RenewalMarch

The month of March just did a hyper-fast march and zoomed past 2025.

Ended Feb with a heavy heart and managed to get that episode resolved in the first few days of March, with lots of encouraging words from people around me. And things just gets better for the rest of March.

At times, the various commitments seems to be piling up and suffocating the joys of life. Yet, it was during such times of weaknesses that God provides a way out so that I can stand up under it.

A prayer text sent by a brother and a laying of hand prayer by a sister.

An invite by cousins to have drinks and chill.

Open words of encouragement given face to face.

Words of thanks given by students.

Sounds of laughter from family when we have our meals.

These are the little things that came, sometimes unexpectedly, to give me renewed strength to soar like eagles and run without being weary (Isaiah 40:31).

Best part of March was to spend a few days of the holidays with the eldest in Taipei on a papa-son bonding trip. This was meant to be his Sec grad trip which did not materialise last year. And it was worth it. We walked, we saw, we ate and we chatted.

Planning was super easy with just 2 of us, supported by an extensive network of subway, train, bus and Uber. We tried all sorts of street food and queued for the touristy stuffs (when there was no queue!), spent time at a comic cafe, explored an out of the way waterfall and simply just chilled and enjoyed each other's company. At the end of the trip, boy casually said, "Papa, thank you for doing this for me. I appreciate it."

I treasure and value such times with the kids as they grow older. Creating memories like these will be for a lifetime (at least for me). Very likely for their next grad trip, they'll either be going solo or with their friends. And I will have cut another string off this kite to let him soar.

With the end of this trip, I approached the rest of March (and 2025!) with renewed hope that God is in control and my identity in Christ is sure. No words from men will take these away from me. Time spent with family has always been a key motivator and a "plug-in-to-recharge" for me. May you see your family in the same light and create experiences with them that will become memories to renew you each day and season of life.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9