Dear Isaiah Aaryan Clement,
I am writing to tell you something which happened just after you were born, which caused most people in the world to turn towards God.
Your birth dear Isaiah was a delight to us all, especially to your grandpa and me. After a beautiful and adorable granddaughter Adrielle, we were holding our first grandson in our hands.
Oh how our hearts jumped for joy. We wanted to see you, be with you and hold you in our arms daily. You were our answered prayer. Your Akka Adrielle had been fasting and praying for you even before your conception. God answered her prayers and ours so beautifully in you dear Isaiah. We feel so complete now with a sweet and intelligent granddaughter and an ever active grandson
October 24th 2019 was the day God entrusted you to us all. Just one month after that day, without most of us knowing something else was happening in China in the city of Wuhan. I will tell you about it in the latter part of this letter.
Yes Isaiah, the months rolled by, November, December, January and February etc. We were spending our days thinking about you, visiting you and playing with you. Watching you grow was our past time. Our photo galleries in our handphones began to be filled with your photos.
In February when your dear mum had to go back to work as a front line warrior, your parents left you with the helper from Myanmar, in our care for a while. Oh how precious those days were for us. Waking up early, cleaning and disinfecting the house, setting up your cot and mattress and waiting for your arrival every morning. Oh how we loved it. Everywhere we went our eyes were searching for baby clothes and baby stuff and toys just for you. We wanted only the best for you dear child. In fact your grandfather began buying cute cutlery and stocking them up for you, even before you were born. We used to compete to carry you and give you milk and burp you and put you to sleep. We used to wait eagerly for you to wake up and smile at us with your beautiful sparkling eyes. Every time you smiled and laughed, it felt like cool refreshing waterfalls. To cut it all short, Isaiah you were the joy, pride and everything in our lives, just as your akka was. (You both still are and always will be our pride and joy).
Then suddenly something happened which changed everything. It was the Circuit Breaker. Let me explain why the Circuit Breaker had to be put in place and what happened in Singapore before and after that. This will be a useful lesson in history for you.
It all began in Wuhan, a city in China, a month after you were born. There was a coronavirus which originated in Wuhan in 2019. Some say it originated in a market where they sold wild animals, bats and snakes. Some say it originated in a lab in Wuhan. I wrote about this 'Virus from Wuhan', in my blog, early this year in February, when it was not a Pandemic yet.
At that time life was still going on as per normal. In Singapore, everyone was busy with their work and activities. Meeting deadlines, chasing dreams, making money, was the goal for most people. There were others who were trying to make ends meet, to place a meal on the table for their family, working tirelessly from dawn to dusk. 'To Excel in Life', was the motto of most. Education systems were grooming young minds to believe that the only way to be above the rest, gain power, acclaim, recognition and to climb up the ranks on the ladder was to give their all, give their best to all the different modes of learning, day and night. Students had no rest cause they had lessons in the morning and CCAs in the afternoons and tuition in the evenings. Even Saturdays and Sundays were occupied with creative lessons and classes. Your poor Akka too was caught in this endless rat race.
It has been a rat chasing rat, world out there. Each man for himself. The facade people put on was one of caring and sharing, though there were those who genuinely cared, but it was all exposed when WHO declared the spread of this virus to be a Global Pandemic.
It was then that we saw the ugly side of some and the caring nature of some. Long queues and empty shelves in Supermarkets; People who genuinely needed face masks not being able to find any and diebetic patients running out of alcohol swabs and insulin needles because some selfish people bought all for themselves; etc. Yet, we saw how others came together to sew face masks for the public, make hand sanitizers for distribution and to distribute food and essentials to the needy and the foreign workers. That was when I realised that there were still people with God's heart of compassion out there in our nation.
When Singapore saw a rise in the daily number of infected people our government decided to put a month long Circuit Breaker in place. Suddenly all came to a stand still. We were told not to go out without wearing a mask and to keep social distancing. These became law and all who flouted it were fined. We could not go to visit one another in each others homes. The Elderly were told not to go out to crowded places. Parents with infants and little children were told to either leave their children with their grandparents for the whole period of Circuit Breaker or to keep them at home if they had a helper. Obviously your parents had to make the second choice as your mum was still breastfeeding you.
Oh Isaiah, that was the time our hearts broke. We did not mind even a complete lockdown but not being able to see you, to carry you, play with you and to watch you grow before our eyes caused us extreme agony. But your parents regularly sent us pictures and videos of you and we even had face time chats with you. Seeing you crawl for the first time and seeing your first tooth pop out was a great joy for us. Watching you having a screaming competition with your dad, watching you chuckle and coo and laugh heartily when Akka, Amma and Appa played with you and watching you sit comfortably on Akka's lap, on videos and during face time chats was our daily routine. Even then, we wished we could see you in person. Then after two weeks, into the third week of the Circuit Breaker, it was announced that it will be extended till the 1st of June.
Oh Isaiah, we were longing to see you on the 5th of May which is today and now we have to wait with heavy and eager hearts till June 1st. Today you are 6mths and 11days. By the time the Circuit Breaker is lifted you will be 7mths and 8days. Through God's grace, we pray that we will be able see you on the 9th day after your 7th month.
