Little Dylan turned four months on Wednesday.
That also marks the fourth month for me post-natally, a milestone many associate with a return to physical health. I remember walking into a Pilates class 6-weeks post-partum at True Yoga, and being told by the instructor that I need to wait till at least 16-weeks post-partum before taking on any "core" strength building exercises.
Physically, I do feel fitter now, especially after E and I started doing 7km runs to East Coast and back. But a lower-back pain plagues me, a consistent ache I feel most acutely when I arch backwards and twist sideways. Some say this is the work of epidural, but I put it down to poor feeding and carrying postures.
Four more days and this milestone will concretise when I return to work. Yet, four months after the umbilical cord's been cut, I feel the tug of an invisible cord still, and I truly fear that I'll have major adjustment problems.
You see, for nine months this baby's survival and sustenance came entirely from the amniotic environment within me. For the first two- three months, I was still his major source of food and comfort.
Now that we've moved back, and the grandparents are taking a much more active role in his care and upbringing, and I feel as though I've fallen by the wayside, somewhat. It's not a good feeling.
I think Freud had his finger on the pulse when he theorised that a big part of man's Id (Ego) identity stems from his relationship with the mother, and the tensions in dealing with the conflicting emotions of needing to nurse and needing to be weaned off it.
As a mother, it is so easy to want to feel good about this special relationship, but I think it can also become an emotional stronghold that can put a barrier in our relationship with our spouses, other care-givers, and especially God.
There's no doubt about it, nursing a baby at the breast feels great. Here's a baby that seeks my warmth, my sustenance, desires me, needs me.
Having to put aside this privilege, and acknowledge that the little one equally needs his father, his other care-givers, the grandpa and grandma undermines this monopoly.
These thoughts came to me last night while I lie sleepless in bed. I think the real challenge for me is to remember, once again, that this whole process shouldn't be about me, but about God - His good and perfect will for this child that He's entrusted to us.
I wondered what it must have been like for the blessed Mary as she nursed little baby Jesus, and how she too, must have wondered at the awesome immensity of caring for one who is far greater than her, and yet so helpless at the same time.
A friend recently commented that there must be a reason why human babies, compared with animals, are the most hapless and helpless of the lot. He felt that babies are given so that God teaches adults patience and humility about the fragility of life.
For me, having this child is frustrating, humbling, and the most amazing experience ever.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
At the beach
Last week, we took a short break from the big move to spend a morning at the beach with WK and little Noah. WK, like me, was going back to work and we thought we should have breakfast at the beach on a weekday morning one final time.
A little luxury that we indulge ourselves in while the rest of the working world shuffle off to their offices.
The sun was out in full tropical blast, and we took the opportunity to protect Dylan's little head with a cap that my dad bought in Segamat couple of weekends back:
Noah, who's 18 months, picked me as his playmate for the day. He came up to me each time, grabbed hold of my hand and led me to his little patch of sand. There's something so innocent and winsome about the way this little child endears himself to you, with his eyes full of expectation of nothing less that full compliance on my part. All I do is be led away, and follow.
Here are the pictures of us with the little one:
Final week and counting
It's been a while since my last post - sometimes the business of living so quickly overtakes my days that it's tempting to just put a halt on the business of reflecting, writing, and sharing.
But the little sms-es, emails and remarks from friends remind me and encourage me to continue writing. And share the turpitudes of being a home-bound mom who's counting the days she has left before returning to the work.
I wonder if there is any irony in going back to work on 2 May, a day after Labour Day!
We've moved back from Seng Kang back to my inlaws'. It's pretty incredible how much stuff one accumulates in the two years we stayed there - E calls them "junk".
But for me, these are the everyday objects that make home home - our framed-up photos, the fridge magnets, bottles of handwash brought back from the States that we've not been able to use. You can tell who - between us - is the thrower and who the hoarder!
We spent two weeks packing them up into boxes or throwing stuff away - to my anguish the exercise also meant discarding old shoes, clothes I've grown out of post-natally, and handbags that will find no storage space here at Woo Mon Chew Road.
I guess I'm still coping with the idea that with the move, we're also surrendering certain rights, living and personal spaces, and the little dignities that go with them. Such as walking to the next room naked to grab that towel, such as singing at the top of my voice, and playing completely silly to entertain little Dylan.
What exacerbates this sense of being cramped in, is how little space there is for my stuff in E's room. Poor thing - this room was meant for their son, with its single double-door wardrobe and study desk. And now the space will have to contain his wife and baby, and their barang barang too.
