In Singapore, my grandma was cremated last Friday, and my sister told us that they had a funeral mass in the afternoon, and dad collected the remains of grandma on Saturday. I will only have the opportunity to vist Grandma's gave when I return to Singapore. Its tough to stay away from your family members, when something like this happens. It made me realise that our lives and experience are already very different from families and friends back home. It made me realise how we take our family members and friends for granted until we move away. It can't be helped. we caan only try harder, that's all. Its God's will for us to come over to the UK, and I certainly trust that whatever God has planned for us, it can only be good. So far, it has always been good, no matter how tough the trials.
When we move over to the UK for my studies, Uncle and auntie was kind enough to let us stay with them, and I only had to take a 15min train ride to Guildford. Everyone tells me its fantastic, as I get to save money, given that the cost of living is high and the exchange rate for SGD to GBP is 3 to 1. I agree, but the real reasons we are staying with them is so that we could spend time with Uncle and Auntie, and for the girls to experience some time with uncle and auntie,. whom they call affectionately grandpapa and grandmama. We have always stayed in Singapore and uncle and auntie in England, so we hardly spend time together. Where would I ever have the chance to spend so much time together?
We had a mass for grandma this morning at the Church of Our Lady Help of Christian. Auntie asked Fr Dan, as it seemed to be only thing we could do, as we are so far away. It was nice to attend mass with uncle and auntie. Today's reading is apt and the message that touches me the most is this verse from 1 Samuel 16.
But the LORD said to Samuel:
“Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature,
because I have rejected him.
Not as man sees does God see,
because he sees the appearance
but the LORD looks into the heart.”
Not as man sees, but as God sees. God sees the heart, but man look at appearance and make judgement. We never really know ourselves very well, much less another person. So it is with our children. Although we watch them grow up, they are individuals with their own identity and thinking. As parents, we can only guide them to what we think is the right behaviour and vlaues. How they turn out is really up to them and between them and God. If they are successful or well behaved, its not because of us. I think many parents think its their fault, if their children misbehaves or does something bad, but children are God's gift to us, and we are here as a guide, not a trainer. Children helps us grow closer to God. For those who are chosen to be single, its a different path.
Others may be skeptical, but its amazing to me that God speaks to me everytime at mass, and guides me along. That's why I loved going for mass and receiving Jesus, as I cannot carry on without Him.
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