CHRISTMAS NOT CLAUSMAS

My View On Christmas


Talking to my brother, Hock was quite amusing and interesting when I was home in Penang a few weeks ago. Although we share the same belief in Christianity, I was very interested about how he found my special friend and hero (Jesus). He told me that they refer him as “Ya-shu”. I had to laugh because to me, after living overseas for so long, my hokkien has already gone rusty and sounded like “Ju-who” (meaning cuttlefish). No matter how they refer him, I am so happy to see the joy on my brother’s face.

It is not long now till Christmas. Everyone is just so busy doing their last minute Christmas shopping. Even the shops are decorated beautifully with lots of tinsels, lights and toys. Browsing through shop windows, I noticed lots of well decorated Christmas tree but found neither nativity scene nor even an angel on the tree. Children are even encouraged by parents to believe in Santa Claus, taking photos with him and accepting sweets as well. Can’t help but wondered has everything now become so commercialised. Christmas time can be a joyous event to some but also a very lonely time for the lost, the unloved and the destitute people whose families have forgotten about them. It is a time for cheering and wishing and also a time for crying and feeling incomplete and suicidal. So, my friend, how do you view your Christmas this year? If you ask people in the street today, how they described Christmas, they would say in one sentence, “Santa Claus, presents, food, drink with families and friends.” Anything, except the birth of a little boy called “Jesus”. So, what so important about this, may I ask? Let me tell you the real story of Christmas.

You see, many, many years ago, A loving father in heaven gave his little boy to be born in a dirty manger for you and me. His father knew we needed his help to connect with him, so he sends his son to prepare a plan for us. His son’s plan was to teach us wisdom, retained hope, peace and joy in the time of turbulences in our lives and also to redeem us from our sins so that we will not perish but have eternal lives with him. This loving father really wants us to belong to him and his family. Very comforting news to all who thinks no one understands or cares in this world! As Jesus, grew up, he experienced many life conflicts just like us such as rejection, abuses, mockery, insults, persecution, grief and so on. So that whenever, we pray today of our hurt and pain, he does understand our feelings. His ultimate selfless act of love, was to go to the cross and to complete his purpose for us. He had to do it because without his sinless blood, we cannot come close to his loving father as we are all full of sins. So you see, this boy cares so much for you and me that he is willing to lay down his life for us. Which God in this world ever display this kind of love for you and me, my friend?

Now that we understand the real meaning of Christmas, let us move our thoughts away from Santa Claus and believing that JESUS the reason of the season and it is CHRISTmas and not Clausmas !!!

Welcome everybody

My Forever Friend

Since I am a newcomer to this website, my sweet sister said that I can pen my thoughts and feeling in this blog to convey how I feel with life. My sister’s loving tribute to our mum on her blog, really brought tears to my eyes. I did recall back that day when our mum bid everyone farewell. All of us were holding on to her, not wanting to release her to go and yet we knew we had to after seeing how sick she was. My mother’s greatest wish was to see her children again and also she wanted all of us as siblings to be united greatly no matter where we were in parts of the world. I must say that over the years and since we are all living so far away, we are all too busy in lives. However, since my mum’s passing and through the sadness and sorrow, something beautiful did spring up from it. I, my sisters and my brother did come closer as we all are going through the same sadness.

Today is exactly a month since her passing. I still can’t believe that she has actually gone. Reality sink in when I realised I don’t have a parent anymore however, I thanks god for my Christian faith that I do have a loving father who sent his spirit to constantly watching over me. I am also glad that I have a faithful friend who promises that he will never leave me nor forsake me. One day while I was sad thinking of my mum, I asked him if he ever gone through grief and he replied “Yes, my child, I wept when my friend, Lazarus died.” And he comforted me by saying “Bless are those who mourned, for they are comforted”. His words and his promises are hope to my healing each day. If it wasn’t for him, I would be so lost and lonely, full of sadness and despair.

I truly believe that my mum did not die in vain because her wish did come true. Out of sorrow, a strong loving relationship is born binding all her children together through her spirit and love. That is how I will remember my mother from now, a woman of strength, courage and full of love for her children. I am sure mum is smiling from heaven knowing that we are all going to be fine. By the way, this special friend of mine is also my forever friend and he is called “Jesus”. One day I hope he can be your forever friend too.

Ps. Try him, he is good, does not argue and very kind to your sensitive feelings! And most of all “He loves You Unconditionally!”