The virus is spreading rapidly and uncontrollably globally. Most countries are in a lockdown. Singapore which prided itself for having the least number of infected persons and no deaths by Covid-19 virus in early March, now has 19,410 infections and 18 deaths by Covid-19 virus as of today. Despite our government's effort to flatten the curve numbers are still rising though within the hundreds range and new clusters are are being discovered. Singapore’s retail sales have plunged 13.3% in March which is the biggest drop in 22yrs. Throughout the world the economy has been drastically affected. Oil prices have dropped because no one is buying oil. Thousands of people have lost their jobs. In the world, across many countries, the people are at home unable to go anywhere because of complete lockdown. Streets are empty. Planes are not flying. Borders are closed. Most businesses have come to a standstill. What is the future going to be? All these got me thinking, "Where is God in all of this?"
When I quietened my mind before our Lord Jesus I realised that Father God is holding us in His palms all the time. All that the evil one brings about for the destruction of mankind, our God turns it around for our good. “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” Genesis 50:20
So now my dear Isaiah I know that, there's a reason for this season!
I thank God for this Covid-19 Season
I thank God for this Circuit Breaker Period.
This is the season of mercy and grace from God.
This is the time for us ...
To evaluate & re-align our lives,
To examine our purposes,
To find out what is really essential and what is not.
This is the time for us ...
To re-examine our values,
To set our priorities right,
To begin to forgive, love and cherish the people in our lives.
This is the time for us ...
To think about Eternity,
To search for God and know Him,
To prepare ourselves and others for the time He calls us home to be with Him.
This is the rare opportunity given to us by our Merciful God to reflect on the shortness of our lives and to know that He is Sovereign and that we are nothing and can do nothing without Him. God is calling the world to repentance while there is still time.
Today we see even those who profess disbelief in God, keeling before the Almighty and begging Him to heal them and to restore all that they have lost. It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.'" Romans 14:11
If at all the Covid-19 season taught us anything, it taught us that there is a Supreme God, Creator of heaven and earth, Who is in control of everything.
The Circuit Breaker has brought families together in a loving bond. It has helped the young to care for their elderly. It has helped people to discover new talents like cooking and craft work. This season at home, has helped all to wind down and be less stressed while working and studying from home.
We, your family, have been able to spend more time reading and meditating on God's Word. Your Chithappas' who have been extremely busy are now working from home and have been taking turns to cook for grandpa and me, Isaiah. Their dishes turned out to be amazingly delicious. Your Akka and your uncle Kyle have also been trying their hand at cooking during this Circuit Breaker. Your Akka Adrielle, cousin Kristen, uncles Kyle and Keith and your aunt Kiara have been doing HBL from home. Akka and your dad who is working from home have been able to spend precious time with you, thanks to this season. Your mum is a strong lady, a frontline warrior during this Covid-19 period. She has been caring for you before and after work, no matter how tired she is or what she faces in the hospital. Isaiah, God has blessed you with the most loving family. Treasure each one of them, love them and pray for each one daily.
So Isaiah let me take leave by telling you that this partial lockdown has been a Boon and not a Bane, a Blessing in disguise and not a Curse. It has been a time to show us what is going to happen in the days before Jesus comes to judge the people of this earth. It helped to shake us out of our comfort zones and awaken us to the truth and to seek God in the midst of this all. Most of all it has taught thatha and me, to practise extreme patience in counting the days to come and see you face to face.
Isaiah, you will be learning about this period in history , in school when you grow up. But you will not be able to learn about what we your family went through and achieved, from the history books. That's why I am writing you this letter.
If ever a pandemic similar to this happens in your life time I want you to remember this:- Jesus loves you. He died a cruel death to win eternal life for you me and all in the world. No problem is hard for Him. Jesus says in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. In times of joy give Him thanks. In times of desperation cling on to Him. Remember always that when you Praise God and Thank Him for every blessing in your life, the enemy of your soul will flee. Jesus is The Way, The Truth and The Life. Jesus Himself exclaimed in, John 14:6, "I am The Way and The Truth and The Life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Jesus also says in John 3:16-18 "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son Jesus, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send His Son Jesus into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. [18] Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son Jesus.
Therefore my dearest Isaiah, you who are named after the great prophet of God who prophesied about how Jesus the Messiah would suffer and die for us, believe in Jesus and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Read God's Word which is the Bible, daily and abide in Jesus at all times. Never leave His holy presence. Let the love and light of Christ Jesus shine through your speech and actions always. Lead people to Jesus Who is the only One, able to save us all from hell fire.
I pray that God Almighty will bless you as you seek Him and come to know Him through Jesus our Saviour. May you be a patriotic citizen of Singapore and a faithful citizen of heaven. May you shine the love of Christ Jesus which you received to all around you, especially the poor and needy, the lonely and the sick. May you respect and treat with dignity every human being. May you obey and honour your parents all your life so that you will be blessed with a long life in the land God has promised you. May you never take the name of God in vain nor blaspheme the name of Jesus. May you have no idols in your life. May you worship God in Spirit and in Truth. May God meet your every need and bless you abundantly in every area of your life always.💝💖💞💞💞
Isaiah, there are still 27days more for the Circuit Breaker to be lifted completely in Singapore. We will fly there to see you on the 28th day through God's divine grace.
Till then I will be praying for you, Akka, Amma and Appa and everyone else God has placed in our lives.
Love you my dearest Grandson
Your loving Patti ( grandma) Maria.
Tuesday 5th May 2020
No comments:
Post a Comment