Grace

For these past 9 months, I've been learning to see God in all situations. It's not an easy process, more like forcing my mind to reformat. But it gets easier once I start to get used to it. And as time goes by, I'm also beginning to be aware of something else as well. Something that has eluded me in the past.

I'm beginning to see God's grace in everyday matters.

I gradually realise that :
Grace is not only found in the big, momentous occasions.
Grace is not only found in our possessions, creature comforts and luxuries.
Grace is not only found in the favours done for us.
Grace is not about having lots of money in several fat bank accounts.

I am not a rich person, and will probably never even come close to making my first million, or rather, a quarter of a million! But by God's grace, I have a roof over my head, a job to generate my income and health to enjoy my simple life.

-- By grace, I can sit on the sofa watching TV and eating a bag of chips.
-- By grace, I get a good night's sleep and not suffer from insomnia.
-- By grace, I have the ability to see, to hear, to talk, and to move my limbs.
-- By grace, I have 3 meals a day, and do not go hungry.
-- By grace, I have freedom. I live in a peaceful country where bombs do not drop on my head. A place without earthquakes ( though there's the occasional tremor ) or volcanoes. A country without famine.

It is also by God's grace that we have people we trust around us, to lend us a helping hand and to pull us up when we fall flat on our faces. People we can talk to in time of trouble, and whom we can turn to in time of need. Through grace, I have somebody to love, and to be loved in return. A shoulder to lean on, a sympathetic ear. I have relatives who genuinely care for me and support me, brethrens who straighten and strengthen my perspectives, and to help me unravel my problems ( vice versa as well ), as well as friends to cheer me up when I'm down in the dumps.

Grace is when something bad happens, or is about to happen in our lives, and we suddenly see in the situation that God is with us. We are not on our own and do not have to grapple with our troubles on our limited strength. We see our worries and fears dissolve. We realise that with God behind us, nothing is beyond hope, and nothing is bleak. It is grace when we see the challenge in problems we face as a training and rise up to the occasion, instead of wallowing in self-pity and getting depressed.

By God's grace, we hear the chirping of birds every morning. We see leaves swaying in the breeze and admire the colourful flowers. We see beautiful designs on the ever-shifting clouds and enjoy communing with the nature God provides for us. My heart lifts whenever my dogs come running to me with wagging tails and lolling tongues. I unconsciously smile when they snore in their sleep, happy and contented.

To put in simply, God's grace is in the things we experience everyday. All we have to do is to look at it, be thankful for it, and not take things for granted, for it is by His grace that we bask in His unconditional love.

Psychological Healing

Back in March / April, I was undergoing a period of spiritual healing. I recalled that mind could not function properly. It was then when I made a big mistake choosing a piano exam song for one of my lower-graded students. Each student sitting for the practical test has to play 3 songs, and the songs are listed as such: a choice of 3 songs for the 1st piece, known as list A, 3 songs for the 2nd piece known as list B and 3 songs for the 3rd piece, known as list C. We are to choose a song from each list. When I chose the 3rd song for this kid, I made a big error and taught her 2 songs from list B instead. I didn't realise my mistake until about 4 months later.....3 days before her exam was scheduled!

Panic and pandemonium! 2 words to describe the situation. I phoned her mum asking her to come back to my place as there's an exam emergency. She heard the word emergency but did not catch the word exam. Her husband thought his daughter was bitten by my dog and drove to my place like Michael Schumacher. The girl herself was crying in my studio and I was pacing around in circles. Mr. Caveman tried to calm me down but to no avail. I've no doubt he very thankfully escaped to prayer meeting that day!

To cut a long story short, the girl adamantly insisted on sitting for the exam, so I had to teach her a new song in 3 days ( an almost impossible feat, bearing in mind that the normally lazy gal usually takes about 2 months to perfect a song ). A lot of stress and prayers later, she sat for the exam. When I received the exam results yesterday, to my great relief, she miraculously passed.

I have learned a lesson from this episode. Mr. Caveman pointed out to me that God allowed this to happen, to show that He is with me always. I can always rely on Him, and do not have to strive with my own limited strength and resources. All there is for me to do is to let go and put everything in His hands, and He'll carry all my burdens for me. From this incident, I will be able to testify how God works, and to glorify Him. And also from the stress, worry and inner turmoil I've undergone, together with other problems I'm facing now, another stage of healing has begun.

And now, from spiritual healing to psychological healing.........