The last twelve months had been one of the most intense period in my life. As the year comes to an end, I sit here counting my blessings. Looking back, I have so many things to be grateful for:
I am blessed, firstly, to share my birthday with the celebration of Jesus’. What an awesome privilege to be born on the day the birth of Immanuel is celebrated.
I am blessed, to be able to wake up every morning with working limbs and nimble fingers, without pain in any part of my body and able to wear a smile on my face. To be able to walk and run and swim. Able to eat and drink well. I must learn to take care of my health.
I am blessed, to have a Church where there is proper covering and liberty to worship Pa, where there are responsible leaders who are committed not just to attendance, but to the development of my character. My hats off to Sandra and Johnson- with their lives demonstrated perseverance in and yielding to God.
My heart trembles at Pastor Kong’s “iconic building in Singapore,” because I know it will come to pass. The word is spoken. What a joy to have him stand with me and give Pa an account of my life when I’m in heaven.
Very thankful also for the wonderful fellowship I enjoyed with the now defunc E346. Those birthday celebrations were simply amazing. And who would also have thought of playing water guns at our age?! Not to mention the many cooking sessions and overnights we had at Samuel’s house.
It makes me smile everytime when I think of the fun we had.
I am blessed, for my Morrie- Mike. You always have a word in season for me. Your walk with God exemplifies a life I want to lead. Responsibility, dependability and fatherhood are all hallmarks of your life. Thank you. You are a legend. My spiritual father.
Many of the good decisions I made in life had been made with considerations of what you would have done if you were in my shoes.
I am blessed, for a mom who gave of herself, her youth, her energy to bring me to where I am now. Your love is almost comparable to God’s- so unconditional, selfless and generous. You may not be able to understand what I’m writing, but I am who I am today because of you. I will make you proud. I am also grateful to my dad, who set me a good example since young of how not be become like him in terms of financial responsibility. I will be financially freed.
I am blessed, for the wonderful time I had in Seletar- the friendship formed with men and colleagues. The quality time we spent over coffee during lazy afternoons, over BBQ, booze and company, over the scenic yatch club by the sea we call the Officer’s Mess, over, of course, our wonderful cookhouse and the numerous trips we made around the complex picking fruits, putting out fire, catching snakes and monitor lizards and crabs. There is no other experience like this.
My salute to the many men I had the privilege to lead- all of whom bore the unforgiving weather, my idiosyncrasis and the monotonous duty life. I have special memories with different ones. Your attitude and support has made my job a joyous one.
I am glad to have led responsible men like Haslan, Aden, Ashrudin and Adil a.k.a “teacher“- your stewardship as Shift ICs has kept the platoon together. My deepest respect to all of you. Special mention for Moses my assistant and RSM 1WO Eng Keng Seng. I learnt and grew alot working with you guys. Your committment inspires me to be who I’m called to be.
I am blessed, to have true friends who walked with me through some of the roughest patches this year. Like the man being carried to Jesus by his four friends through the roof, I was living on borrowed faith for months on end. Million thanks to Hardy, Jimmy, Samuel, Yangzheng, JD, Jingting, Irvin, Lijun, Justin, Sherilyn, Shun Ai, Randy, Edmond and many others. Your prayers, fellowship and brotherly/ sisterly love was instrumental for me to move on.
Hardy, thank you for the many nights we spent praying together. Especially those two nights we prayed in Pontianak and the memorial one we had near Kallang Mrt. Of the many visions and dreams, comfort and encouragement I receive from Pa this year, most came from the fellowship and prayers with you. Thank you for being a GIANT. You are so much more than you think you are. Keep expanding your capacity. Enlarge your tent.Thank you for being yourself. Thank you for being concerned about my reputation at any expense. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for being a Jonathan in my life. I am so proud to be your friend. :> We will send 10,000 to flight!
Thank you Sherilyn, for the constant encouragement and willingness to speak life breathing words into me even at the risk of our fellowship. It never fails to amaze me how each rare meeting we had lasted hours but felt like seconds “because we never have to
speak about anything we don’t want to.” I totally enjoy the “occasional outpourings, the chatting (and) hanging out together.” Your leadership showed me a possibility to change a generation. Stay hungry.
Many thanks to Jimmy and E371, for bringing me so much joy and sense of belonging.
Thanks for reaching out to me Jimmy, with prayers and fellowship- and for the fun times we had sunbathing at Sentosa with Samuel and boxing in your room in the middle of the night. :>
To Yangzheng and Jiayi my godsis: thank you for serving God with all your heart and soul. Seeing you duo pouring your life to serve Him week in week out has been an inspiration. It never cease to amaze me how you, Jiayi, can serve God the way you do, for the last 8 years I have known you. I thank God at every rememberance of you. Thank you for bringing me to the House of God. I love you very much. Thank you both for being Faithfulness personified. Part of why I’m able to stay in this Church is because I see the possibility of going all the way for Him- because of you.
I am blessed, to have known you, Vivian- you taught me how to love and be generous with giving. Your life is a testament of God’s abundance. You taught me the value of joy and trust. I have become better, stronger, kinder and more empathatic towards others because of our paths that crossed. Thank you for all the time we spent together and I wish you well from the bottom of my heart.
To Jason my swimming buddy, Erwin, Emiliana and Waifong- thanks for adding much color to my dull and monotonous school life at the country side. Many many thanks to my project mates for bearing with me.
I am blessed, also by the experience I had interviewing Doreen, Ken, Kenneth, Joe and Angelos for SOE earlier this year. These giants stretched my thinking. Much of what I learn about my relationship with money and with others were sharpened by this amazing experience.
I am blessed with my colleagues @ Borders. You are such beautiful people; ever so willing to help and making my work environment fun. The depth of our conversations has really enriched my experience working. Special thanks to my managers, supervisors and friends for bearing with my last minute shift swapping and of course, my now well-known “mishaps” on the PA system. I wouldn’t exchange this experience with anything else on this Christmas season. It’s simply too fun watching you guys work.
Lastly, I am blessed and grateful for you, Kok Koon- the soul that refuses to give up. Thank you for walking with me through this human experience for the last amazing 21 years. May the next 21 years be peppered with greater victories, overflowing joy and successes!
