These Little Things

As soon as I opened my eyes this morning, I was ready to attempt something -- I was ready to conquer the world. That is, my world. In my mind, I have the formidable energy of a lion freshly released to the wild. I had the youthful excitement of a fresh graduate waiting for her first job, (although I graduated many years ago and have had a few jobs already.) I had the audacity of a great warrior with the voracious appetite to annihilate my "foes." I had the measureless strenght of a tsunami wave breaking the walls of a timeless resort. Then "these little things" came.

After I responded to the call of nature, the forever familiar hole would not work. "Ah, This little hole with this disgusting little water again." I complained. Then the telephone downstairs rang when I was about to lift the pump. "Ah, This little noisy phone again!" I said. I tried to ignore the little ringing as I started pumping. The little water would not go down. The little seconds turned to minutes. The little minutes turned into multiples of deci minutes. Then "these little things" started to control me.


My focus started to turn blury. The formidable strenght of the lion in me faded. The youthful excitement in me became frustration. The audacity of a great warrior turned to sluggish hesitation. The measureless strenght of the tsunami wave in me turned to a weakened muscle pain.

Then I realized that "these little things" are hindering me from fulfilling my attempt to conquer. I started praying. At first it felt ironic that I should disturb my great awesome God with infinite power about "these little things." Then I realize that my infinite God cares about the infinitely small things which are "these little things." He is the infinitely big God who cares about the infinitely small things also in our lives. He even knows the number of strands in our hair. (Matthew 10:30) What an awesome God!

What Would You Give to the Birthday Celebrant?

Last Sunday, as usual, I was busy with the kids in our church. Since it was starting to be busy for the Christmas season and all the the schedule of activities are beginning to be crazy, I decided I need to warn the kids not to miss Christmas -- the real meaning of Christmas, which is the Birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

There would be a cantata after the Christmas party next Sunday for the Sunday School department which would mean lots of food preparation, gifts, games, to mention the least. I felt so burdened with all these "traditional" activities.

15 minutes before we ended our lesson, I ran to the car where I hid the Christmas cake we bought and brought it to the Junior Worship class. I lighted the blue candle before we sang "Happy Birthday, Jesus." Then I asked each of the kids "What is your gift to Jesus?" Here are their answers: my life, my love, my trust. I asked them, "What is that one thing you love so much that you can give to Jesus?" One 7- year- old boy thought for a while, "Aside from my life? I think I would give my puppy." That's one concrete answer I got, and yet, it is so real and inspiring.

We can easily say we want to give our life for Jesus, the one that gave His life for us. But can we give up something we really love for Jesus? What about a bad habit? What about our imaginations and some unholy thoughts? What about our selfish desires? What about our tithes and offerings which rightly belong to Him? What about one hour a week to volunteer to tutor a struggling student?

I struggle to give an answer to my own question, "What would I give to Jesus on His birthday?"

It is so ironic that what I can give honestly to the Holy God are my unholiness and sinfulness in exchange for His forgiveness and edification which lead to a fulfilling life of tremendous and exciting victory.

I was 8 years old when I gave my life to Christ in an old church which building still stands today.

"What would I give to Jesus on his birthday this year?" I think I would give him all my unfair and cruel judgments on people which I know little of what their hearts say.

May God help me. Happy Birthday, my Savior and my Lord.