You Love Me Anyway

Sometimes the people we are stuck with are those most difficult to love. We see their every bad and ugly side. We feel betrayed because we didn't see these before. Loving them is difficult because others don't see the dark side of the person. Loving them is difficult because others think we ought to love the person. Loving them is difficult because no one knows how difficult it is, no one sees the effort we put in and no one ever praises us for every ounce of strength we strive to forgive and love the person.

And that person never appreciates our effort to love them. Loving becomes so tiring.. We can't see any beauty come out of it.

How weak I am without You, God. Created in Your image but I'm unable to love the person You entrusted me with. I'm such a hypocrite.

But You love me anyway. Shouldn't I do the same, to love that person anyway? Isn't that my purpose in life, which comes down to these two simple, yet profound things: to love You and love others?

I am the thorn in Your crown
But You love me anyway
I am the sweat from Your brow
But You love me anyway
I am the nail in Your wrist
But You love me anyway
I am Judas’ kiss
But You love me anyway

Because You love such a person like me unconditionally, Father, pls help me love others. Help me fix my gaze upon You and draw strength from You to love.

Help me lead my life with the heart of Christ.

(Sidewalk Prophets - You Love Me Anyway, from album Three Simple Truths)

A Beautiful Mind - Day 2

It's one day before mooncake festival. The kids colored the pictures related to the event. Duc again proved himself as a real gifted boy :)

Yupp he loves coloring :)

One picture is done! He's working one another one:)

Tada!

I love to see him smile. And he's happy when I smiled to him, when I said he's done a good job and when he received a pat from me on his head for the effort he put in. He's just a lovely and sweet boy. Thank God for His amazing job here :)

A Beautiful Mind - Day 1

I volunteered in this sch for the first time today. The weather is so hot and humid that sometimes it's unbearable to me. I coudn't focus on the kids and found it difficult to stay patient when they throw their tantrum. But it's a beautiful experience after all, even though the first time volunteering in a new place is always the hardest.

They are the special kids with learning difficulties, autism and Down syndrome. Here's the photo that makes me smile every time i see it.

Duc with his beautiful piece of art displayed on the wall

One of my kids. She's very cheerful, though it's hard for me to make her listen to what I told her to do. Maybe I'll need to be more firm :)

I tutor this little darling in reading and spelling during class. She's the first one who gave me a hug this morning. Such a sweet little girl :)

Yup they all have a beautiful mind. You can recognize it after spending the first few minutes with them, and chances are you will love them for their mind when you spend more time with them.

Through It All

There've been times I've felt so all alone
But in that lonely hour
In that precious, lonely hour
Jesus let me know I was His own

Healing the Wound

God went back and got the shaking little girl that was hiding under the bed and convinced her to come out. He unclenched her little fists and took her hand and placed it in his and answered her question. He held her and told her it was OK for her not to be tough. He would protect her. She didn't have to be strong. He told her she wasn't a rock but His child. An innocent child. His child. He didn't condemn her for anything but instead understood her and loved her! He told her she was special... like no other and that she had special gifts like no other. She knew His voice and trusted Him. She could hear the pleasure He had for her in His voice and felt His delight in her as He talked. He was so gentle and loving she couldn't help but melt in His arm

Eldredge, S., & Eldredge, J. (2005). Captivating. Nashville: Thomas Nelson

To My Dear Jeslin

I was deeply touched when I saw all the images of the African people in the video. God reminded me of you. Do you remember, the very first time when we talked to one another, we became best friends so quickly because of so many similarities we had? It's as if God created us to be soul-sisters. I was so happy and moved when you shared with me that it's your dream to be a doctor and volunteer in Africa. It must be Him again to let me watch this video. He wants to tell me that our friendship was woven by Him and He treasured it. He also wants me to share with you the message He has for you as you start your school year.

More than 2 years has passed since I first knew you. God has used you powerfully to shape me into the person He wants me to be, even though you might not see it. Through you, He affirmed me of the road He wants me to embark on in the future. I would not be able to choose Occupational Therapy if I did not have so many signs from God through you.
In year 1, God has strengthened us to stand together when I felt there's no one else in class care. I always wanted to protect you, comfort you through your pain and support you in every area of your life. It's this desire to look out for you, be there for you that gave me strength and motivation to go to school each morning. You're so fragile to me that I wanted to be strong for you. Until now I still believed the reason why God let me study in IJC is because of you, and I thank God for that.

In JC2, I made mistakes after mistakes. I knew God has used you so many times to talk things out with me. But I couldn't do a single thing you said to me. My pride was so high that I believed I was the superhero girl in someone's life when I was not at all. I was fallen so deep into the mess that I started to drift away from God, and from you. How the devil can use my pride to tear me away from every good thing that God intended for me. The consequences of my stubbornness were razors to my wounded heart. And I was afraid to share it with you. I was afraid to come back to God. I'm sorry if you felt alone last year. I failed to be the friend that you needed. Yet there's always a silver lining in every black cloud. God has pulled me through in the end. And He did it through you and the people you brought to my life :).

So many things happened to our lives this year. Sweet and bitter. But I'm glad that God has used us to support each other again. He has delivered us from the highs and the lows. God has granted you the patience and wisdom to reach out to me, and I'm so grateful for that. His hands are strong upon our friendship, though there are times I failed Him and failed you.

Back to the video again :). God has shown me He is faithful to us and His purpose stands no matter what happens. Remember the first time when you told me you wanted to be a doctor to help the African people and I said I wanted to help the disabled people (at that time I didn't even know it's a health profession). Now God has put you in Medicine and me in Occupational Therapy. To me, this has a profound meaning. God taught me that He is bigger than all my sins and mistakes. He still can use such a sinner like me for His purpose. And He has a message for both of us.

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last... This is my command: Love each other" (John 15: 16-17)

You see dear, how much God love us that He sent His words of truth to encourage us :). So whatever tough things you might meet during the years ahead in your course, remember God will carry you through, because He has chosen and appointed you in this course to bear fruit - fruit that will last. And the fruit is love. God predestined for you to be a doctor so you can love His children in the way that no one else can. So keep reaching out, keep pressing on to the end of the race, knowing that your victory is secure.

God loves you deeply.

If God is Love, He is, by definition, something more than mere kindness. And it appears, from all records, that though He often rebuked us and condemned us, He has never regarded us with contempt. He has paid us the intolerable compliment of loving in the deepest, most tragic, most inexorable sense.

C.S.Lewis, The Problem of Pain (New York: Macmillan, 1965), 41

He is still Emmanuel, "God with us", even when to all appearances you stand all alone. I'm sorry, Bong.