New insight about children’s characteristics

Posted on January 12, 2014 by clay

All these times, i was only told,”bla bla boa…” are representative of children characteristics. Till i had my own, and i realised much are stereotypes, and become somewhat generally accepted. While on the other hand, i notice some other characteristics which are meaningful and yet have never been mentioned. So just thought it’s fun and insightful to share here:

1. Children are pure.

When a child was born, they don’t have any discrimination / prejudice / bias against anybody. To them, everyone are the same (just like God). They don’t judge people by the colour of their skins, or by the race, marks on their bodies, or even what we call “abnormalities.”

I have observed this so many times with my daughter. Facing the “less” abled people, she smile at them the same, to the bankers and aunties cleaning the table, she smiled the same too. To the elderly rubbish collector, she asked me to help, and she greeted bunch of guys with tattoo. And the last encounter to confirm this, when we meet a stranger on public transport, she smiled at her…and straight away this person commented, that it’s parents who taught children judgment on skin, race, education, social, job, etc. But when a child was born into this world, they don’t have any value judgment.

2. Children are honest

This is also something interesting that i observed from my girl. There’re times she did wrong. And when being asked, her answer is straight “yes” or “no”. She hasn’t developed yet the thinking to tell lies to escape punishment. So when she’s being honest and being punished, it is kind cute to see her expression. Yet i learn something from this character, when Jesus said “let your yes be yes and your no be no”….he’s probably has a child in his mind.

3. Children are trusting

This i think is common knowledge. And again, i really love this attitude. She 100% trusting me for whatever i said. She never question me (yet), or argue with me. Give means give, there’s is no withholding.

4. Children are communal

To some degree, our girl hasn’t developed sense of personal belongings yet. So whatever things belong to her is open for other people to play. And similarly, other people things belong to her 🙂 This waited to be confirmed. But there are 4 things mentioned above on children ‘s characteristics

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A Wonderful New Year

Posted on January 2, 2014 by clay

Thank God for today, i enjoyed one of the most memorable New Year.

My little girl fell ill on 30th Dec, and because of that, i learnt to trust God for her life. In the past, i got so worried if anything happened to her. This time round, I could trust God better. He knows and does what’s the best.

Continue reading →

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Loving hands

Posted on November 18, 2013 by clay

I thought i would never see it again…

It was in 1998 when i left home, and kept my mum’s sewn clothes as probably greatest treasure. I still remember she sewn all my clothes, with different colour strings. She said that this would prevent them getting lost. I would know that these belong to me. So almost all my clothes would have my initial.

And with my mum no longer can do that, and my wife would not need to do it…i thought i would never saw it again.

Tonight however, i was amazed….the same thing happening again……

This time round, it’s my mum-in-law turn. She was sowing my torn pants. Using her own clothes’ label that she took out, she sew it onto my pants. I would remember it and treasure it. Those eyes and hands are beautiful. I got back my beloved pants. They look like new again. But i got my memories back again…Things i would never thought of. Things i gave up already, returning back again.

Thank you Lord. I am so blessed.

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I am so blessed

Posted on November 13, 2013 by clay

I don’t know how to put this.
I’m simply feeling overwhelmed.
I think God has been so good and kind to me.

I have a very wonderful wonderful wife.
She has done really a lot things for me.
She has gone the extra extra mile for my sake.

She made eggless ice cream.
And tonite, she even made eggless cake….
I don’t know how she manage to find the recipe
Or how she could think of doing all those things

And i have a very kind sister-in-law too
She bought us a nice ice-cream-cake
It is the 2nd time i tasted it and i always like it…
Only so far i find it too expensive to have it

And i have a very loving mother-in-law
She cook special dish for me tonight.
Everyday she would make the honey+lime for me
And today she cook a very nice chicken rice

And not forgetting my little girl.
Kept saying “papa…papa…”
And laugh happily…
What a blessed man i am.

Friends all around too…from ci ester, andrianus, darwin, and santo & lisye family…..
They all make my day
FP family not the least…:)
Thank you so much friends
May the Lord bless you abundantly.

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Grateful

Posted on November 11, 2013 by clay

Just feeling simply grateful.

I thought have done my best for my family.
My baby is healthy and happy.
My wife is doing well.
My mum in law also seems to be happy and more understanding.

At office too, getting along well with my colleagues.
Trying my best at work and got recognised.
My baby just calling “papa papa…”

God is good. And i just rejoicing over the good things.
The year has been all good. And not realising one year so fast to pass.
Lord help me to overcome.

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How to teach your toddler about sin

Posted on October 28, 2013 by clay

This evening i heard many reports our little cute girl misbehaved. From pulling the electrical plug, broke the plate, and lastly not listening to the mother. It is very easy to label her as a rebel, and punish her, or scold her and show her all her faults. And thought that the job of parenting is done.

Somehow, the opportunity arose.

She was busy running around, with 2 pingpong balls on her hands. Whenever she dropped one, and whenever i picked up, she will quickly come to me and grab it by force. And if i didn’t give it to her, she will resort to use her second best tactic…to cry.

But the interesting thing is, when i ask her for the pingpong balls, she would not give it. Pretending not to hear (but i know she heard), and walking away from me. That little girl is showing the horns finally.

So the opportunity came.

When i hold one ball, and she came to me. I purposely hold it longer, let her cry awhile. When she’s seated, i rub her gently, gave her the ball she wanted, and spoke gently to her. I asked her, “why can’t you give papa the ball?” All these while you give papa everything, but why is it difficult to give just one ball, while you have two?”

