Andrew: Inside & Insights

Yesterday was Mother’s Day.

If anyone were to ask me how I would describe my relationship with my mother, I would just say that it is a love-hate relationship.

Far from perfect relationship

Eight years ago before moving back in, I could tell you that there were 20 six inches thick and solid concrete slabs between my mother and me.

We rarely communicated and the only time we managed to communicate was during a heated exchanged.

This hostility is accumulated over the years with a family that lacks intimacy, and disappointments incurred. But in spite of this, somehow in our hearts we knew we shared this unspoken love for each other.

Learning to love and forgive

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility

Ephesians 2:14

By the grace of God, through many “trials and errors” with more exchanges after I had moved back, the 20 slabs of concrete has been reduced to 8 slabs now.

At least now, we are able to carry a decent conversation without raising our voices. Ha ha…

I believe God has been teaching me to love more by forgiving more through this process. And He still is.

Making her day

Recently, I was reminded by the Holy Spirit that being a testimony also begins at home, just as it matters in the marketplace.

I have to admit it is a tall order for me and especially being a man where expressing feelings and showing love doesn’t come that natural.

But I guess I need to have faith and obey by being more deliberate when I am home to share my life more with my mother.

And I know the breakthrough will come for us when I would be able to say, “I love you” without hesitance.

I think that would sure make her day rite? =p

Picture taken proudly with my healthy and handsome new-born nephew, Tristan and his sister, Jaime on 11 April 2008.

Taken with my adorable nieces, Jacklyn and Jaime during one of my family’s Chinese New Year visitation.

I was glad that I could spent some time with my niece, Jacklyn on her 6-year old birthday.

She is the eldest among the grandchildren. 

In view of my family’s present state, I really appreciate family moments like this where we get to feel like a family.

My prayer is that God’s power and love will increase evidently in spite of the divide within my family through our unique unity as a family of Christ.

They say, “Blood is thicker than water, but the Spirit run deeper than blood” 

I believe.

Introducing the latest addition to the Ong family: Baby Ezekiel!!!

First-born to my youngest brother (in picture), first grandson for my father and my first nephew!  

Isn’t he adorable???

Like the biblical character, Ezekiel, I pray that this nephew of mine will be a ”prophet” by being a gift that points those around him, especially his parents to God.

Dependent child

Looking at him all cuddled up in his mum’s arms, I realised how he fully dependent a child is.

For example if he gets sick, neither would he know what to do nor would you expect him to walk to a doctor.

He is vulnerably dependent on his dad/mum to stay alive and grow up.

Being a child in God 

But of cos, we know what happens when he does grow up. He gets more educated and learns to get around in life and walk independently. 

And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 18:3-4

Likewise between us and God, too often we reverse the roles and take on the role of a parent with God by assuming our self-sufficiency, instead of being His child; relying and submitting our lives under His Lordship.

My prayer

I pray that I will not only be like a little child but be His child, placing my life fully into His strong Hands and trusting His guidance and leadership.

Without you Lord, I will die. I need you.

Amen.

From the beginning, I treated this whole graduation thingy as a formality. For sure I didn’t need this blah blah blah ceremony, but it was for one main reason only. 

Apart from it being a milestone in my walk with God to attest of His transforming power and unconditional love in an incorrigable sinner’s life, it was a day that I eagerly awaited to honour my dad.

After reconciliation with God in 2000, He consequently mended the wounds between my dad and me. Now my dad has been an unwavering support to me and I have been drawn closer to him as a son and friend.

He has really sacrificed alot for not only me, but my two younger brothers too, in order that we might be set ahead for life.

In contrast of my delinquency days where I was only capable of bringing him only hurt and shame, at least I know that I was able to make him feel truly proud this one time in my life.

I thank God for being able to do something right for my dad for once.

I love you dad =)

Sometime last month, my mum’s photo was captured and uploaded on STOMP- Singapore Seen by a driver. 

Her photo drew some comments that got my mum hopping mad! Visit the page here>>>

Actually there are two collies on her bike, not one. Ho ho…

My Mum so cool rite??? =P

Since the start of this week, my two precious nieces contracted some virus that had them running a fever with vomitting and diarrohea.  

Seeing them like this my heart just went aching cos I couldn’t do anything except see and pray. Somehow, they had to go through it on their own and recover from this experience.

From this I understood a little how God feels when we go thru difficult patches, but just as much as He yearns to intervene, He refrains (out of His great love and wisdom)  even when we blame Him or question His goodness cos He knows that what we’re going thru; that experience though painful, would benefit us much long-term in the end (c.f. Romans 8:28).

And like my brother and his wife who were with my nieces round the clock in spite not being able to do much except assuring them of their presence, it is the same with God. He is with us and never forsakes us especially in our times of need when He seems distant. (c.f. Hebrews 13:5)

His Word is with us and for us; given in the form of the Bible.

With our hope in His glory, we will one day see the fullness of His grace and mercy as we look back, just as how my nieces are now towards full recovery and smiling yet once again =)

Two days ago was my youngest brother’s big day. Now that two has walked down the aisle, there’s only one more left- ME! =p

This was a huge family coming together and more bigger than the first (with my younger brother). I guess that as a family we had learnt from the first experience and this time round had it better planned and managed.

For a positive change, not only was my mum much more involved in this wedding, even I was roped in to contribute. I produced their photo montage and played host/emcee for the wedding dinner. This wedding somehow got the family together. Thank God!

Apart from the sabo-ing my brother as emcee and catching up with my relatives, my personal highlight of the event has to be God.

God made His presence known when He led me to give thanks or grace for dinner before everyone. There were approximately 18 tables in total.

Initially, I was contemplating against it for respect to the muslims and non-believers who were presented. But I reckoned that there wouldn’t be much harm since in Singapore, there is a high level of tolerence towards other’s religious belief. So with faith, I gave thanks (with my brother’s approval) but tactfully saying, “On behalf of the bride and bridegroom, I would like to give thanks or say grace for the food.”

And so I did, “in Jesus’ Name.”

Phew… though thankfully no one walked out offended, but more importantly God was glorified. 

I sincerely believe that the prayer part was something unexpected in a normal wedding dinner programme for those presented. And I want to believe that somehow it left an impression in their minds and God in their hearts.

Quite amazing what is unfolding within my family after the prayer for my family during the GDOP.

Yesterday I learnt that my sister-in-law, Jeslyn was hospitalised. She was warded after she had passed out. It was only then she was suspected to have a prolonged serious illness when she had lost much feeling over her limbs.

Personally I think this is a serious case.

But remarkably, my mum who was there actually rallied my brother and me to pray over her. And prayed we did.

It was my first time hearing my mum prayed or praying with her. Not bad leh…

I cannot doubt that God has been working much in her life over these passed 2 years. Especially lately, I have even noticed how she has calmed down alot with her hot tempered-ness. She’s now more patient with me and my brothers =p 

Back to my sis-in-law, at least last night we managed to get her connected with God. That’s a good start. 

Please pray with me that she will not only miraculously recover but encounter our living and loving God too.