Gems of election - Footprints

Five years ago, I wrote this -

You have probably read "Footprint" many times. You have probably read many versions of "Footprint". You would not mind reading this one more time, I know, because it's such a beautiful story with beautiful words. Here you are -

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed He was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from His life. For each scene He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonging to Him and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of His life flashed before Him, He looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of His life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of His life.

This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it. LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.

The Lord replied, my precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.

The story ends here. It does not quite, here is an SMS I received this morning -

"MaNY PeoPLe WiLL WaLK iN & ouT oF YouR LiFe BuT oNLY TRue PoLITIciANs WiLL LeaVe FooTPRiNTS iN YouR HeaRT"

…NAH!

(-_-)Give U my (")(") smelly feet.

Be careFUL whoM U waNT tO waLK WiTH iN tHe neXt FiVE yEARs. THe POWer iS iN YouR hANDs!

I have copied this exactly as it is with the CAPS on some alphabets.

Just like there are many versions of footprints, there are many versions of stories we have heard over in the weeks to come. Whatever version you have read, consider this Footprints Hymn -

Footprints Hymn

It can be sung to the tune 'Londonderry Air/O Danny Boy'.

Upon the shore, I walked with Him at even
And I looked back upon the path we’d trod
And in the sand I traced our way at even
And I was glad I’d walked through life with God:
For side by side we’d journeyed through together
All through the world’s wide wilderness of care
And side by side we’d journeyed through to even:
Safe at his side the Lord my God had brought me here.

But in my joy I caught a strain of sadness
To give me pause when thinking of my way
For on the shore I saw he’d left me lonely
When I had most the need of him to stay:
When I was tried he’d left me worn and wandering,
He’d left me lone when I was fighting fears,
He’d let me tread the steepest slopes in solitude
Before he came back to my side to dry my tears.

But then the Lord drew near to me in comfort
And in his tenderness he made it plain
That in the times when dread and darkness threatened
He was my shield and shelter from the pain:
For on his shoulders he was gently bearing
And on his shoulders I from harm was free:
The single trace of footprints of the Master,
The single trace of footprints shows he carried me.

So on the shore I walk with Him at even;
I face the latter days of life secure,
For if my pilgrimage reserves me sorrow
The footprints show that He is strong and sure:
If I am near the gates of heaven weary,
No longer strong enough to stride alone
The footprints show that he is there to carry me:
The footprints show the Lord my God will bear me home.

Dr. Robert Atkins

Keeping afloat

In my mailbox last night,

Dear Ladies, In conjunction with International Women’s Day, xxxxx (a news portal) joins the celebration to commemorate this special occasion with all our female subscribers. To recognize your efforts, YOU can now subscribe to xxxxxxx at ONLY RM 100.00 per year and SAVE RM 50.00! (Normal one year standard subscription is RM 150.00)

Well, we have way past women's day. And my subscription expires a few months from now.

I have been busy - very busy. My day begins at 5 am and ends at 10 pm or beyond. From 5 am to 9 am, it's my own time. Amazed I still have four hours! I thank God for the four hours. After 9 am to 10 pm, I am working...

We speculate that the announcement to dissolve DUN is Monday, 21st March. And polling date early April.

Meanwhile, as the journalists "battle", this one for women and for all who need to keep afloat -

One day, three men were hiking and unexpectedly came upon a large raging, violent river. They needed to get to the other side, but had no idea of how to do so. The first man prayed to God, saying, “Please God, give me the strength to cross this river.” Poof! God gave him big arms and strong legs, and he was able to swim across the river in about two hours, after almost drowning a couple of times.

Seeing this, the second man prayed to God, saying, “Please God, give me the strength .. and the tools to cross this river.” Poof! God gave him a rowboat and he was able to row across the river in about an hour, after almost capsizing the boat a couple of times.

The third man had seen how this worked out for the other two, so he also prayed to God saying, “Please God, give me the strength and the tools .. and the intelligence … to cross this river.” And Poof! God turned him into a woman. She looked at the map, hiked upstream a couple of hundred yards, then walked across the bridge.

