2024 Reflections & Countdown to 2025

 

I fell and injured my right knee in January, just 2 days before we were supposed to lead worship and conduct training at a conference in Antalya, Turkey. I fell again on Christmas eve during our family retreat in JB, Malaysia and sprained my right ankle badly. So my 2024 was framed by 2 injuries.

On top of that, I had a surgery in September to remove a lump on my scalp. The wound took longer than expected to heal and even got infected 2 months later. So altogether, I've spent 44 days in the year convalescing due to surgery, infection and injuries. That is not even counting the days when I've crashed from long covid fatigue.

If I add in the 14 days with hospital visits, it would mean that almost 1 in every 6 days was spent on medical/health issues.

However, God has been reminding me constantly to look on the bright side. The collage above, for example, is made up of highlight photos from 2024 superimposed on a picture I drew during one of the many days convalescing. It was inspired by Philippians 4:8, "...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Also, an early Christmas present I had received prepared me in advance for the pain that was coming.

The verse on the mug is from John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” And the acronym GIG stands for 'God Is Good'!

Looking back, I'm actually very thankful for God's protection. In Antalya, I was at the top of a flight of stairs but I didn't tumble down them when I fell or it would have been much worse - and I wouldn't have been able to do all that I was meant to do at the conference. In JB, I actually twisted my left ankle first and landed on my butt but only my right ankle was injured - so I can still hobble on one good (left) leg instead of being completely incapacitated.

Even though I've been suffering from long covid fatigue and brain fog for over 2 years, I have learnt to manage my energy levels so I don't crash so often. I just need to make sure I schedule in breaks and keep my schedule thin so I get sufficient rest in between.

In fact, I'm coping so well with long covid that I didn't crash at all during and after coming back from the multiple trips throughout this year. Plus the long covid specialist said I don't need to see him anymore. Praise the Lord!!

Anyway, during the many days of resting in bed, I have managed to create more art. That led to me being able to exhibit my artworks (mizuhiki jewellery) for the first time at Pameran Poskad (3-8 Dec) and even set up my own booth, also for the first time, at the Christmas Creatives Market in a cafe (20-22 Dec).

That's not all, I also took part in 9 conferences and 9 workshops/talks/retreats where I was either facilitating/speaking/teaching or receiving training, led 2 mission trips, and attended 6 exhibitions/performances (of which I had organised 1 and exhibited at another) and 1 graduation ceremony (my eldest son's).

All this is not to boast, of course. Instead, it's to illustrate how looking on the bright side has helped me to keep going and doing what God has called me to despite all the "trouble" that I face. And just to prove His point, I received these 2 cards in the mail yesterday.

Arise, God's children,

And if you are feeling faint,

Put in Him your faith!

A fellow praying mom had printed out a haiku I wrote (inspired by a Wordle puzzle) soon after surgery to encourage other praying parents, and when she mailed it to me she had inserted a postcard with 2 Corinthians 12:9, "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."

Looking ahead to the new year, which is in just over an hour, I'm certainly hoping that I won't sustain any injuries or undergo more surgeries. But regardless of whatever challenges I may encounter, I'm certain that His grace will be sufficient and His strength will sustain me!

2016 - The Year of 'Just Enough'

The week before Christmas, I was busy producing not one but TWO Christmas videos! One of them was a personal greeting for one of our lecturers by a group of friends from bible college and the second was our family's annual Christmas video (this one below...)

For both productions, I had to compile a selection of photos and video clips into one continuous video while adding captions and background music. AND I had limited time for both - just about 2 days each (more accurate to say 2 nights cos I still had my regular work and motherly duties in the daytime.)

So anyway, in both cases due to the lack of time, I simply put in the first piece of music I could think of that suited the theme/purpose without much thought to the duration and whether I would be able to fit in all the photos and video clips. I figured I would just fade it out if it was too long and find another piece of music to lengthen it if it was too short. But as I started placing the photos, video clips and captions, somehow everything just fell into place and the duration of the music was just right - for BOTH!

[Hold on! Some of you may be thinking, 'But there's a different piece of music at the end of the family Christmas video!' That was intentional cos the greeting at the end is separate from the silent movie segment. ;) But good observation if you noticed!]

Well, as I thought about how amazing it was, almost miraculous, for the music duration to be just enough twice in a row, I realised that for the whole of the past year, God had never failed to provide just enough and just in time for our family too, just as He had promised He would!

At the end of the year before (2015), we had just returned to Singapore from further studies in the UK and were down to the last bits of our savings. We had no idea what we were going to do but God showed me that if we were willing to trust Him with the last of our 'flour and oil', He would provide miraculously for us just like He did for Elijah and the widow of Zarephath and her son (1 Kings 17:7-16.) In Jan, things started to happen which led to jobs for both my husband and I within a few months (plus we're doing what we love!) And in between, before our income had stabilised, He provided for our children's educational needs through other means (including scholarships and bursaries.)

Other than finances, He also provided just enough wisdom, creativity and resources just in time so we could accomplish all that He wanted us to do. During our recent mission trip, we had to conduct worship training and a youth workshop, as well as put up an outreach performance. We didn't have time to prepare for any of it before we left as we had work to clear. But during the trip, He opened up pockets of time, which we hadn't expected/planned, for us to make the necessary preparations. Furthermore, the worship and youth training had to be conducted in Chinese and I had no idea how I would be able to carry it off! But at both events, the words just came out of my mouth and when I got stuck, He had made sure that there was at least one participant there who could help to translate!!

I could go on listing all that He provided just in time so we would have just enough, but that might take till next year! Haha! So I'll just end with this - when I was reflecting on the year 2016 and giving thanks, I felt really moved by His faithfulness throughout the year. He kept His promise and always gave us just enough, not too much that we become complacent or greedy, nor too little that we start to worry or become anxious.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 

Hebrews 10:23

P.S. Here's a little New Year treat for you - our family Christmas videos from the past few years. Hope you enjoy watching them! :)