Knowing Your Mom

Son, I have to be frank to you, and honest to myself.
I think, it is very simple for me to describe your mom!

I do not need to think hard, or to find adjectives from dictionary to help me.

And I certainly do not need to say much, to comprehensively describe to you your mom.

All I need to say is simply this: Your mom is Miss Proverbs 31.
Take up your Bible and turn to Proverbs 31: 10-31; and you will see your mom's description there.

Here is what the Bible says:

Proverbs 31:10-31

(10) An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
(11) The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
(12) She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
(13) She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.
(14) She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.
(15) She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.
(16) She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
(17) She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
(18) She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.
(19) She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
(20) She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
(21) She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
(22) She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
(23) Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.
(24) She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.
(25) Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
(26) She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
(27) She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
(28) Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
(29) "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all."
(30) Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
(31) Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

Your mom was a business woman before married. Even now and then, she is.

I could not afford to take a home maid for her, so your mom does all the home making by herself.

Your mom has a kind and considerate heart to help people.

She always put us and other first than her own.

Your mom almost never show temper or complain.

If so, it is because my inconsiderate and un-discipline has exceed her limit of patience.

Your mom wake up early in the morning to prepare our breakfast.

And routine of the day does not weary her.

Remember that, son.

When your mom is at old age, and you begin to think she is just a weak old lady, please read Proverbs 31: 10-31, and you will be grateful and thankful to God, that your mom is a Miss Proverbs 31.

Your 2nd Trip to Jakarta

You have your 2nd overseas trip on 12th Nov 2009, back to home city of your mom, Jakarta.
This time, I followed.
We have one thing in common in Jakarta: always feel tired and sleepy.
I think because of the heavy traffic everywhere we go, make us 'road-sick'.
We really need time to adapt if one day, we have to stay in Jakarta.

We visited Reformed Evangelical Church.
The church building has completed from the last time I visited.
It is amazing that a church building in such magnitude could be build on this land, the most populated Muslim country in the world.
More amazing for your dad is, the word 'Kasihilah Allah dan SesamaMu', is written on top of the building, since the word Allah is banned from using in Christianity in Malaysia.

Son, the founder of this church, Stephen Tong, is a living testimony for three generations in my time, for God's amazing Providence and Power of what He can do through a man who put God first in his life. It is worthwhile for you to study his life, his ministry and his teaching. Not to make him your idol as he is also just a sinner saved by grave, but to inspire you in the way of Christian living and ministry.
In life, we man sometimes need 'heroes' to show us a good example of a godly living.
I am lucky to have few.

I am going back to Penang tomorrow, but you will stay with mom for 3 weeks.
I surely will miss you both greatly.

Take care, son.

Our Little Game

Every parents have little games with thier children. We are no difference.
Between us, we have develop our own Father-and-Son games.
I don't know how you first started it. I think probably at the moment when you hurt yourself and noticed that you had my special attention on the part of your body that was hurting.
Now, whenever you want my attention, you will pinch your cheek and call out to me 'eh...eh', and I will get up or stop whatever I am doing, and go over to you and pretend to comfort and kiss your cheek. In responce, you will smile.
Sometimes, the moment I step in the house from work, you will do that.
And sometimes, when you fall and knock your head, you will still touch your cheek though it is not that part which is hurting!
You have learn a secret code to have my attention.
But, son, I wish to let you know, you don't need to wait or pretend to be hurt to have my attention. I wish, even the day comes when you have grown up, you can still run to me for attention and advice when you need them. You will always have my attention because you are my son.
This little game also remind me of paying attention to you before you seriously hurt yourself.
I pray that, I will not be too busy and too occupied with my work, that you need to hurt yourself to get my attention.
Even if I sometimes fail you, always remember that we have our heavenly Father who neither slumber nor sleep (psalm 121:4).
You will never need to hurt yourself to get God's attention.
Because His Son Jesus had hurt himself on the Cross to pay the penalty of our sins.
Those who put their trust and hope in Christ are God's children who have His constant attention both in good times and bad times.
What a blessing we have.

