Squirmy - Lesson from a caterpillar

Yesterday, when i drove back from office, i didn't realise that my car was covered with caterpillars. Yeah, caterpillars! I had thought that some family of birds must have loved my car, and did all their poo-poo big time! =)

It was only driving back that i realised that they were alive(!) and they were crawling(!) and they were actually caterpillars(!).

One particular little one caught my attention though. He was on my side view mirror. Holding on for dear life as i was driving on the Federal Hwy at slightly(!) more than 80kmph. He was a cute chubby little one, yellow and green in colour, squirming. Hmm.. that sounds like a great name, Squirmy.

The 10kms felt like forever. I actually prayed for Squirmy, that he would not fly off and die a horrendous car splat. And i prayed too that for Squirmy to hold on till i reached home. But before you think of how noble and kind-natured a person i am, let me clarify my motives. It was all so i can capture this fellow on camera. =P

Anyways, so much for God hearing my prayers, Squirmy stuck on my side view mirror till i reached home(!). And i learnt some precious lessons from him / it.

For one, life has it's share of tough days and challenges. Sometimes (as in the case of Squirmy) it comes in the form of a girl driver speeding down Fed Hwy. But hold on at all costs. It will come to pass.

Secondly, find your crevasse of refuge. Squirmy was quite a smart little one. He inched bit by bit from the top of my mirror and plonked himself into a little hole. It stayed there for the rest of the journey.

Thirdly, get out of the hurricane’s path of destruction. As Squirmy hid itself in the crevasse, he was getting out from the strong wind’s path. The rest of his less-smart friends got themselves killed – flying off my car and getting burnt by the heat of the car engine on the bonnet.

And finally it’s all about favour. Squirmy had found favour with me. He lived because I used my Touch&Go card to get him out of the crevasse and onto a plant. I wish him many wonderful butterfly days ahead. =)

Sometimes we are like Squirmy facing life’s challenges all of a sudden. From the huge sudden gushes of wind, on uncharted territories, with speeding girl drivers and water spouts. But let’s keep holding on. It will soon come to pass. Let’s find our refuge in God and His word. And let’s pray for divine strength and favour to see us through.

God bless. =)

*Photo courtesy of google photos.

Legacy of Love-in-action

It was a long long night. As i finally laid my head to rest, my mind was filled with the flurry of the entire day and night's activities. We had celebrated our cg's 3 July babies - Caitlyn, Jan and John; wearing Powerpuff girls and Ben10 party hats, blowing up balloons, putting up the very-used HAPPY BIRTHDAY signage, YY blowing up the huge Tigger/Pooh toy-thingy just for little Caitlyn, entertaining Andrew as we studied the book of Amos, eating the WAW chicken wings, watching Sarah fry the Korean "Sanjuk" snacks, sitting down and being entertained by Uncle Michael's new oldies... =)

Listening to the new oldies, Sarah, Malcolm & I reminisced our past. We recalled coming together each Friday - sitting and running around in their house, playing games and then joining them for the supper. As a young girl, I had often admired this family's love for God and for the cg members and the family that tagged along. Their spontaneity and their enthusiasm was a tremendous encouragement. But more than that, for their friendship and their "stickability" - this was one family who stood by us, encouraging and pryaing with us, carrying us through the thick and thin, laughing, crying and helped us in our toughest moments. This is truly a role model couple whom i greatly look up to and wish to emulate.

As i watched Uncle Michael strum the guitar, and watched how Aunty Angelina was admiring him quietly across the table, and Malcolm & Matthew singing along with them, it was a cherished moment. I realised that that was an incredible legacy left ingrained in their hearts and mine.

Uncle Michael and Aunty Angelina were the cell group leaders in which my parents were a part of. They have literally seen me grow up before their eyes. They warmly opened up their homes every Friday for cellgroup. And we, the kids, had the privilege of watching love in action - through the bible studies led, through the melodious praise songs sung, through the laughter shared, through the prayers prayed (for our school exams, our piano/organ/violin exams, for our scrapped knees and fevers, for our loose teeth and sore throats), through the guava juices and soursop drinks served, through the countless "makans" and carboot carnivals they organized. This was truly love-in-action -- a legacy that they've left - that will be forever ingrained in my heart and mind.

In their recent 25th Wedding Anniversary, i asked them the secret to their wonderful blissful 25 years of marriage. Uncle Michael promptly replied they've held on to the verse "Never let the sun go down on your anger". A simple yet profound truth. It was heart-warming to see them still publicly displaying their affection for one another and for their children. It was encouraging to hear "I love you"s and "I missed you"s regularly being exchanged.

As YY and I now open up our house for cg, i am glad to have the privilege of a wonderful couple who has paved the way and shown me a great example, which i hope to learn from and model after.

Now, i have the privilege and blessing to have Malcolm (their 2nd son) in my cg. As we were riding in the car, i told Malcolm what a great legacy of love that his parents have given to him. He proudly agrees. May our generation learn from them, and be a continual blessing to those God brings into our paths.. =)