Just imagine - the upgrade from a single bed to a queen-sized one, making room also for a convertible cot, a three-drawer chest from Ikea and a rack for clothes that just can't be squeezed in the wardrobe.
On the upside, our stuff which used to fit in a three-bedroom apartment are now mostly in this room, and that makes getting them pretty convenient. Not to mention cosy.
Seriously, I do enjoy the closeness and intimacy - nevermind the fact that E woke up halfway through the other night feeling "too hemmed-in" from sleeping on the inside, next to the wall, so it's easier for me to climb out of bed for Dylan's night feeds.
There are other pluses that we're counting our blessings for:
- Dylan's grandfolks are just delighted and can't wait to take him over in the mornings.
- We're a 5-minute drive away from ECP for a run or a blading session.
- We're THAT much closer to town, and when I go back to work, this translates to major savings in petrol.
On that first point above, I hate to admit this but I find myself getting insanely jealous when Dylan gets to spend hours on end in grandma and grandpa's room.
Ostensibly, it will help him cope better when I return to work, when spending time with the folks becomes de rigeur.
But I struggle to contain my annoyance when grandpa goes to fetch that formula-bottle without consulting me, when I'm physically there and able to nurse him.
Again, I tell myself that Dylan must be used to the bottle, and in the days I don't express enough, his grandparents must exercise their right to give him the care he needs, whether its in bottle feeding formula, or in comforting him.
So I hold back when I hear him crying in their room, even though I know he could well be pining for mommy.
God's dealing with me through this, I know. I've got to let go of this 4-month-old, let go the sadness of knowing that I'll miss at least some of his next learning milestones, this little bundle who is growing cuter every day, smiling and squealing more as each day passes.
But the little sms-es, emails and remarks from friends remind me and encourage me to continue writing. And share the turpitudes of being a home-bound mom who's counting the days she has left before returning to the work.
I wonder if there is any irony in going back to work on 2 May, a day after Labour Day!
We've moved back from Seng Kang back to my inlaws'. It's pretty incredible how much stuff one accumulates in the two years we stayed there - E calls them "junk".
But for me, these are the everyday objects that make home home - our framed-up photos, the fridge magnets, bottles of handwash brought back from the States that we've not been able to use. You can tell who - between us - is the thrower and who the hoarder!
We spent two weeks packing them up into boxes or throwing stuff away - to my anguish the exercise also meant discarding old shoes, clothes I've grown out of post-natally, and handbags that will find no storage space here at Woo Mon Chew Road.
I guess I'm still coping with the idea that with the move, we're also surrendering certain rights, living and personal spaces, and the little dignities that go with them. Such as walking to the next room naked to grab that towel, such as singing at the top of my voice, and playing completely silly to entertain little Dylan.
What exacerbates this sense of being cramped in, is how little space there is for my stuff in E's room. Poor thing - this room was meant for their son, with its single double-door wardrobe and study desk. And now the space will have to contain his wife and baby, and their barang barang too.
Just imagine - the upgrade from a single bed to a queen-sized one, making room also for a convertible cot, a three-drawer chest from Ikea and a rack for clothes that just can't be squeezed in the wardrobe.
On the upside, our stuff which used to fit in a three-bedroom apartment are now mostly in this room, and that makes getting them pretty convenient. Not to mention cosy.
Seriously, I do enjoy the closeness and intimacy - nevermind the fact that E woke up halfway through the other night feeling "too hemmed-in" from sleeping on the inside, next to the wall, so it's easier for me to climb out of bed for Dylan's night feeds.
There are other pluses that we're counting our blessings for:
- Dylan's grandfolks are just delighted and can't wait to take him over in the mornings.
- We're a 5-minute drive away from ECP for a run or a blading session.
- We're THAT much closer to town, and when I go back to work, this translates to major savings in petrol.
On that first point above, I hate to admit this but I find myself getting insanely jealous when Dylan gets to spend hours on end in grandma and grandpa's room.
Ostensibly, it will help him cope better when I return to work, when spending time with the folks becomes de rigeur.
But I struggle to contain my annoyance when grandpa goes to fetch that formula-bottle without consulting me, when I'm physically there and able to nurse him.
Again, I tell myself that Dylan must be used to the bottle, and in the days I don't express enough, his grandparents must exercise their right to give him the care he needs, whether its in bottle feeding formula, or in comforting him.