Let the question to sink in, and let her think a moment. Indeed, there’s something in her possessed her. She was blinded by wanting to have both the pingpong balls, till she refused to give just one to her beloved father. Though even i told her that after she gave me, i will give it back to her (and i have never broke my promise with her yet).

I concluded for her, that it’s sin that made her behave that way. So different with God, who gave us…God gives, we don’t.

So ended the short session of the day. I don’t know when the next time will come again. But i thank God for the opportunity, and the prompt of the Spirit. May the Spirit guide her to find salvation 🙂 And i’m as her father won’t have anything more to ask.

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First desire in my heart

Posted on October 8, 2013 by clay

This morning, as i’m having my breakfast, facing the garden of beautiful cathedral, my mind wander….

The morning devotion runs around theology vs anthropology, the remark of my wife that i’m best husband, and my own struggle of providing, and there’re still many other things….

And i remember, the very first desire i have, the highest goal i’ve still remember till today…

Many would call me arrogant, or even putting the impossible………..

But to me, that has to be it, otherwise, it’s meaningless…….

That is to be like God….not to be God, but to be like Him…in all aspects……

So yah, i do still desire that. And i hope becoming more like God….i would be a good and best husband for my wife. Best person for God to use and certainly…living for God and not for man.

 

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Dealing with Evil

Posted on October 2, 2013 by clay

I notice there’s few ways dealing with Evil (Evil people, Evil One, Evil time, etc). While often in some circles, the only way to deal is either to fight or to cast out, I found that in the Bible there’s few other ways.

1. We read how Paul does not resist or fight against the scheme of the Evil one. A few times he mentioned in his letters that Satan prevented him from doing something / going somewhere. And Paul’s response was to commit it to the Lord. He didn’t fight his way, though he knows his way would mean the propagating of the gospel.

2. We read how Jesus himself prayed to God for Peter, when Satan wanted to have him. It was not mentioned Jesus prayed for Judas though. But it is interesting that Jesus committed Peter to God. So though Peter denied him, yet his faith were restored later.

3. And from the time in Gethsemane till Calvary, Jesus did not fight back. He let the hour of darkness reign. And he mentioned that it’s the time of the Evil One, with evil people doing evil things. Seems there’s times even in history that God just let evil people triumph with their evil plans and evil deeds. Even in Old Testament, we read God let all these happens to His own people (but we know it’s for a purpose, that God’s judgment will come upon His enemies)

4. Last example but not the last in the Bible, is the account of Job. God let the devil to persecute Job. All his possessions were taken off, and his health also were taken off. And God let it happen before His eyes.

And other parts of the Bible, we read Jesus teaches his followers to let the evil person does what he likes. Paul even says that when persecuted, they bless in return. And in Proverbs it is mentioned repaying good for evil.

Hence it’s interesting how the Bible teaches us on how to respond to evil. It is very different from some circles practices that only teaches to confront and fight with force. The Bible teaches the other way around, and even some ways which are radical.

I guess this boils down to the root, that is security in God. One who’s secure in God would be able to commit everything to God’s hands. Even when evil things happens or when facing the Evil One. Like Jesus prayer…”Deliver us from the Evil”……it is the confidence in God there.

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Lesson from a senior

Posted on October 1, 2013 by clay

Another colleague is resigning soon. Thank God for the chance to have lunch together. And through our short lunch, there’s something that i learn. Season of life.

I had never seen it this way before. That life is series of seasons. Time for singlehood, time of being in married, time of being a parent, and time of looking after the aging parents.

When we’re young, we have a lot of energies, so we don’t mind trying out things and we have the time and energy to spend exploring things. In growing years, we do too have much energy and time, yet comparatively less now. So we still do explore things. Then comes the 50th years of life that we tend to be more focus, and stop running around.

Two things i learnt from this friend:

  1. It’s better to determine early the focus / goal of one’s life. Don’t waste time running around. A focus life is better than an aimless life.
  2. It may take awhile to wonder around. But the time is short. So always remember that. Whatever times you have at hand, use it to the max. We can’t gain back what’s past.

Lastly, what i thought might be one more point in relationship with time and life. Often we’re too shortsighted. We only make plan for the next 5 to 10 years. As result, we get impatient. While if we take perspective of 20, or even 30 years….we would probably make different decision. I don’t know yet, what’ the best way yet. Just an observation.

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Real value of things

Posted on September 26, 2013 by clay

Few days ago, i read something interesting:

Blackberry would be sold for S$5.9b. Nobody knows, but the news is out. Blackberry era has ended. Nokia has gone. Today is the time for Apple & Google. What was like a boom today, tomorrow may be gone. Such is the electronic and technology industry. But in fact, in all things, that’s the reality.

The today of pop stars, would be outdated soon. When i grew up, Britney Spears was so popular…and now, she’s no longer popular. And if today Psy is so popular or Justin Bieber…tomorrow, there would be somebody else.

Kingdoms rise, kingdoms falls.
Yet we worship man like they’re gods.
Goverments too, they have expiry dates.
Yet we depend so much on them like they’re gods.

I remember what my pastor said about Real Value. “Do you want to know the real value of something? See what people are willing to pay. Of course that’s not true. There are real precious that people pay so cheap……And there’re really junks that people pay so much.”.

“The real value of things, are not in how much people are willing to pay, but how much God is willing to pay. And God paid with His Sons life for our lives.” 

That settles it all.

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