THAT SPECIAL MOMENT

Some people wait a lifetime for that special moment...

I had one such moment last Sunday 25th November 2012, when I witnessed my daughter, Sandra Chong, graduate with a Master for Business Administration from the University of Wales.
Naturally I felt on top of the world and so proud of her immense achievement.  No words will suffice to describe my heartfelt feelings on that special moment when she walked up confidently on stage to receive her scroll from the Chancellor of the university.

It was a momentous occasion for the family but especially so for Sandra.
She had slogged for three years and her sacrifice, discipline, perseverance and burning the mid-night oil finally paid off.

There were times when she almost wanted to give up but stayed on simply because she wasn't prepared to face 'failure' or crushing defeat.

During the last leg just before the presentation of her thesis, Sandra suffered a tremendous blow at work, the likes of which she has never experienced before.  This unprecedented assault on her emotionally proved life changing.
She underwent unaccustomed pressure, anxiety and was scrutinized at her workplace.  This treatment which was totally unprovoked inevitably forced her to assess her career path and make the necessary changes, drastic though they may be.

Change she did and her resolution to move on proved to be one of the best decisions she has ever made to enhance her corporate acumen.
Headhunters have been hot on her trail offering her unbelievable career opportunities ever since!
Quite amazing.
Even I never had it so good!!

Change is nothing new or abnormal especially in the secular world but still in observing what she had undergone, a lesser - weaker - person would have succumbed to the adverse conditions she was subjected to, but not her!

Rather than admit defeat, blame fate and wallow in self pity, she took matters in stride, squared her shoulders, took deep breaths, exhaled slowly and with a smile firmly planted on her lips, she plodded on and vowed that she will bounce back.... and above all else she will succeed in obtaining her MBA come what may!

It wasn't easy but she did it. 
Today she speaks of the difficult period in her life with a certain worldly wisdom, understanding and acceptance. 
She is happy, very happy of course but at times a hint of sadness creeps into her eyes and with some difficulty, she fights back the tears...

I learned a few things from my Sandra.
She confirmed that Dreams are the vehicles on which we ride our fantasies and fantasies keep us alive.  Dreams are free fuelled by our imagination and at will we soar reaching for the sky.  In dreams there are no limits....

She has grown up, my little girl.
I feel certain that she is now not only capable of looking after herself but of me as well!  :-)

Giving thanks with a grateful heart.

GET REAL

Love has been glamorized to an extent that it's virtually unattainable by worldly standards; overly romanticized and given the illusion of perfection.

Perfect lovers, perfect bodies, perfect homes and perfect lives!

It's no wonder that people are disappointed, disillusioned and somewhat angry!

Angry at themselves and the world at large.

Life and love, it seems, is nothing close to what television and the entertainment magazine make it out to be; all glitz and glam!   

It's not all smoochy and candle light dinner every other night but mostly routine, monotony and humdrum existence for normal folks and I suspect maybe even for superstars like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie! 

Get real!

Love is not just a feeling but actual hard work.  It's tough, requires much efforts and demands sacrifice!  Love doesn't just happen but has to be painstakingly nurtured by all parties concerned.

It is a choice to be patient, kind, gentle and long suffering.

Love decides not to envy or boast. It works at being humble, forgiving and caring; holding your tongue rather than giving vent to your frustrations and fury. 

Love toils to always protect, trust, hope and persevere.

It is saying, "I love you despite your faults and my complaints and hope you'll feel the same."

Oh, what joy to give and receive such love...

A JOY FOREVER

A person, like most any object, escalates in value because you make it so!

Think what a difference you could make in a child who will likely grow to become the sort of person he perceives he is in your eyes.

In every likelihood if you think very little about his abilities and capabilities, the child will eventually suffer lack in those very same areas you've transmitted and hammered home!

You'll have inadvertently planted seeds of doubt and fear in his young and impressionable mind and this belief will probably accompany and dictate to him for the rest of his life unless given the chance to unlearn and rehabilitate.
If on the other hand you plant seeds of accomplishment and affirmation in his young mind, imagine how far this would take him when he nurtures and grows with such positive energy and influence in his life.
Never underestimate your impact in a child's life however little you understand it!

His formative years rely primarily on watching, hearing, observing and emulating you.  And when you're least aware of it, he's capturing and absorbing every unuttered word that is being released from your gesture, body language and facial expression; every disapproving retort, sarcastic remark, judgemental cruel comment and impatient grunt tearing him apart and robbing him of his self confidence.

And these will be replayed in his mind over and over and over and over again, painting a bleak and hopeless picture of his future.

How sad to subject a child to such deprivation of not only your affection, adoration, appreciation and approval but to bombard and kill his spirit at such a young tender age.

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever."

 

INTIMACY WITH GOD

By nature I don't like to pray! 
If I could fix problems with my own strength and earthly power, I would.  Just that sometimes I can't, hard as I try. Instead of improving, the situation worsens! 
That's when I'm forced down on my knees to seek divine guidance and intervention.  No other option available!  Seems like prayer is the fastest way to connect to Greater Power. 

I don't always get immediate relief or like the answers I seek and in fact often grimace at them.
The most frustrating times are when there appear to be total silence.

