Prayer: School Reopening

Dear God,

I pray that as the new semester begins, let me be energized and inspired to give my very best to teach and guide the students. Grant me the patience (lots of it) to deal with everything and everyone as well as the extras that I know will be given to me. Continue to bless me with the crazy sense of humour that You've given me as it keeps me sane all this while.

I pray for my students to want to be in school and learn and God, please grant them the wisdom of never to mess around in my class especially when it's PMS-time. Grant them the will to complete their homework before I have to make them eat it or other unimaginable horrors that I would really love to inflict on them. Grant them the faith and hope that they can make a difference in their lives and that I can be an instrument to help them make a change.

and most of all dear God,

Please make the weather cool and the heatwave disappear. You know of the 'skunks' that's been making the staff room a horrid place to be. The hot weather will make their stench even more lethal and hazardous to our sanity. We've been so miserable enough when the weather was normal and now with this heatwave? Are You kidding me? Sitting near those two skunks would be experiencing purgatory on earth.

So please God, for my sake and the students' sake, let there be rain tomorrow or even better, make the skunks odor-less.

Amen.

Say a Little Prayer

Dear friends,

Please spare a moment and pray for my friend Katy who's going to undergo an operation tomorrow to remove a growth in her breast. Pray that it's not going to be something more serious than it is now.

Pray for the surgeon and the nurses too, that God may guide them to provide care and assist healing.

Katy & I, Mid Valley CNY '07

Katy is a gem of a friend. She's like an elder sister to me and just like a big sister, she'd always comfort me when I'm down in the dumps, counsel me when I'm troubled and chided me when I acted like a b*tch. It's been a hell of a time for her since last year, so please dear friends, pray for things to get better. Pray that the dark clouds will pass soon and the silver lining to be within reach.

July '07 (Lunch with Dr.G at Lake Restaurant)

* I went to visit her in the hospital today. Ever her bubbly self, we spent the whole afternoon laughing and making jokes in her room. Accompanied her mum to buy some stuffs and to dinner. Tomorrow might be going again for a visit after her operation.
** Grace: she sent her regards to you too.

Snapshots: Reunion, Mother's Day

This is not really a reunion but more of a gathering. My relatives from Dad's side from Durin came to visit us. Yummy food galore. Hehehe... I am happy that I'm starting to know more of my extended relatives (Ibans have very huge extended families. And these are from my paternal grandfather's side). I've visited my relatives in Durin before but I do hope to visit them again. Been years since I last visited my paternal grandfather's ancestral home, in Mawan (somewhere in Batang Lebaan area). So far, haven't finished meeting ALL the extended family yet. Still got those in Kanowit, Julau, Pakan, Lasi, Tubah (and that's only from Dad's side!)
Had Rosary prayer in our house last Wednesday. I decided to hold a surprise Mother's Day celebration also to celebrate all the mommies in the prayer group. Here all the mommies (above 50 years old) cutting the cake. Mum was pleasantly surprised (gave her Mum's Day gift ages ago... Hehehe)
Lord God, bless our mothers with good health and strength. Amen.

Lord, bless our Daddies too. Amen.

Dear Father

Dear Lord,

I know that I must forgive those who wronged me...
Even if again and again they did it unto me...
Seventy times seven forgive them I must
Offer my other cheek should they slap one
Love thy enemies you've told me to
"Forgive them thee must", Thy told me

But Father,
This pain is getting unbearable
The urge to retaliate and sink low to their level is ever stronger
This burden too heavy to bear
But bear them I must if Thy tells me so

So Father
please give me the strength to carry this cross
Send Your Holy Spirit to comfort me
You always wipe my tears and gave me shelter
Do bless me with the ability to forgive
For forgiving is hard when the hurt is so deep
My flesh is weak and my spirit unwilling
So give me the strength to carry on

Dear Father
I leave it unto Your hands to do what You think is fit
For whatever was done to me is between them and You
For I must not judge, lest I'll be judged

Father,
I put my trust in You
Remember our favourite phrase?

"I put my trust in Him, I shall not be afraid. For what can a mere human do unto me"
-Psalm 56:11

I put my faith in that promise Father,
so strengthen me
and carry me
When I am most weak
Never forsake me

Thank you Father.
Amen

********************************************

The greatest betrayal happened today.
The Judas Kiss was given. Betrayal. Lies. Pain. Anger. Sadness. All mixed up inside me.
I don't know how a person from my home state, of my own race, could give me this ultimate betrayal of all. To cap it off, she didn't even have the guts to tell me and I only got to know it from others. It's not the covert thing she did that hurt me. It's the betrayal of trust and the lack of dignity to own it up. Hypocrites were never my favorite people to begin with. Traitors even more so. But I thank the Lord for there are still others who stood by me. Kate, my Muslim friends, Mum & Dad.

I broke up when I was talking to Mum & Dad. They told me to be strong, have faith and trust in God's plan. Not to retaliate but to seek God's strength and comfort. Thank you Lord for the gifts of family and friends (the real jewels) in my life. For in their words and encouragement, I find your voice.

*also Mum told me to keep away from that person. Not to bother with her anymore. because I am quite prone to violence so it is better to keep the distance, lest the Devil's whispers become actions. Thanks Mum & Dad. Love you lots.

** Another friend told me that sometimes I'm too kind. This is not the first but surely this is the ultimate betrayal this girl ever did to me. I don't know. When I care for others, I just take it in silence until the ultimate blow. Then only I learn my lesson. Am I too kind?