Happy Birthday

It is sheer amazing that you are one year old, my Son.
The moment the first time we staring at each other's eyes at the maternity ward is still very vivid in my memory.
You have grown pretty fast, and have learned a lot in the past 12 months.
So do your mom and I.
My professor in bible seminary once said in the class, "God gives children so that the parents will grow."
Now I begin to understand what he meant.

12 months, you have learned to express your emotion and your will, and able to understand simple instructions from us. You understand and able to responce to words like: 'clap hands'; 'no more'; 'mom-mom'(eat);'drink water'.
You are growing fast under God's provision.

Friends and relatives celebrate your birthday with us.
It was a wonderful experience not only for you, but for me.
This was the first son's-birthday-celebration for me.You are too young to make any wish.
So, I made few on your behalf.
1. I wish Fidel grows up to be a toddler with faith in God.
(Remember the meaning of your name?)
2. I wish Fidel grows up to be a toddler that willing to share his toys with others.
3. I wish Fidel grows up to be a toddler that insterested in God's word.

In Jesus' precious name.

Amen.

He loves Rainy Day

Your dad loves rainy day.
Whenever it rains, he feels happy and fresh.
There are few reasons why he likes rainy day.
Rainy day washes away the dust and haze of our
polluted sky. God is still the best Environmentalist.
Rainy day brings cool air to our Malaysia hot weather.
It is very refreshing when rainy day comes.
But above all else, your dad loves rainy day because rain remind us of one important truth: God's Words and Promises are trustworthy!

'For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout......so will my word be which goes forth from my mouth; it will not return to me empty without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.' (Isaiah 55:10-11).

When rain falls, it reminds me of God's trustworthiness.
We never seen rain return to sky half way dropping.
Likewise, we will never see God's word return to Him in vain.

Rainy day is wonderful.

Curiosity without Knowledge spell Danger

You begin to crawl around in the home actively in your 8th to 9th month.
It is a joy seeing you with excitement discovering new things while you explore every corner of the house.
You open drawers of the kitchen, you take out books and papers from a box in my reading room, you stuck your finger in what ever small holes you can find, and of course, electrical wire and plug always attract your attention.
In this stage of your growth, your mom and I most frequent used word in the home is 'No!'.

Son, curiosity is God-given.
It is given so than man can learn and uncover the truth.
But with limited knowledge, your curiosity have risk, when you touch, hold, pull or taste things you are not suppose to.
Curiosity without knnowledge spell danger.

Son, learn to celebrate your curiosity within the boudary of God.
Your life will be fulfilling and exciting.

You will understand one day why we have to say 'No' to you and stop you from exploring things you should not explore.
We just want to protect you.
Even when you are in adulthood, your curiosity still need to be checked.
Because of our sinful nature, God-given curiosity has been distorted. It drives us to harmful things that we should not touch, see or taste.

How do you check your curiosity then?
By our point of reference: God inspired Word written in the Bible.
God's word is sufficient not only to say 'No' from outside, but to give us strenght to say 'No' from the inside (our hearts and wills).

Your First Sickness

Your mom and I are going through a difficult time seeing you seriously fall sick for the first time. It is in your 7th month.
Started off with a few dry cough, you have developed to heavy cough with lots of phlegm in your lung. High fever follows after few days.
We have been gone in and out of hospital few times.
It is a difficult time for all of us, but thank God, being part of God's big family in Christ, we are surrounded by concern brothers and sisters from Church who give us support, advice and prayers.

Seeing you in discomfort and can do nothing to bear your pain is itself a painful experience for us.
But, your mom and I frequently commit you into our Heavenly Father's hand.
We know, you are belong to Him, and He will take care of you.

This period of time help me to appreciate our Heavenly Father's love for us.
When He witnessed His only Son Jesus hanging on the cross, bearing the curse of Sin on our behalf, He, though Almighty, decided to let it be so that you and I can be saved from the consequence of Sin.
Our Heavenly Father definitely suffered more than I do by seeing you only in fever and cough.

How wonderful is God's love to us.
Remember that, son.

We pray that you be recovered soon, and your body become stronger after fighting off the diseases.

