Thursday, November 24, 2011

Pleasant Surprises


One of the activities that I enjoyed doing with Clarissa is fishing. Its through this that I discovered that she possesses both the patience and focus required while waiting for the fish to take the bait.

Yesterday, we embarked on an unexpected trip to the fishing pond as her cousins from Kuala Lumpur dropped by to visit. While the rest of the children were complaining of their ill luck and started to become restless, she stayed focus and explained to me her tactic: Plan A is to throw the bait as far away as possible; and  should this fail proceed on to Plan B, which is to drop the bait gently near the shore. I felt like I was being educated, as yours truly had no idea how fishing works apart from the waiting duration!

At one point, I watched and couldn’t help myself from giggling when her bait (ie bread) fell from her hook. “Mum, if the bread that had dropped off from my hook disappeared from the surface of the water, you know that the fish is nearby and it would eat from your hook next!” she explained in a serious manner. “Don’t you think you might want to consider using an alternative bait as afterall, cat fish is known to stay at the bottom of the pond but bread floats.” I said trying to outsmart my girl. “You know when fish food is cast to the cat fish? The fish food floats too and the cat fish would swim to the surface to feed?!” That crashed my theory!

As Clarissa ran off with Joseph to inspect the other side of the pond, I was left to keep a watch on the lose bait. Before I knew it, I heard the sound of bubble and the small piece of bread went under the water! Suddenly, my fishing rod started to jerk uncontrollably. With one hand carrying Priscilla (I know I shouldn’t be carrying her but I also didn’t expect to be able to catch a fish that quickly!), I held the rod excitingly while calling out for Clarissa’s help!

Indeed, we should never underestimate the capabilities of our children. Sometimes, instead of getting them to do workbooks (which I am rather fond of), let them explore nature and play with animals! There are always surprises waiting to be uncovered!

2 comments:

  1. Hi Fee,

    I have been terribly busy lately, and so, in a breather, I just get to read your entry. Do you know I like fishing too!

    So, what did you get? You did NOT say. As to your little girl's logic about fish coming up to the surface to eat up the bait, from my experience (NOT necessarily applicable for deep-sea fishing!), even bottom swimming and feeding fishes do come up to the surface to eat food (like bread) floating on water! If it is near the shore, I won't be suprised, catfish, too! I have seen people fish up sizeable catfish using bread on surface of water near the bank! Your little girl is NOT wrong; indeed you lack exposure in fishing.

    You got a great girl who has the patience and endurance for fishing. My children like only "quickie fishing"; where there are lots of fish, and they get the bites quickly'; they still lack the patience. Well, I too, have NOT the patience to wait for the big fish, and so, I rather fish the "small" fishes. But there again, I do NOT have that much free time to while away.

    Patience is a virtue and a fruit of the Spirit to be encouraged. In Scripture it is also variedly termed as endurance, perseverance and longsuffering.

    We need patience, and we need knowledge and wisdom, and more importantly at times, revelation. Jesus had revelation; He told His disciples the spot to cast their nets, when they, the disciples, had been at it (fishing), the whole night, without any catch. They acted according to Jesus' suggestion, and so big, was their catch, they could NOT haul it in, and had to get help. It is good to have patience, and we have to work at it, and it is good to have knowledge and wisdom, God said His people perished for lack of knowledge (the right kind, NOT any knowledge); yet what is so good to have, is the humility to seize the moment of revelation from God, or His messenger - the disciples did just that (Luke 5:1-11).

    May you and your loved ones have a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.

    With much love in His name,
    Anthony Chia

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  2. dear anthony
    what a co-incidence on your shared common love of fishing with my girl. i caught a catfish in the end! i had been too busy to blog too. hope all is well and wishing you & family a blessed year ahead.

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