So I hold back when I hear him crying in their room, even though I know he could well be pining for mommy.
God's dealing with me through this, I know. I've got to let go of this 4-month-old, let go the sadness of knowing that I'll miss at least some of his next learning milestones, this little bundle who is growing cuter every day, smiling and squealing more as each day passes.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Thanksgiving.
Hooray! The test is finally over, and E is now a free man!
Just want to thank everyone for keeping us in your prayers this week. It's been a great week by all accounts.
E's finally done with the test that he's prepared so long for today. We woke up really early this morning, poor Dylan was still groggy and all sleepy-headed, and we bathed him and got off to a really early start towards RELC at 7.30am.
I received Harvard's confirmation of my place, and what's better is how God has brought fellow Singaporeans currently in Cambridge, MA, in touch with me, to give advice on housing, and what furniture they can pass us.
Not to mention I also got my PB, plus news of New Singapore Shares - a real bonus considering that I'll be on no-pay leave in April.
Truly, Jehovah Jireh! God provides when we least expect him to. And He always does so beyond all measures we can imagine.
In two days, our Dylan will also officially turn three months old!
Let's count his achievements - He's now able to:
Just as E crosses one hurdle, we now look forward to the next hurdle, when the results of the test come out and he starts applying for admission.
Just want to thank everyone for keeping us in your prayers this week. It's been a great week by all accounts.
E's finally done with the test that he's prepared so long for today. We woke up really early this morning, poor Dylan was still groggy and all sleepy-headed, and we bathed him and got off to a really early start towards RELC at 7.30am.
I received Harvard's confirmation of my place, and what's better is how God has brought fellow Singaporeans currently in Cambridge, MA, in touch with me, to give advice on housing, and what furniture they can pass us.
Not to mention I also got my PB, plus news of New Singapore Shares - a real bonus considering that I'll be on no-pay leave in April.
Truly, Jehovah Jireh! God provides when we least expect him to. And He always does so beyond all measures we can imagine.
In two days, our Dylan will also officially turn three months old!
Let's count his achievements - He's now able to:
- Support his head on his arms when he's on his tummy.
- Smile spontaneously (especially if you make funny faces and call him by his name!)
- Sit up while propped against cushions
- Use his hands to hit objects that are interesting to him
- Make funny faces with sounds like "ah -goo". "murm- mah" (precursor to "mama"?), "ah -boo", "eurgh", "brph".
Some things don't change, though. He still:
- Cries when he gets into the car seat
- Cries when he's left alone for too long
- Cries when he's over at grandma's and mama and papa are gone too long.
Oh well.
We count our blessings one, by one.Just as E crosses one hurdle, we now look forward to the next hurdle, when the results of the test come out and he starts applying for admission.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Looking forward
Am taking a short break from uploading new photos and new entries for a while. This week and next week will see E preparing for the BIG test on 24 March 2007.
Some friends will know what this test is all about, and how much it means to E, and by extension the family too. We covet your prayers!
A little more on what to pray for: the test will stretch all the way from Saturday morning at 9am till evening at 5pm. A gruelling test of intellect, knowledge, and thought, pitted against some 3,000 or so candidates all over the world competing for a few hundred places altogether.
We need prayer for health, as E seems to have come down with a persistent cough. The medication is making him drowsy - not ideal if you want to cram for an exam!
Your prayers are also desired for a sense of peace as we submit our plans to God. This is the third year running, and I think the fact does not escape E's notice - all the more reason to feel anxious, to want to give it all and expect the best. But at the end of all human effort, is God's will for him - his career - as us, as a family unit. And we have to simply submit to that.
As the wife, I'm just trying my best to lend support to my husband in this last leg of the preparation without putting too much pressure on him.
This means cooking more nutritious food (not just to heighten the nutritional value of my milk for DM!). And keeping DM out of his way as much as possible, although as the Dad this may not necessarily be what he wants.
(Dylan's been crying and fussing a bit more these few days - his voice is quite hoarse now.
E thinks I'm spoiling him because what he really needs most of the time is someone to carry him and rock him to sleep.
As mom, of course this pains me, and to be quite honest it does stress me out a bit, when peace and quiet is really what is needed at home right now.)
*****************
This is so surreal, this situation we're in right now. Having both of us at home, out of work.
I want to treasure this feeling. These moments - waking up with husband on my left, and baby on his mattress on my right. Not having to rush to work, both of us.