Flagging off The Borneo Post Adventure Team (BAT) earlier. BAT completed their 3 -weeks mission impossible travelling to every corner of Sarawak and Oops! they also travelled to Labuan and Brunei. They crossed many rivers too, I believe, with no difficulty as there was a lady team member!

Memories of maple leaves

(Image from: http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/04/10/28/)

Two weeks ago, I had a good chat with Mr Stuart Shaw of High Commission of Canada at a coffee lounge in Kuching.

It brought back some memories of “maple leaves”. Canada was a popular choice for further education during my time. I remember a friend went to Toronto. Jacob was his name. And lo! I could not remember his surname. He sent me a maple leaf which I treasured for a long time. Then another friend went. Gosh! I could not even remember his name. He also sent me a maple leaf.

I went there for my honeymoon. What did I remember? I remember on the eve of my departure, I realized that I have kept many coins in my purse. I went shopping and thought of using up all the coins. But in Canada under its Currency Act, there is a limitation of using coins to pay for goods and services. What an embarrassment! And what a strange law!

Those were the memories of Canada.

Here are new things I learnt over a cuppa with Stuart.

Manulife Insurance of Toronto insures 250,000 Malaysians (and I am one of them!)

Canada is Malaysia’s largest supplier of food-grade soybeans for our tofu and Canadian Durham wheat is used for pasta in Malaysia.

You like MacDonald’s French fries? McCain Foods of New Brunswick is the sole provider of MacD’s French fries in Malaysia!

Stuart claimed that Canada’s average tuition fee for undergraduate students is lower than the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom and post-secondary students can work up to 20 hours per week during their studies.

Chris to pick up some maple leaves and send home to his dear mummy in two years’ time?

Grandmother dream!

Sometime back, when I posted in my Facebook (what actually did I post?) about getting old, my daughter responded that I would not be a grandmother too soon.

She muses that at 20, going on 21, she still does not have a boyfriend.

So my grandmother dream seems very far away!

Well, my grandmother dream can never make it to the news.

But this made to the news -

The No. 1 was married earlier this year.


Hold on, this is not their baby. They went Chinese New Year visiting, the 28-year-young was attracted to babies!

Then, this is No. 2. The graceful lady in cheongsam is his new wife. She said she was hoping for a dragon baby.


Not rabbit because this is election year (my colleagues like to read "L" as "R" as it's rabbit year probably), they may be too busy to welcome a "rabbit".

Meanwhile, I resolve to continue with my rabbit diet ... for better health, and God's willing, to be a dotting grandmother one day!

Over to you, Rach and Chris - for my wishes!

It's Friday, I am just musing!

Hop with hope

My brother-in-law asked yesterday, "You have not been updating your blog?"

From a daily post, it became a weekly, then monthly, and now it's like on occasions. The last blog post was before Christmas! I missed the new year, but hopped on to the lunar new year like a rabbit!

Chinese new year in Sibu has always been a sense of adventure, and even an awareness of peril, of danger. There is a thrill of excitement, and always a little grip of fear - yes, it's the fire crackers!

Behind every cracker lit, there is a wish - I always think. Some for the sheer joy of it. Some to "frighten the bad spirit away". Some for more wealth ....

Last night, between the seemingly unending fire crackers, I whispered this psalms -

May He grant you your heart's desire,
and fulfill all your plan! - Psalms 20:4

I remember the person who was raging with anger and raised the cruelest curses because the pizza served was not as advertised.

I remember how the law enforcers grilled and drilled for sources of reports.

I remember how politicians can deny what he had said within 24 hours.

I remember ..... many kind souls whom I have met along my way ..

What's my heart's desire?

Do I not want to be a happy, whole person? A confident, courageous, able to cope with situations, able to handle what comes and to be trusting and loving and walking with Him daily?

Well, is this not the desire of your hearts, too?

There is God's promise - He will grant you your heart's desire, and he will fulfill your plans.

MAY HE GRANT YOUR HEART'S DESIRE.