Is God taking a nap?!  I have doubts, still do.
Getting to know Him a little more each day helps; learning along the way and finding renewed joy, peace and stimulation in my relationship.

Some may regard prayer as weakness and cowardice but I believe our conversation time is the beginning of intimacy between my Creator and me.

CONTEMPORARY POET - CHRIS SAKLATVALA

Sharing the musing and poetic work of the very talented and witty Chris Saklatvala:

WHEN YOU ARE OLD AND GREY

Since I still appreciate you, lets find love while we may
because I know I'll hate you when you are old and grey.
So say you love me here and now, I'll make the most of that.
Say you love and trust me for I know you'll disgust me
when you are old and getting fat!

An awful debility, a lessened utility, a loss of mobility
is a strong possibility.
In all probability I'll lost my virility and you your fertility
and desirability,
And this liability of total sterility will lead to hostility and
a sense of futility.
So lets act with agility while we still have facility,
For we'll soon reach senility and lose the ability!

Your teeth will start to go, Dear
your waist will start to spread.
In twenty years or so Dear, I'll wish you were dead!
I'll never love you then at all the ways I do today
So please remember when I leave in December
I told you so in May!

The man himself - Chris Saklatvala

Lynn Wong:
A portable nagging machine she
high quality, heavy duty but indubitably a beauty.

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
What's one of they? you say
Beneath Malaysia's burning skies
Season's change you don't realise
But in thy Ascot flaunting hat
Thou are more temperate than any summer's day
and thy eternal summer shall not fade
nor lose possession of that fair thou on'st
Nor shall death brag thou wonderest in his shade
when in eternal lines to time thou grow'st.
So long as men has breath or eyes can see
So long lives this and this gives life to thee.

How do we admire thee?
Let me count the ways.
Helen's face once launched a thousand ships.
Yet you launch ships, boats and trucks
throughout the weeks and days.

We praise thee to the depth and breath and height.
Thou are gracious, wise, compassionate
humorous and firm where necessary.
Thy fingers on the pulse though thou be out of sight.
For the ends of being and ideal grace
Could it be Nefertiti's face?

Or maybe we call to mind the gods of old
specifically the muses.
For surely we find when we consider thy works
and other things.
The goddess of inspiring springs, the representative of poetry, arts, science and source of inspiration
Surely a worthy comparison.

Some talk of Alexander
And some of Hercules of Hector and Lysander
And such great names as these
But of all the world's great heroes
there's no beauty to compare
to that of Lynn, a beauty rare.

Though on red satin sheets thou would sleep
Your loveliness doth make us weep
With tears of joy from knowing you
Thy friendship our spirit doth renew

A MANY SPLENDOURED THING

Think of that someone from the past; the one who turned your world upside down, inside out; who made you forget yourself.
Yes, that unforgettable creature that deeply imprinted your soul and heart. 
It doesn't happen very often such an encounter but when it does, your life is never the same again. 
Most everyone is missing someone right now; missing and wishing ...

HOLIDAY ON MY MIND

To be able to travel and see the world must surely be one of life's greatest pleasures and privileges.
The experience is an eye opener and allow us a glimpse into the lives and cultures of a diversed people; understanding and appreciating our differences in the process.

***********************************************

UK -  ONE OF MY FAVOURITE DESTINATIONS IN THE WORLD

Why I like London...

The famous London Eye

Fortnam & Mason

Tea at Fortnam & Mason

Harrods

Princess Diana's choice

Inside Harrods

In memory of Diana and Dodi

Spoilt for choice

Assortment of coffee beans from the world over

Feeling so blessed and privileged

There's no place like London; wild, uninhibited, vibrant and at the same time cultured, classy and oh so inviting.

Hasta la vista baby.  I'll be back!

WALK AWAY

It was a most trying period of her life; to exercise restraint when her entire being recoiled in disgust and she was sick to the core. 

This could not possibly be happening to her but it was. 

Reality stared; point blank.

 

She had hoped for compassion and pleaded for understanding but none came. 

She sought justice but the door was slammed in her face.  They kept pushing.

 

Then came a time when she didn't want sympathy or even understanding anymore.

She wanted revenge but she knew it wouldn't be sweet!  :-)

 

"Revenge belongs to me", saith the Lord. 

To strike back under such dire circumstances is natural and easy even but to endure and walk away takes more boldness and courage.  And walk away she did.

 

For sure it wasn't fear but love ... tough love ...that constrained her.

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I always thought it was the nails that kept the Lord Jesus on the cross.

How wrong, how terribly wrong of me to think that mere nails could hold the Son of God captive.  Has it not been written in the Book that just one word from the Prince of Peace, 72,000 celestial warriors (6 legions X12,000) would have appeared on the scene in the blink of an eye to protect the darling of heaven.

 

No power could have come against God's only son without the Father's permission.
It was Jesus own amazing and unwavering love and compassion for Mankind that caused Him to stay courageously on the cross until... "It is finished...'

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Similarly she'd like to think that under whatever circumstances, without the Father's permission, no evil or power of any kind can hurt or harm her as well ...

 

 

 

WHAT HAPPENED?????

By order!  :-)

Security!  :-)

WAH-LAU-EH!

What's that?

WAH-LAU-EH !

Yea, wah-lau-eh indeed...