I know I have not blogged in a long time and it made me think why I started blogging in the first place. A couple of us started just before exams, honestly I think blogging was a procrastination technique. For one writing a blog seemed like a valid excuse to put down our books, but reading others blogs also become an integral part of my library breaks. Personally in addition to the above reasons, during study period I was thinking a lot about thanksgiving, and the importance of being deliberate in expressing thanksgiving in my daily mundane routine. It’s so easy to forget and get caught up in studying or doing, but even now during the summer break, I often find myself in automatic mode.
Thanks to Vida for bugging me to blog =p
In the long span since my last blog, I have much to be thankful for but as this weekend is approaching, I am especially thankful for friends and family. My God Parents and 3 children are visiting us in Toronto! Uncle SK was first an acquaintance of my father in the financial field, but later due to similar interest in tennis and sports became good friends. When the 3rd Shum child, Ryan was born, Uncle SK and Auntie Galia asked my parents to be Ryan’s God parents. As a family we’ve watched the Shum kids grow, from waddling in the pool to winning medals at school competitions =)
For some reason I was especially close to this amazing couple. Whenever I was back in Hong Kong I would either join my parents and them for drinks or chill over a cup of coffee uncle SK and join Auntie Galia in her Tuesday badminton training. I guess because of this affinity, when my father passed away, they decided to officially become my god parents. I have learned much from them, either in matters of faith, dating (how they got to know each other is soo.. funny), how they relate to each other, family and others. Auntie Galia and Uncle SK came to know Christ in the recent years, but their thirst to learn more and desire to serve is evident. In the past year, the Shum family has been a really big support to our family from technical details to being our consultants during family crisis.
Uncle SK was also the last person who talked to my father before his last breath on this earth. My father asked him to take care of us, his family and left this words which are now written in my father’s memorial book:
Hi Girls,
Despair not for I am happy where I am with my heavenly father. I know you are lost at this junction of your young life. I believe I have given you all my love that I possibly can to ensure you can have a meaningful life. You know, love is the best gift humans can offer. If you use it generously, it will be your tool to open the hearts of men; love is al your shield to repulse the arrows of hate and spears of anger. Adversity and discouragement, even with me around, will beat against my shield and love will make them become as soft as rain.
Since the beginning of time never have there been 4 sisters of your minds, hearts, eyes, ears, hands, hair and mouth. None that came before, none that live today and none that come tomorrow. So girls, - grow, grow! You must look for a compelling reason to grow without me. Keep in mind, I am part of the reason you are to grow. Make a wish for what it will make of you to achieve it. Remember girls, it is not what you have achieved that brings you joy and fulfillment; it is the person you must become in order to achieve it.
Tell your children about me, not about what I have achieved, but what I have grown to become, a man of true honor, character, integrity. Without these governing values, I would never have had such beautiful daughters. You are the greatest miracle that ever happened to me.
With love,
Your Dad
Things I am thankful for:
- my own room! – we just moved.. will talk more about that another day
- arrival of shum family
- for a father who loved us dearly
Verse of the day:
No matter what I say, what i believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love. 1 corinthians 13:3 (MSG)
Love means living the way God commanded us to live. As you have heard from the beginging, his command is this:Live a life of love. 2 John 1:6 (NCV)
these verses are from a book i am reading called "purpose driven life", the chapter "What matters most"
Thanks to Vida for bugging me to blog =p
In the long span since my last blog, I have much to be thankful for but as this weekend is approaching, I am especially thankful for friends and family. My God Parents and 3 children are visiting us in Toronto! Uncle SK was first an acquaintance of my father in the financial field, but later due to similar interest in tennis and sports became good friends. When the 3rd Shum child, Ryan was born, Uncle SK and Auntie Galia asked my parents to be Ryan’s God parents. As a family we’ve watched the Shum kids grow, from waddling in the pool to winning medals at school competitions =)
For some reason I was especially close to this amazing couple. Whenever I was back in Hong Kong I would either join my parents and them for drinks or chill over a cup of coffee uncle SK and join Auntie Galia in her Tuesday badminton training. I guess because of this affinity, when my father passed away, they decided to officially become my god parents. I have learned much from them, either in matters of faith, dating (how they got to know each other is soo.. funny), how they relate to each other, family and others. Auntie Galia and Uncle SK came to know Christ in the recent years, but their thirst to learn more and desire to serve is evident. In the past year, the Shum family has been a really big support to our family from technical details to being our consultants during family crisis.
Uncle SK was also the last person who talked to my father before his last breath on this earth. My father asked him to take care of us, his family and left this words which are now written in my father’s memorial book:
Hi Girls,
Despair not for I am happy where I am with my heavenly father. I know you are lost at this junction of your young life. I believe I have given you all my love that I possibly can to ensure you can have a meaningful life. You know, love is the best gift humans can offer. If you use it generously, it will be your tool to open the hearts of men; love is al your shield to repulse the arrows of hate and spears of anger. Adversity and discouragement, even with me around, will beat against my shield and love will make them become as soft as rain.
Since the beginning of time never have there been 4 sisters of your minds, hearts, eyes, ears, hands, hair and mouth. None that came before, none that live today and none that come tomorrow. So girls, - grow, grow! You must look for a compelling reason to grow without me. Keep in mind, I am part of the reason you are to grow. Make a wish for what it will make of you to achieve it. Remember girls, it is not what you have achieved that brings you joy and fulfillment; it is the person you must become in order to achieve it.
Tell your children about me, not about what I have achieved, but what I have grown to become, a man of true honor, character, integrity. Without these governing values, I would never have had such beautiful daughters. You are the greatest miracle that ever happened to me.
With love,
Your Dad
Things I am thankful for:
- my own room! – we just moved.. will talk more about that another day
- arrival of shum family
- for a father who loved us dearly
Verse of the day:
No matter what I say, what i believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love. 1 corinthians 13:3 (MSG)
Love means living the way God commanded us to live. As you have heard from the beginging, his command is this:Live a life of love. 2 John 1:6 (NCV)
these verses are from a book i am reading called "purpose driven life", the chapter "What matters most"
