Footprints in 2010
I was working on my computer a few days ago and a newsfeed flashed in front of me that caught my attention. ‘Celebrity Deaths in 2010’. As I scrolled down the list, the names of hundreds of well-known personalities and celebrities that had passed away in 2010 came into view.
As I reflected over this year 2010, there were two other persons who passed away who were not in that list, two persons who were close to us. They may not have been celebrities by the world’s standards, but nevertheless in heaven’s eyes they are now listed among those in the hall of faith.
One of them was my brother-in-law who passed away in November this year. He was a lay leader in the Klang Methodist Church and had served faithfully for many years. He had played a very big role in the life of that church impacting the lives of many and was instrumental in some of the church’s outreach posts. When he died, hundreds came to pay their respects at the wake services held at their home and in the church.
The other person was someone I spoke about 9 years ago, at a watchnight service like this. I talked about severe challenges that I was going through. Then my wife, Kathryn was diagnosed with breast cancer and from then began a long fight against the disease. Kathryn just passed away in May this year.
It has been a rich and fulfilling period even as we battled to overcome the condition that afflicted her. Throughout this time, God has brought many people our way to support us and pray with us. Our special thanks to our Subang Cell members with whom we have shared many times of fun and laughter and learning to grow together. They have been together with us together with a few other close friends supporting us through the times Kathryn was ill especially throughout the whole of this year and even during her last days in the hospital taking turns to care and pray for her. They have made our burden lighter by sharing it.
During the last nine years, God has also brought us to many people that we could reach out to and touch in our small way. These were people that needed a comforting hand as they themselves walk their journey of faith through an illness that they had. We have learnt a lot through just sharing and talking to them.
It has not been an easy 8 months since Kathryn left us. She has been more than a wife to me and a mother to our children. She was our dearest friend. She has been our faithful counsel, the voice of wisdom and the one that made our house a home.
I struggled to prepare what to share tonight at this Watchnight service.
I thought it might be appropriate to share what I want to say in poem and a prayer that I put together. I have been sharing some of my thoughts in my blog and these two are part of them. The poem describes some of my thoughts on Kathryn’s leaving us.
You Needn't Have To Go
I was working on my computer a few days ago and a newsfeed flashed in front of me that caught my attention. ‘Celebrity Deaths in 2010’. As I scrolled down the list, the names of hundreds of well-known personalities and celebrities that had passed away in 2010 came into view.
As I reflected over this year 2010, there were two other persons who passed away who were not in that list, two persons who were close to us. They may not have been celebrities by the world’s standards, but nevertheless in heaven’s eyes they are now listed among those in the hall of faith.
One of them was my brother-in-law who passed away in November this year. He was a lay leader in the Klang Methodist Church and had served faithfully for many years. He had played a very big role in the life of that church impacting the lives of many and was instrumental in some of the church’s outreach posts. When he died, hundreds came to pay their respects at the wake services held at their home and in the church.
The other person was someone I spoke about 9 years ago, at a watchnight service like this. I talked about severe challenges that I was going through. Then my wife, Kathryn was diagnosed with breast cancer and from then began a long fight against the disease. Kathryn just passed away in May this year.
It has been a rich and fulfilling period even as we battled to overcome the condition that afflicted her. Throughout this time, God has brought many people our way to support us and pray with us. Our special thanks to our Subang Cell members with whom we have shared many times of fun and laughter and learning to grow together. They have been together with us together with a few other close friends supporting us through the times Kathryn was ill especially throughout the whole of this year and even during her last days in the hospital taking turns to care and pray for her. They have made our burden lighter by sharing it.
During the last nine years, God has also brought us to many people that we could reach out to and touch in our small way. These were people that needed a comforting hand as they themselves walk their journey of faith through an illness that they had. We have learnt a lot through just sharing and talking to them.
It has not been an easy 8 months since Kathryn left us. She has been more than a wife to me and a mother to our children. She was our dearest friend. She has been our faithful counsel, the voice of wisdom and the one that made our house a home.
I struggled to prepare what to share tonight at this Watchnight service.
I thought it might be appropriate to share what I want to say in poem and a prayer that I put together. I have been sharing some of my thoughts in my blog and these two are part of them. The poem describes some of my thoughts on Kathryn’s leaving us.
You Needn't Have To Go
2 September 2010
(click here to see posting on poem)
The last few months have not been an easy time. I was thinking of what we can give thanks to God for in the midst of such difficult circumstances. I began to write a prayer to of thanksgiving to God which I want to read out to you. It is entitled,
A Prayer of Thankfulness in the Midst of Pain
(click here to see posting on prayer)
For my children and me, the journey is still continuing and there will be ups and downs but the Lord has promised to be with us.
Last night I was with two of my children, Pam and Darren at the airport to bid goodbye to one of Pam's best friends who was leaving for New Zealand. Pam and her friend were in tears as they bid each other goodbye. It is difficult to say goodbye to someone when you do not know when is the next time you will see them again. Or if that 'next time' may be a long while.
MT
31 December 2010
The last few months have not been an easy time. I was thinking of what we can give thanks to God for in the midst of such difficult circumstances. I began to write a prayer to of thanksgiving to God which I want to read out to you. It is entitled,
A Prayer of Thankfulness in the Midst of Pain
(click here to see posting on prayer)
For my children and me, the journey is still continuing and there will be ups and downs but the Lord has promised to be with us.
Last night I was with two of my children, Pam and Darren at the airport to bid goodbye to one of Pam's best friends who was leaving for New Zealand. Pam and her friend were in tears as they bid each other goodbye. It is difficult to say goodbye to someone when you do not know when is the next time you will see them again. Or if that 'next time' may be a long while.
MT
31 December 2010
(Thoughts that I shared at the Watchnight Service at Glad Tidings, Klang)
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