Happy Mother's Day to Me!

Was pleasantly surprised when I return from work yesterday, to find this on my study table. It's my mother's day present from my husband, on behalf of Jo. It was blasting the song "Though I walk through valleys low, I'll fear no evil.. like the waters still my soul, my heart will trust in You.."

Together with the gift, was a card from both my husband and daughter - My husband wrote "Dear, this gift is for you to worship God in the room. Trust in God, He is with us.. and so we can worship God together as the Wus".

My daughter wrote (actually it's my husband who wrote for her) "Happy Mother's day, I love you! Thanks for feeding me, cleaning me, disciplining me, hugging me, kissing me, petting me, sayanging me... i couldn't have asked for a greater mama than you. I am proud of you. You are the best Mama in the world."

I was so touched I broke down and cried.

I think only God truly knew how much I struggled in this journey, and how much grace He gave for me to overcome and walk this far. I have never been as humbled and weak in all my journeys. Indeed, there's no way except to trust Him.

And really, thank God for my husband! Thank God I married the man God chose for me! I'm very blessed! :)

Parenting

Been teaching Jo how to "Pass Motion" on the great white throne, drink from a straw, as well as boundary training. Saw a little progress with the throne and the straw.. but not too much success with Boundaries.

It is... draining sometimes to have to repeat myself again and again. "No, darling, stay inside."; "No, Jo, obey Mama. Stay inside."; "No, darling, you cannot go outside, stay inside." Like a broken recorder sometimes!

But to me.. this is a necessary evil. The end in mind is not the boundary. I don't really bother as much on safety as well. Some parts of me do want Jo to be well-trained so that people can affirm how good a Mum I am. But whenever God shows me that I am hungering after external applause, I pause, repent and ask the Lord to set my heart right.

So what's the reason for hampering over boundaries? Well, I believe the role of parenting, or rather my job in Jo's life, is to train her for Service to the Lord.

And in order for the Lord to use her - she needs to learn to obey.

Hence, the end in mind is not the boundary.. nor the safety. The end in mind.. is she learn obedience. Obedient to authorities.

Many men/ women in the bible had great talent.. but they did not pass the obedience Character test, took things into their own hands.. and downfall came.

Joyce, hang-in there. If it takes as long, it'll take as long. She needs to learn this, Jo's heart needs to learn to yield to God. It'll come. She'll learn. And God's grace will be there.

The subject of influence.

The recent failed take-over of an NPO here and some personal events sparked me to think on the subject of influence.

When we come against Puralism and take a stand on certain issues of a certain values, the end result is definitely polarising.

But what's wrong with polarising? Bad cos at the end of the day, you reach nowhere with the group of people who disagree with you. On the contrary, you drive them further from the place you wanted to bring them towards - your values.

But if making a stand is not the way to go then.. what is?

I think maybe the answer is to offer a Biblical perspective in a wholistic manner, not just pertaining to the issue at hand, or the disagreement. Then let the people see the Glory of the Father and decide.

I need to grow. I need to learn how to effect change in communities/ people that I would like to see transformation in.

Grow Joyce, Grow.