Alls well that ends well


Today is the first day of 2013. Marks a new beginning of a settled life and the end of the nomadic life for the family. Five years wasn’t a very long time away compared to some who have been away for a decade or more. However, these five years were not spent on living in just one place. It was flying from the west to the east and to the equator. It was a challenging journey. Many have envied my kind of life, able to see the world and having new experiences. Looking back, it was indeed full of excitement and adventure however it was not all smooth sailing. I think it is hard for others to understand unless and until they have been there and done that.

There is only one person to thank…GOD! If not for Him, it would have been impossible to scale the mountain from the deepest valley especially the last few months of 2012. It is difficult to describe His reality unless one has experienced Him. Just like eating durians. How do you convince someone that durians are nice and therefore should be eaten? No amount of words even from a Wordsmith, can convince a person that the king of fruits is fabulous unless he is willing to give it a bite.

Many times, it is as simple as a still small voice whispering in the still dark night. I remember that night when all were asleep and I was just sitting in darkness, praying for a miracle to take place for Kai to be accepted by a good school. There was a gentle wave of comfort sweeping across me.

You won’t believe this. When people tell me that it is very difficult for things to change, things change. Not just one school called, all three schools which we appealed to, called up. It was truly overwhelming.

“and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…” Eph 3: 19, 20

Truly, what cannot break us only make us stronger.

Tomorrow marks a new chapter in Kai’s life, my miracle #1. He begins a new journey in his life, the start of secondary school life, the beginning of a teenage life. Oh God, give me wisdom to guide him. And for Ann, her very first official school day in a Singapore school. I will do all I can to keep her unique self. I will not allow her to be pushed to the pressure cooker. She will flourish and she must flourish in her own way, growing not in mere knowledge but also in loads of wisdom.

As for me, I will move on to the next half of my life, hopefully, a life of significance. I must not allow the mundane to suck away the zeal in my life. Life is too short to not do anything. In 2012, I have seen a couple of friends who have passed on just like that. Yes, literally, here today, gone tomorrow. Another friend of ours, known him for ten years, discovered he has throat cancer stage four. He has just started a promising business and is fully on track. Another friend, rich man. You name it, he has it. He lacks nothing. Holiday to him is to fly by business class, stay in no less than five stars hotel. He suffers from retina tear and is almost blind…Do I still want to allow society to squeeze me and shove me around like a puppet? No, there can only be one life and this life must be lived to the fullest.

“in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?” Ps 56:11

Thank you for being with me for these while. Here’s wishing you a very Happy and Blessed year ahead. Don’t make New Year resolutions. Just go out and do it. The time is now!