Being woken up at 8.30 in the morning for breakfast in bed - 2 eggs soft-boiled to perfection.
I tell myself that all the more reason to spend my days wisely. To make sure the time we spend is quality time, so precious it is.
At the same time, I worry about how this will all end when I return to a work at a new place in May.
So many adjustments to be made. When I'm still adjusting even right now.
*****************
Just something else.
Got the email from Harvard today confirming my place in September this year. This means I need to get everything else in order now - sending over the sponsorship form, sorting out visa and travel arrangements, applying for housing at affordable prices.
Somehow, I'm not as elated as I ought to be.
Perhaps it is just that our lives are in such a flux right now - not knowing if E. can stay the year with me and baby, or if I'll need to send my mom over to babysit.
Of course, it will be great for E if he has to go away come Jan/Feb 2008.
But the uncertainty unsettles me, and while I go about making arrangements all I can do is, once again, to lift my prayers to heaven.
And trust that He walks beside us in all ways.
Remembering that -
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lid down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
(Psalm 23: 1 - 3)
*********************
Just a final thought.
I think what a baby does do to a marriage is that it forces man and wife to confront theory with reality. I remember sharing with the girls about how easy it is to, in theory, tell ourselves that in God's order of the household, the marriage comes before the children.
That I must honour my husband and place him above my love for my own, yet below my adoration of God.
Practice, however, shows me that it is easier said than done. My 11-week old is fully dependent on me for so many things - sustenance, comfort, safety and security. My husband, on the other hand, takes care of himself, and in many ways me.
So much of my time is devoted to keeping the little one safe and out of physical harm, to show him the little things he can learn, like how to unfurl his fingers so that we can both sing "Twinkle, twinkle little star!" and "Jesus loves me this I know". And I do so happily!
Yet, the Spirit counsels me in remembering what another dear Christian colleague, divorced and hence a single parent with two boys, shared with me many years ago.
She said a Godly marriage is like a triangle - two diverse and different individuals converging towards a single point - and that is towards knowing God.
Hers is a sad tale of a marriage "unequally yoked" to an unbelieving lawyer. And as the children came, their interests and priorities diverged, rather than converged.
I remind myself to seek God always. To see His face - and remember the selfless love that teaches me how to love others.
May I learn to do so wisely.
Some friends will know what this test is all about, and how much it means to E, and by extension the family too. We covet your prayers!
A little more on what to pray for: the test will stretch all the way from Saturday morning at 9am till evening at 5pm. A gruelling test of intellect, knowledge, and thought, pitted against some 3,000 or so candidates all over the world competing for a few hundred places altogether.
We need prayer for health, as E seems to have come down with a persistent cough. The medication is making him drowsy - not ideal if you want to cram for an exam!
Your prayers are also desired for a sense of peace as we submit our plans to God. This is the third year running, and I think the fact does not escape E's notice - all the more reason to feel anxious, to want to give it all and expect the best. But at the end of all human effort, is God's will for him - his career - as us, as a family unit. And we have to simply submit to that.
As the wife, I'm just trying my best to lend support to my husband in this last leg of the preparation without putting too much pressure on him.
This means cooking more nutritious food (not just to heighten the nutritional value of my milk for DM!). And keeping DM out of his way as much as possible, although as the Dad this may not necessarily be what he wants.
(Dylan's been crying and fussing a bit more these few days - his voice is quite hoarse now.
E thinks I'm spoiling him because what he really needs most of the time is someone to carry him and rock him to sleep.
As mom, of course this pains me, and to be quite honest it does stress me out a bit, when peace and quiet is really what is needed at home right now.)
*****************
This is so surreal, this situation we're in right now. Having both of us at home, out of work.
I want to treasure this feeling. These moments - waking up with husband on my left, and baby on his mattress on my right. Not having to rush to work, both of us.
Being woken up at 8.30 in the morning for breakfast in bed - 2 eggs soft-boiled to perfection.
I tell myself that all the more reason to spend my days wisely. To make sure the time we spend is quality time, so precious it is.
At the same time, I worry about how this will all end when I return to a work at a new place in May.
So many adjustments to be made. When I'm still adjusting even right now.
*****************
Just something else.
Got the email from Harvard today confirming my place in September this year. This means I need to get everything else in order now - sending over the sponsorship form, sorting out visa and travel arrangements, applying for housing at affordable prices.
Somehow, I'm not as elated as I ought to be.
