To Jeannette

When we get caught up in the busyness of everyday life, it's so easy to lose focus on things that are the most important. Deep inside, we know that God is important; family and friends are important, yet somehow we often look back on our day to realise that most our of time and energy had been spent on completing that "To-Do" list in our organisers. When we look at our schedules; project meetings, work, tuition and various other responsibilities fill the sheet. And by the time we open the main door of our flats or houses, we often stumble in with mind-numbing tiredness, driven by the next item on our list; be it sleep or homework.

Knowing what our priorities are deep inside, it is not hard to imagine the frustration and lack of fulfilment in this kind of lifestyle. Personal needs are not met, neither are other's needs being met by you. It's really time to get a perspective on things.

I read a children's storybook i borrowed from my tuition kid, and there was this incident where the child questions her friend on why she doesn't do the things that are needed in order to bring what she wants to see come to pass? Adding words from the bible that we are fruit-bearers on whom God breathes the breath of life, in order to bring to life seeds that have been sown in our hearts.

Why should i then settle for this quality of life that is second-best? I have within me what it takes to succeed and achieve whatever i want to achieve because God is with me and by sticking close to Him, i'll walk according to His will! And truly, God is a good God, what your heart desires, He wants to give it to you so that your heart may be full and blessed.

I'm just glad for the Holy Spirit, I know that He's been gently prodding me to see how much my parents love me. And i always feel so touched and humbled because i'm not a perfect daughter, yet because of God's mercy, i can take a shortcut past that guilt trip and just feel liberated in my heart to love my parents, my siblings and the people around me more.

Sometimes, it really just takes that action to sit down and be willing to listen to someone. Everybody has so much to share. But the reason why most people only have 1 or 2 close friends in a lifetime whom they can share personal things with, is because it's so difficult for one to overcome that trust barrier to share their deepest personal self that's always behind a socially-acceptable front. I believe that every single person has a deep sense of fear that they are unloveable, and it's really the fear of how people's response to the revelation of one's true self that hinders people from being who they really are. Does it matter to anyone who i really am inside? Or do i have to be that flashy, charismatic person all the time for others to love and accept me? When i share something that's deeply personal, will i just be brushed aside for being too serious? It doesn't need to be intentional rejection, it just takes the lack of sensitivity to place importance on other people's emotions for a moment that is important to someone else.

To me, i always find it sad that there is such a job as a counseling psychologist. Besides the individual's ability within himself to overcome his problems, it isn't the psychologist or counselor who should be the one to walk with him out of his valley - neither should they hold that power to - that responsibility is actually in the hands of his family and friends. No one should have to go to a counselor as a last resort, or because he's not friendless but that he has so many family and friends but no one to talk to. No one should have to pay money in order to get a stranger (however well-meaning) to listen to him for an alloted 1 hour or two.

I know there's no point arguing about things that are, but i just want to point out the principle of things. Because i know that we're all not perfect, fallen human beings. But as born-again christians, it's time to know what we have in Christ - the life and strength of God and the victory that has been won for us - and to use it to conquer ourselves and do what is right. Because if we don't rise up, there are hundreds and thousands of people who will suffer and fall. Like what the bible says, the whole world is aching and waiting for people to step out of that comfort zone, with anointing, power and a great capacity to love. You've got to know who you are, what you have in Christ, and your destiny in order to understand that you're no longer living for yourself - to get a perfect GPA this sem, or to be the greatest star the world has ever seen - but for the purpose of lifting up those who are weak, giving hope to those who are broken by poverty, disillusionment and despair at this world we live in. It's time to rise up and breakthrough!

Lots of love and encouraging pats on the back, Me.