SimonSimple

Hi people

The other day I did the right thing. No, it’s not because I was bitten by a mosquito, although it has something to do with it. Near where I live, there is a beautiful park. But as all beautiful parks go, there are trees. And where there are trees there will be leaves. And in ‘no seasons’ Singapore, the trees shed their leaves all year round.

It is no surprise that the leaves invariably get collected in the little drains and sure enough these leaves serve to impede the flow of water. So although I was not pricked by the ‘mozzies’, I was pricked by my conscience to do something as I was an interested local resident. And like my dear wife would say, even children, who are family members must do their little bit around the house just because they are family citizens.

Like a good citizen, what I did one quiet morning was to clear almost 5 buckets of leaves & dirt from the local drain. I checked the drain today after 2 days of continuous rain - the sound of water making a cascading sound as it flowed from the little drain into a bigger catchment drain, was literally music to my ears.

Here is a lesson: like the Dead Sea & the Red Sea, where the former is stagnant and breeds only death because there is no outlet, the latter is vibrant and full of life because there are inward sources and there are outward channels. Small drains spring to life if we remove the dirt and keep the water flowing. In life, a similar application can be made. If we keep our blessings to ourselves and not learn to share and bless others, chances are we will soon end up like the Dead Sea, full of salty water, but of little use to others.

Like the Red Sea, it is better to share than to hoard. Make sure blessings flow through you, not only to you.

Have a blessed week ahead.

Hi People

Coming out of a sad week it’s hard to celebrate glad news. Well last night our 2nd daughter was on Skype with us, to bring the news that she has been offered the Media Development Authority’s Media Education (Overseas) Award to complete her overseas studies in Sydney. We thank God for His provision. This is a great financial relief to our daughter since it will cover the tuition fees for the rest of her 2 year media studies.

Why did I say it is a relief to her and not us parents? This is because we have put it to our 3 children that this part of the education must be figured out by them and not by their parents. Interestingly we realised that this has meant our children taking full responsibility for the choices they have made in determining their course of studies and their means of financing them. With ownership of the problems, people find creative ways to solve the challenges facing them. Why this unusual way of raising children? I suppose it is Just Us!

How did our daughter get the MDA education award? Yes, she has decent grades during her poly days. Yes, she has diligently worked for one and a half years and saved some $20,000 before taking the plunge to go overseas on her own fund.

But it was a chance conversation with a friend at a wedding dinner, small talk regarding how our respective children were getting along that led to this little known avenue to secure some financial assistance for overseas studies. An ex-staff of this friend had similarly pursued an overseas tertiary education after a poly education in Singapore and applied for this MDA award. We showed keen interest and this friend was able to provide the right contacts and the rest is history.

The point I want to make is, be an angel to someone, you never know what a great blessing you can turn out to be. Another point I want to make is, there are angels all around. We must open our eyes, be teachable and humble, and learn to receive blessings. All we need to do is….Just Ask!

Just Us, Just Ask!

Hi People

The morning started at 9 am with father, mother, eldest daughter & second daughter (son out of the country) and Bullie, the cocker spaniel, packed into the family’s little Jazz. Bullie’s ‘younger brother’ the corgi cardigan, Elvis, looked perplexed, not knowing that Bullie had an appointment with the vet for an operation to remove some stones in his bladder and a growth in his stomach.

Bullie had to fast the night before and early the next morning, it was his turn to be perplexed when Elvis got his breakfast and he didn’t.
At the vet while waiting for his admission he seemed to cherish all four members waiting alongside him as he chided in turn mother, then father with his disapproving barks, whenever either wandered off.

He was left in the good hands of the senior vet shortly after. Unfortunately during surgery, his medical state was deemed unpromising as the growth in the stomach was too extensive. The next best thing was to put him down there and then.

In memory of Bullie, who is no more, we post here his last playful evening at home with his brother who must miss him dearly from henceforth. We would like to remember him as such - happy and cheerful, always the regal one. We miss you too, Bullie, dearly.