Perhaps it is just that our lives are in such a flux right now - not knowing if E. can stay the year with me and baby, or if I'll need to send my mom over to babysit.
Of course, it will be great for E if he has to go away come Jan/Feb 2008.
But the uncertainty unsettles me, and while I go about making arrangements all I can do is, once again, to lift my prayers to heaven.
And trust that He walks beside us in all ways.
Remembering that -
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lid down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
(Psalm 23: 1 - 3)
*********************
Just a final thought.
I think what a baby does do to a marriage is that it forces man and wife to confront theory with reality. I remember sharing with the girls about how easy it is to, in theory, tell ourselves that in God's order of the household, the marriage comes before the children.
That I must honour my husband and place him above my love for my own, yet below my adoration of God.
Practice, however, shows me that it is easier said than done. My 11-week old is fully dependent on me for so many things - sustenance, comfort, safety and security. My husband, on the other hand, takes care of himself, and in many ways me.
So much of my time is devoted to keeping the little one safe and out of physical harm, to show him the little things he can learn, like how to unfurl his fingers so that we can both sing "Twinkle, twinkle little star!" and "Jesus loves me this I know". And I do so happily!
Yet, the Spirit counsels me in remembering what another dear Christian colleague, divorced and hence a single parent with two boys, shared with me many years ago.
She said a Godly marriage is like a triangle - two diverse and different individuals converging towards a single point - and that is towards knowing God.
Hers is a sad tale of a marriage "unequally yoked" to an unbelieving lawyer. And as the children came, their interests and priorities diverged, rather than converged.
I remind myself to seek God always. To see His face - and remember the selfless love that teaches me how to love others.
May I learn to do so wisely.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
It takes a village
I remember using this phrase in a speech I was preparing for Minister once.
It was promptly rejected - political heads tend to avoid this somewhat trite phrase people have come to be associated with the utterance of Hillary Clinton in a speech she made in Chicago in 1996 by the same title "It takes a village to raise a child".
For us, though, the friends in our lives have come to matter a lot. And we hope they will be an enduring presence in the life of DM - nothing brings this home more than during this Lunar New Year season.
Admittedly, E. and I don't quite buy into the idea of making CNY visits special - friends are welcome in our home any time of the year, and it shouldn't take the lunar new year to remind us to remember them. All too often, we hear the honest confessions too, of how friends who are single, unmarried, or childless get tired of friendly enquiries from relatives. Ourselves, as new parents, also get no end of "friendly advice" on bringing up baby.
I suppose CNY is really a time for us to remember to temper our conversations with grace, and season them with salt (not just from the copious amounts of "bak kua" and pineapple tarts consumed this period of time!).
At the same time, I can't help but recall with gratitude all the things that our family and friends bless us with. Especially for little Dylan, who can thank them for his clothes, his milk bottles, his bottle sterilizer, the baby moses basket, his beloved baby gym, and so much more!
************
An aside on CNY:
My personal prayer this year is for my own grandmother and mother's side of relatives to come to know the Lord. It is a challenge for me, as a non-Teochew speaking and very junior member of the extended family. Last Sunday evening, especially, I had hoped for a chance to broach the subject with my Aunt and grandma at her place, but the house was overrun with cousins and screaming children (and baby DM), so it just didn't happen.
**************
Anyhow, here are some photos of our friends who kindly put up with DM's crying and fussing.
Uncle Jonathan's visit last Thursday saw DM getting a cute new T-shirt:
picture with Uncle Jon:
Aunties Swee Keng, Sumei and Joanna:
What's really special to us, also, the morning picnic at the beach with Aunty Weng Khay, baby Noah, Aunty Chern Ee, Charity, Luke and Laura - though sadly we didn't take any photos with them here:
It was promptly rejected - political heads tend to avoid this somewhat trite phrase people have come to be associated with the utterance of Hillary Clinton in a speech she made in Chicago in 1996 by the same title "It takes a village to raise a child".
For us, though, the friends in our lives have come to matter a lot. And we hope they will be an enduring presence in the life of DM - nothing brings this home more than during this Lunar New Year season.
Admittedly, E. and I don't quite buy into the idea of making CNY visits special - friends are welcome in our home any time of the year, and it shouldn't take the lunar new year to remind us to remember them. All too often, we hear the honest confessions too, of how friends who are single, unmarried, or childless get tired of friendly enquiries from relatives. Ourselves, as new parents, also get no end of "friendly advice" on bringing up baby.