Your First Overseas Trip

Your first overseas trip was to Jakarta, mom's home city and country.
That was Jan 2009, when you were about 4 months old.
Mom and Ee-Ee Belly brought you home. I did not follow because of limited leave to apply.

Mom and dad did a lot of preparation for your trip.

Besides getting the passport done, we consulted doctor and friends how to make you comfortable during the flight.
You were unexpectedly calm and almost slept all the way until reached our home in Jakarta!

Grandpa and grandma, and Grand-grandma, and all friends and relatives were so excited to see you. Son, you will have a tough time to remember our big family and friends in Jakarta, but you have to know them and keep in touch with them. Family and friends are the most valuable gifts from God.


After few weeks stay at Jakarta, we met in Singapore.
So, Singapore was the second country you visited. (how you took bath in hotel)

We stay there for 3 days to attend a wedding reception of our friend, auntie Candy.
We were glad to meet auntie Yenny and little Argen in Singapore too.
I was grateful to have that few days break from my work to spend time with you and mom.

Wonderful.

Shepherding a child's heart through Provebs (part 2): Point of Reference

‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and instruction.’ Proverbs 1:7

‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.’ Proverbs 9:10

(photo in week 1)

To raise you up in wisdom, discernment, discipline and a good heart, you need a point of reference.
This point of reference should be big enough to encompass your whole being and all your experience in life.
This point of reference I give to you is God.
But, it is not any god. The God I give to you is God the Creator and the Sustainer of all the existence, who had once for all revealed Himself through and in the Bible.
Only God is big enough to be your point of reference for what you think and do.

I cannot be your ultimate point of reference.
I am neither perfect nor wise enough to know everything in life to guide you all the time.
Your friends, your teachers, your own self, cannot be the point of reference for all your experience either.
No, we are all not big enough for that.
But, since God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, He knows all things.

Therefore, He is our ultimate point of reference.
By trusting Him and His Word whole heartedly, is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom.
The consequence of not believing in God is you will believe in anything else.
And believing in anything is no different from believing in nothing.

So, son, I will lead and guide you to this one and only God.
Because, to make sense to your life, you need a point of reference, and only God is big enough for that.

Shepherding a child's heart through Provebs (Part 1): Goal of Parenting

'The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth.
Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
And the one who understands obtain guidance'
(Proverbs 1:1-5)

(photo in week 1)

The goal of your upbringing is to possess wisdom, discernment, discipline and a good heart.
But these are things that you tend to ignore and avoid from me.

Instead, what you are asking from me are the best toys; best food; best games; best devices; best entertainment and best of many other things.

I will give you these within our family affordability, by God grace.
But, you need to know from the beginning.
These things cannot accompany you, satisfy you or carry you far down the road in you upbringing.

What matter most are things inside you: Wisdom, Discipline and a Good heart.

As your parents, we are entrusted by God to raise you up towards this goal.
All other good things outside of you will follow if you are careful with what is inside you.
And these will come naturally if you learn to fear the Lord, glorify Him and enjoy Him.

'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.' (Proverbs 1:7)

Your first holiday trip

Your first holiday trip was to Cameron Highlands, located at Pahang state.
It was during Christmas (your first Christmas too). We stayed there from 23rd to 25th Dec 2008, at Highlands Convention Center of Gospel Hall, where your dad was on of the preacher for their student camp.
Besides me and mom, we have two lovely young lady Devi and Christina with us. They both are musician. Devi vocalist and Christina pianist. They love you very much and during that three days, they were your baby sitters.

Cameron Highlands is your dad's favorite retreat place.
Before married to your mom, I used to drive to Cameron on my own for my personal retreat, during which, I read, pray, fellowship with church members, sightseeing and occasionally, preach.
It is good for our spiritual and mental
restoration.

You visited few places during this trip.
Tea farm, strawberry farm, various restaurants (too see us eat!), market and souvenir shops.
You seems to enjoy the place and the cool weather too.

The last place we went on our way back was a restaurant called
Strawberry Moment. They serve everything make with strawberries.
It is an interesting place to enjoy the desert and
spend time with friends and family.
We had a good time.

We will definitely go back together again, son.