Thank God

Thank you for being with me. I remembered there was once during my college days, I went to Karaoke for a lunch deal during a few hour gaps between my classes. I and my friend chose some songs, and coincidently, I am not sure who picked the songs, but it was randomly played, and one of the classics we chose was I have a dream, and following it was I never had a dream come true. But talking about dreams, I never thought I had the opportunity to pursue my study out of Malaysia, though I remembered during my high school days, our teacher used to strongly encourage us to go out of the country and explore. I guess the key is to go as far as you can, but remember where your home is.

Talking about dreams, I think I never dreamt about having such a supportive family and also family in Christ. I am really thankful for my family especially my mom, who supported me along the way, till now. No matter what choice I have in my life. Priceless support I can get no matter what I am dreaming of. And I thank my grandmother who supported me and my family too. And also a big thank to friends who also stand with me when I am away from my family and friends who share secrets, laughter and tears together. Last but not least, I also wish to express thanks to the church, which sees me and my family through the hard days and being a supporting pillar to my family. Above all, I thank God for all.

God is my (Everlasting Father). Psalm 68: 5: A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. I lost my father when I was 6, but I somehow remembered my father saying, Go to church no matter your mother goes or not. God is faithful enough to take care of me and my family all these days. He helped me to see through and beyond the disappointments in life, and to have hope in life. I hoped to see my father one day in heaven.  

God is all sufficient (Mighty God). One of my favorite verses is in 2 Cor. 12: 9, But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  He provides everything for me, in an intangible ways and tangible ways. In fact, as I think about, I did not pay anything for my tuition fee, 6 years he provided me for financial aid in my Chinese independent high school education. Another 6 years he provided me for my tuition fee, through scholarship and help from people. As I reflected, I can’t believe this grace is too sufficient for me.

God is humorous (Prince of Peace). I can’t believe I actually had a 16 years Chinese Education. At first after the first 6 years during my primary school, I thought I had enough of learning Mandarin, as compared to other subject; I got all A’s except for my 2 subjects in Mandarin.  I thought finally I am going to get rid of Mandarin in my life! But somehow, my mom decided to send me for Chinese independent school since I got financial aid from the school. And there goes another 6 years of a complete Chinese Education. But somehow along the way through, I started to appreciate Mandarin when I was in my senior high school, around form 5 and 6, but it was way too late to meet up the lost I had. My mandarin level was not as good as my peers. I gave up on any idea to pursue my higher education in Taiwan or China. But now I am graduated with a Taiwan degree. First two years, after my secondary school, I was offered for an American degree in International business. God must be kidding me, from a science class I had no interest or foundation in any business concept, but since I got the scholarship, I thought of it might be another learning for me. True enough, I learnt to speak up for myself during the two years. This is such an invaluable experience for me. Then circumstances changed, since I got an opportunity and scholarship to pursue my interest in psychology and counseling since I was 14, I pursued and now graduated from Educational psychology and counseling. During the process, I was puzzled, but God seems to but the bits of puzzle together for me to form a big picture for me, and I believe it is still in progress.

God is my (Wonderful Counselor). Since I was studying psychology and counseling, at first I thought counseling must be the best way for people to receive counsel and comfort from. Until one day, I was so confused in my final year and final semester; I doubt that I have the ability to empathy others, and to be in their shoes. Empathy is the basic in counseling, and I was studying all about this since the first semester till the last semester, but I found that I do not have enough of the ability to feel for others. I think it's a total failure for a student who studies for the entire 4 years to have problems like this.  I must have some problems, so I decided to go for counseling sessions in my school. One day, I had a bad mood, and I was crossing a road going to make an appointment to see a student counselor. I was so down that I just simply make a prayer saying: “Oh God, please just give me a joke for the day to cheer me up.” The day went on, and I didn’t see anything to cheer me up. The next day, I received a call for an interview to work in research lab, I knew I requested for a few jobs, and that was one of it. The interview went on well, and my job is to read a database of jokes and to categorize it. For your information, it is a research on humorous psychology. God is so amazingly humorous. He gave to a database of jokes instead of one joke. Back to the empathy part, after sessions of counseling, I experienced though counseling is a way to clear things up, but the comfort part is still spiritually part from God.

Isaiah 9: 6: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Although I met highs and lows in my life and these are the attributes I experienced along the way; I found God is really faithful, he is a Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace in my life. I hoped it brings encouragements to you. May all glory be to God.  Thank you!