note to self,
i think, you don't grow up at the arbitrary number of 21 years old. you grow up when you stop being obsessed with yourself and start being accountable to others, start living for others instead of for yourself.
when you become a Christian, you no longer belong to yourself - you belong to God.
when you sign the MOH bond to study medicine, at least for the next 11 years, you belong to the people of Singapore, and the 2 people who signed your bond, risking a debt of $444,000.
when you sign a study loan, you belong to your parents, who trust in your ability to become a doctor in future and pay back the loan.
so many more... from friends who share their lives with you, to MOE who gives you an awesome education when you're 10 years old and totally unable to appreciate it.
and later on, when you get a job, get married, have kids... you give yourself to more and more people... i guess that's why people hate growing up.
but i'm grateful for it, i guess. grateful for the reasons to keep living, and living well, giving your best and not settling for second best. and to overcome whatever obstacles along the way, and not be defeated by them. cos these people, they're counting on you, and they have faith in you. they help you to live big, and to live more meaningfully.
but that will tend to stress people out, and make you think of yourself as more important than you really are. and then your identity is all wrapped up in your work that you make work your idol, and your priorities get all screwed up. that;s when you need to look at God and be rooted in Him about whom my words do no justice, so i quote from denise's blog...
Why do we work?
It is quite true that, in general, the Lord provides the necessaries of life by means of our ordinary calling; but that that is not THE REASON why we should work, is plain enough from the consideration, that if our possessing the necessaries of life depended upon our ability of working, we could never have freedom from anxiety, for we should always have to say to ourselves, and what shall I do when I am too old to work? or when by reason of sickness I am unable to earn my bread? But if on the other hand, we are engaged in our earthly calling, because it is the will of the Lord concerning us that we should work, and that thus laboring we may provide for our families and also be able to support the weak, the sick, the aged, and the needy, then we have good and scriptural reason to say to ourselves: should it please the Lord to lay me on a bed of sickness, or keep me otherwise by reason of infirmity or old age, or want of employment, from earning my bread by means of the labor of my hands, or my business, or my profession, He will yet provide for me.
- George Mueller
And speaking closer to the heart, that you Entirely Unnecessary but Utterly Loved (:
So my friend, whoever you are. Know in your heart: You are entirely unnecessary. Entirely. Unnecessary. You are a profligate extravagance, a superfluous addendum, a needless flourish. The Lord, His universe, His church, His kindgom purposes could so easily do without you. You are completely surplus to requirements...
But you don’t need to be needed. You only think you need to be needed because you’ve forgotten you’re loved. So let me remind you…
You are wanted. You are desired. And not for anything ‘you offer.’ You are surplus to requirements. But our God doesn’t deal in requirements, He enjoys the surplus. He delights in you.
(via Australian Glen)
and so i'm grateful to grow up, and to have God, and so many other people and things to grow up for. to you,
Because You loved me
by Celine Dion
For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful baby
You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through through it all
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love I had it all
I'm grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
when you become a Christian, you no longer belong to yourself - you belong to God.
when you sign the MOH bond to study medicine, at least for the next 11 years, you belong to the people of Singapore, and the 2 people who signed your bond, risking a debt of $444,000.
when you sign a study loan, you belong to your parents, who trust in your ability to become a doctor in future and pay back the loan.
so many more... from friends who share their lives with you, to MOE who gives you an awesome education when you're 10 years old and totally unable to appreciate it.
and later on, when you get a job, get married, have kids... you give yourself to more and more people... i guess that's why people hate growing up.
but i'm grateful for it, i guess. grateful for the reasons to keep living, and living well, giving your best and not settling for second best. and to overcome whatever obstacles along the way, and not be defeated by them. cos these people, they're counting on you, and they have faith in you. they help you to live big, and to live more meaningfully.
but that will tend to stress people out, and make you think of yourself as more important than you really are. and then your identity is all wrapped up in your work that you make work your idol, and your priorities get all screwed up. that;s when you need to look at God and be rooted in Him about whom my words do no justice, so i quote from denise's blog...
Why do we work?
It is quite true that, in general, the Lord provides the necessaries of life by means of our ordinary calling; but that that is not THE REASON why we should work, is plain enough from the consideration, that if our possessing the necessaries of life depended upon our ability of working, we could never have freedom from anxiety, for we should always have to say to ourselves, and what shall I do when I am too old to work? or when by reason of sickness I am unable to earn my bread? But if on the other hand, we are engaged in our earthly calling, because it is the will of the Lord concerning us that we should work, and that thus laboring we may provide for our families and also be able to support the weak, the sick, the aged, and the needy, then we have good and scriptural reason to say to ourselves: should it please the Lord to lay me on a bed of sickness, or keep me otherwise by reason of infirmity or old age, or want of employment, from earning my bread by means of the labor of my hands, or my business, or my profession, He will yet provide for me.
- George Mueller
And speaking closer to the heart, that you Entirely Unnecessary but Utterly Loved (:
So my friend, whoever you are. Know in your heart: You are entirely unnecessary. Entirely. Unnecessary. You are a profligate extravagance, a superfluous addendum, a needless flourish. The Lord, His universe, His church, His kindgom purposes could so easily do without you. You are completely surplus to requirements...
But you don’t need to be needed. You only think you need to be needed because you’ve forgotten you’re loved. So let me remind you…
You are wanted. You are desired. And not for anything ‘you offer.’ You are surplus to requirements. But our God doesn’t deal in requirements, He enjoys the surplus. He delights in you.
(via Australian Glen)
and so i'm grateful to grow up, and to have God, and so many other people and things to grow up for. to you,
Because You loved me
by Celine Dion
For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful baby
You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through through it all
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love I had it all
I'm grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me