and mothers, HE must have intended for us to do this daily. No, I'm not saying we have to take them out for a meal or buy them presents every day but I'm saying if our parents feel they are loved, they wouldn't need to wait for that one particular day when their child does something special for them.

There are 365 days in a year. One day is not enough to show our parents our gratitude for all the years they have put up with us. Nurturing, caring, fearing, worrying for this person whose life they cherish and sacrificed for.

I told my teenage daughter, "You say we don't understand you but do you understand us?" Would a parent wish harm on their own child (I'm talking about normal people ya, not psychos who can sell their daughter for rent money.) Being a mother now, helps me to understand my own mother. Her fears and worries for her children.

NO! Mother's Day and Father's Day should not only be celebrated once a year. It should be celebrated everyday because when one becomes a mother or father, we have to see our hearts walking outside our bodies.

Cheers to all Mothers and Fathers. It is tough but we don't back down. We get the job done whether we are acknowledged or praised for it.

Forgiveness

Awhile ago, my son was bullied in school. His friends (people he calls friends!) ganged up on him and started beating him. When my friend’s daughter, who is in the same school, told us what had happened, it was like something out of the movies.

Here they are, 2 boys holding up my son while 2 others were head butting him and punching him in the stomach. Another was at the side line shouting at them to hold him tight, don’t let him go. They pulled him to a pole and banged his head on it. My son struggled and finally got a way when he kicked one boy in the leg.

How would you feel as a mother/father hearing all this?

I wanted to whack every one of those boys but I knew if I did, it would be a police case. I decided to let the teacher handle the situation. The problem resolved itself because the bullies left for Australia at the end of that week for good. I decided to let it go. However, the boy who was yelling from the side line is still in the school and is still my son’s friend. Yes, my son still calls this boy, friend.

I was so mad at first. How could he continue to be friends with a boy who didn’t help him but urged the others on? I even distanced myself from his mother who I wanted to be friends with in the beginning. Then, a little voice whispered, “Didn’t you teach him to forgive those who have wronged him?

YES, I did.

How can I teach my children forgiveness if I react this way? In anger, I scolded him for forgiving this boy. I wouldn’t be practicing what I preached, right?

Forgiveness is the hardest act of love. Jesus Christ did just that. He came, He loved, He healed,and He cared then He carried the cross to Calvary so that He can be nailed to it, taking our sins upon Himself so that we can be set free by this sacrifice of love. We are called to love our neighbor as ourselves. If we can learn to forgive our trespassers the world would be a better place to live in because everyone will be learning to be a better neighbor.

My son taught me a lesson in forgiveness. He forgave his friend for the wrong done to him and he continued to be friends with the boy. I am both shamed and humbled by this lesson from an 11 year old.

Bribery

I just got a summons from the traffic police. It serves me right for breaking the law.

BUT, WHAT GOT TO ME WAS, I HAD TO ASK FOR MY SUMMONS!

The smiling policeman was very polite when he stopped me. He said I was stopped because I was using my hand phone. I admitted I was wrong. He asked for my IC & driving license and went on to say that the summons would be RM300. I said I am in the wrong and please give me the summons. He got a little upset about that and said, "You want a summons, I give you a summons!" I repeated myself, yes, I am wrong but I explained I was answering the call from my son who thought I would be late picking him up. I didn't want him to be worried.

The conversation continued this way;

Policeman : "You really want summons?"

Me : "No but I am wrong."

Policeman : "If you belanja me to minum kopi, I don't give you summons."

Me : "Cannot. I cannot."

Policeman : "Summons RM300, tau?"

Me : "Yes, I know but if I am wrong, please give me the summons."

Policeman : "You work?"

Me : "No but I am driver, driving my children."

Policeman : "Your husband work?"

Me : "Yes,he works."

Policeman : "I give you 1 month to pay the summons. If you pay before this date, it's 50%, ok?"

Me : "Ok, thank you for doing your job."

ARRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH............................ What are people coming too???

The cars that was stopped after me drove off before me. They must have bribed the policemen. I am sooooo pissed off. Here we are trying to do the right thing and people all around are going scots free for doing the opposite. The same people who complain about corrupted cops, immigration officers and politicians are still bribing.

Can anyone tell me what to do? What would our children learn from all this?
Would our children, to save time and inconvenience, resort to bribery?