Being a Blessing to Others

Being a Blessing to Others

In so many ways we can be a blessing to others. We do not have to be in a big mission as a volunteer educator in a war-stricken country in Middle East or we do not have to give all our monthly income to a financially distressed family. The little things too can make a difference (and can make you earn brownie points in heaven!). Some small words may seem trivial to you but its impact on someone else’s life can be far beyond what you can imagine. The ‘Thank You’, the ‘Sorry’, the ‘I am here’, the ‘You can make it’ and many others are immensely appreciated.

Less than a year ago I thought of running a charity drive for less privileged kids. The idea thrilled me but in mind I did wrestle with questions how, what and where. Do I have to organise a committee with volunteers? Do I have to manage a black-tie fundraiser? Do I have to direct an auction team and produce high-end items to price? Do I have to distribute raffle tickets? I realised I am understaffed, underfunded and undersupplied!

It was only after couple of months when I found out I was pregnant with my second baby that I conceptualised how I could run the charity drive I have been aiming for. I decided to throw a Baby Shower however instead of getting my guests to give presents for my baby I asked them to wrap gifts for unprivileged kids this Christmas. Why not? This way it isn’t just me who can bless these children my friends as well can bless them. And this only means something: more kids will be blessed and happier this festive season! I picked the ongoing charity drive of our church to support. They have this program called “Stuff the Bus” wherein goods will be given to local community needing donations. The collection drive does not need to be complicated, complex, and time-consuming – all it takes is a small plan and a big heart.

The most beautiful realisation I had is finding how good people are. So many people are more than willing to donate time, treasure and talent. Just imagine the joy and smiles the presents can bring to the kids – that is simply enough to paint a smile on my face.

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"Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel." --Unknown

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Dream House

Dream House

In some homes, "please" is described as the magic word. In others, it is "sorry". In ours, it is always "thank you".

We will build our house with different sets of rooms:

room of Sweet Talks - Masters' Bedroom
room of Angels - Kids' Room
room of Spiritual Nourishments - Prayer Room
room of Wisdom, Ideas and Deep thinking - Library Room
room of Serenity - Bathroom
room of Tools - Garage
room of Short Conversation - Terrace
room of Entertainment - Lounge
room of Ebony and Ivory - Music Room
room of Hospitality - Guest Room
room of Pleasant Conversation - Dining Room
room of Spices and Herbs - Kitchen
room of Stems and Vines - Garden
room of Body Toning & Meditation - Mini Gym
room of Not-So-Sweet Talks - Boxing Arena

Readers, readers! Don't get too excited. We're building no mansion as you all are imagining now. Rooms mentioned above may just be a little space of another room. Or a little space of a bigger space of another room ...

Anyway dreams are free so we might as well dream BIG!

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"The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together. " ~Erma Bombeck

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Teaching Kids About God

Teaching Kids About God

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)

How do we impart values to our children? Do we just let Bart and Lisa Simpson be the role models? Or wait until they outgrow hooting for Wiggles and Barneys? Kids are sponges for information. Nowadays they learn from sources like the telly or the web. They get subtly influenced at childcare, at school, or even at a neighbour’s playground. How do parents plant seeds of wisdom in children’s heart? How do parents pass on morals with greater impact? How else? But through the Bible. And I can’t answer that question any better.

If JK Rowling can bring us to Hogwarts where power comes from spells and magical wands, what greater truth and power can the Bible’s author manifest in words that we can hold onto throughout our lives? If Tolkien can create mental pictures of evil defeated by good, what book can let us experience victory more than the Bible? By teaching kids the Bible, we as parents seize a window of opportunity in shaping the lives of our children. It contains adventure, humour, romance, and heaps more. An absolute source of history, wisdom and prophecy. Most importantly, the Bible is the very word of God. What better start toward a personal relationship with our Lord could we give our child than reading God’s word with him?

I want my son to know more about Jesus’ disciples than the Autobots and Decepticons, or Percy, Harvey, Billy and those other friends of Thomas the Tank Engine or Snow White’s 7 dwarves. Amazing it is when your tot can distinguish one from the other but I would applaud parents who take time enriching young kids’ lives introducing characters like Abraham, Moses, Noah and the likes.

Isn’t my son too young for this? Maybe yes, maybe no. But every time he clasps his hands together and bow down as we say grace before meal or we go under the bed covers at night, it paints a smile on my face knowing that my husband and I have made the initial step to create spiritual thirst in him. A thirst to know the same Father I seek in times of joy, sorrow and hope. On an honest note, I cannot say I am all-knowing about this matter however the seed that we are planting in him would hopefully begin to guide him in his own journey of faith.

Teaching kids about God at an early age should neither put pressure in kids nor parents. Rather it should bring peace and hope in them that both lives will be empowered by God.

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Parents have eyes in the backs of their heads. --Melissa, age 12

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