I suppose CNY is really a time for us to remember to temper our conversations with grace, and season them with salt (not just from the copious amounts of "bak kua" and pineapple tarts consumed this period of time!).
At the same time, I can't help but recall with gratitude all the things that our family and friends bless us with. Especially for little Dylan, who can thank them for his clothes, his milk bottles, his bottle sterilizer, the baby moses basket, his beloved baby gym, and so much more!
************
An aside on CNY:
My personal prayer this year is for my own grandmother and mother's side of relatives to come to know the Lord. It is a challenge for me, as a non-Teochew speaking and very junior member of the extended family. Last Sunday evening, especially, I had hoped for a chance to broach the subject with my Aunt and grandma at her place, but the house was overrun with cousins and screaming children (and baby DM), so it just didn't happen.
**************
Anyhow, here are some photos of our friends who kindly put up with DM's crying and fussing.
Uncle Jonathan's visit last Thursday saw DM getting a cute new T-shirt:
picture with Uncle Jon:
Aunties Swee Keng, Sumei and Joanna:
What's really special to us, also, the morning picnic at the beach with Aunty Weng Khay, baby Noah, Aunty Chern Ee, Charity, Luke and Laura - though sadly we didn't take any photos with them here:
Mementoes - Past and Present
Recently, DM's grandma, E's mom, my MIL, made a present of a cute little anklet for DM.
Here it is:
What is special about this present is that E's own grandmother actually gave it to him some thirty years ago, and E. himself wore the anklet as a babe. We put it on DM for a few weeks, but got a little uncomfortable when one day we found that it includes a Taoist charm symbol with four chinese characters meaning "afraid of nothing".
Nonplussed, we thought it best to just take off the anklet altogther cos we don't wish to stumble any of our friends who may be weaker in the faith.
MIL was duly disappointed, though. Can't blame her, after all she waited 30 years to put it on her grandson. She even sent it to the jewelers to get it properly cleaned!
The happy compromise is that MIL will get the taoist charm replaced with a bell, so quite soon we should have little DM wearing his daddy's infant bracelet again!
*****************
One memento leads me to ponder over another ruckus that is being caused the very controversial documentary James Cameron - director of Titanic - is causing, purportedly of the archealogical finding of Jesus' bones in a family tomb with the remains of Mary and a son.
For those who did not read about it, here's the link:
Jesus: Tales from the Crypt
(The reactions to the article make great reading too - views from both extreme skeptics and believers, all 3745 comments together)
Thanks to one coffee too many yesterday, I admittedly lost some sleep over this. After all, the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of 2,000 years of Christian faith, our triumph against the sting of Death that sin brings.
I am rather ashamed of this though - why waver? Attacks against Christianity are neither new, nor convincing. How on earth can anyone claim to have proof that the remains are conclusively Jesus' if there is no DNA to compare against?
Doesn't take a PhD to know that.
Here it is:
What is special about this present is that E's own grandmother actually gave it to him some thirty years ago, and E. himself wore the anklet as a babe. We put it on DM for a few weeks, but got a little uncomfortable when one day we found that it includes a Taoist charm symbol with four chinese characters meaning "afraid of nothing".
Nonplussed, we thought it best to just take off the anklet altogther cos we don't wish to stumble any of our friends who may be weaker in the faith.
MIL was duly disappointed, though. Can't blame her, after all she waited 30 years to put it on her grandson. She even sent it to the jewelers to get it properly cleaned!
The happy compromise is that MIL will get the taoist charm replaced with a bell, so quite soon we should have little DM wearing his daddy's infant bracelet again!
*****************
One memento leads me to ponder over another ruckus that is being caused the very controversial documentary James Cameron - director of Titanic - is causing, purportedly of the archealogical finding of Jesus' bones in a family tomb with the remains of Mary and a son.
For those who did not read about it, here's the link:
Jesus: Tales from the Crypt
(The reactions to the article make great reading too - views from both extreme skeptics and believers, all 3745 comments together)
Thanks to one coffee too many yesterday, I admittedly lost some sleep over this. After all, the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of 2,000 years of Christian faith, our triumph against the sting of Death that sin brings.
I am rather ashamed of this though - why waver? Attacks against Christianity are neither new, nor convincing. How on earth can anyone claim to have proof that the remains are conclusively Jesus' if there is no DNA to compare against?
Doesn't take a PhD to know that.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)