To what extent are we willing to go for our children? A friend of mine, a mother of 6 kids, wife of a pastor, not only home school her children but is taking up violin lessons so that she could teach her offspring to play. This is on top of her teaching them to play piano as well! I am dumbfounded when I heard this. In fact, I could feel strips of fatigue striking just by imagining the amount of work required, not to mention the amount of patience and perseverance required! To accentuate this even more, my friend G does not enjoy the luxury of having a domestic helper!
Closer to home, I have recently started playing badminton with Clarissa and Joseph. This was necessary, as I would like them to inculcate healthy habits. Currently, both of them are spending far too much time watching TV and eating too much junk. The only challenge is: I don’t play badminton very well. Therefore, in a hall filled with players, I could safely conclude that our family spends the most time picking up shuttlecocks than actually hitting them!
Although we play only 2 hours a week, its enough to send me to bed by 8.30pm with aching shoulders. One night, I thought to myself “Isn’t it amazing that we are willing to go the extra mile for the sake of our children?! If it were up to me, I would not have chosen to play badminton at all but now, I play the game as though it’s the best game in the world (well, at least in Malaysia)!”
Before I could continue patting myself on my shoulder, I was reminded that there is someone else who deserved greater praise. Two thousand years ago, someone had given up his royal throne to come and dwell among us, teaching us the right from the wrong. Instead of being shown gratefulness, he was persecuted and eventually died on the cross for our sins. He came so that we could have an eternal relationship with Him. I think there is no one else who could beat Jesus when it comes to sacrificial giving. Through parenting, I have certainly tasted how great is His love for us.
And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. (Eph 3:18)
Picking shuttlecocks and aches in shoulders, well look at it in these ways:
ReplyDelete1. Do not be too bothered by the perceptions of men or the world; what is important is the intent and purpose of your actions, whether or not they are honorable and praiseworthy.
2. Don't overstretch, but know that over time, you will benefit from the exercise. We, older folks, needs the minimum exercises too.
3. It is also a matter of conditioning your perceptions or attitude. Some people get very upset that they have to carry a few gocery bags every once or twice in a week, claiming it is such "hard work"; but if they would just regard it as an exercise for the arms, they would not be so upset. I used to think I should get a trolley to drag my fishing stuff along when I go fishing once (or twice) a week; you know what, after a period of time, I realised that my arms are a lot stronger without the use of a trolley; I used to need to take a break after some distance, but now I could lug my stuff from my car all the way to the fishing spot with no strain to my arms; and I do not murmur or complain inside of me, I just tell myself, it is exercise I need, and I am just as happy having to carry my stuff by hands, without a trolley.
"... whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Phil 4:8), and then do them even!
God bless
Anthony Chia