This is this year’s church theme. Love them till they ask why. We are challenged to love the people around us so much until they would ask why. We would go the extra mile give extra to people in need till they ask why we do what we do. We had a chance or rather God place people to cross our paths for us to show love too. Here is how it all begins.
By profession I’m an Early Childhood Educator, I teach in a privately own preschool and I teach children of the age of 4 years. I enjoy what I do and this year would be the fourth and final year that I would be in the preschool, well that is a whole new story, anyways coming back to my sharing.
One day as I was teaching in class I noticed there was a new student in the class (well I wasn’t in my class I was at my colleagues class teaching) so I asked the class teacher and found out that this little girl is one of our own teacher’s daughter. Hmmm I was wondering because usually when there is a new student we, the class teachers would have knowledge of it but for this girl we didn’t. So anyhow the day went on and on and on as usual.
A few days later I got to find out that this little girl, hmmm let’s give her a name Ally (her name has been changed to protect her identity). So I found out the Ally’s mom had the intention of wanting to send her to school but is unable to afford it. So when I found out my heart tore inside, in the midst of this upper middle class society there are children who still are unable to go to school simply because their parents cannot afford it and this taught me to be aware and to realise that people have their struggles even in this upper middle class society.
Anyhow I went home and share it with Szu Li, it was heart wrenching. So the next thought was to help, but how and how bad is her situation. I didn’t want to give her anything yet or jump into any conclusions until I find out all the details. It’s not that I do not trust her but God did give me a brain where I can use wisely to make decisions. So I went around finding out and the story seems to add up and is very consistent. Well no reason to doubt then, but at the same time my heart and mind says be careful.
One thing that Ally’s mom said one day at school that finally ripped my heart into two was that she said “It’s ok for me as a mom to be “thin” I will let my children to be “fat”. Here meaning she would sacrifice whatever that is necessary that her children will be fed and not go hungry. It ripped me so deep that now writing about it reminds me of that feeling deep inside and it still hurts.
So I went back and shared it with Szu Li and I said we need to help her, let’s help her pay her pay for the material at school. So we agreed on the amount and Szu Li also shared that when I told her about Ally she was reminded from God to give. Anyway we didn’t rush into anything, I had to go overseas for 10 days so we left it as it was.
After I retuned Szu Li then pass to me the amount due on her side for Ally and I was to top up the rest. So I took the money and with wisdom thinking that maybe I shouldn’t give her the lump some of cash cause our purpose was to see that Ally goes to school. Instead of giving it to the mom we were thinking maybe straight to the management of the preschool and to explain to them that we want to help, but that hid a brick wall the management simply said we already made a good deal for her and that should help her, I just didn’t understand why they just didn’t want us to help this way. So I left it as it was, now knowing that they did give her a cheaper rate or a betters package, yet we would still want to give but not the full lump some as before instead this time to give her a smaller amount and this amount is said to be specifically used to send Ally to school.
The next thing was when and how am I to give her? I waited and waited for God to prompt, and waited. When? When should I give this to her? Then one afternoon as I was walking about my school I noticed she was upstairs and my heart leaped, really, I felt it leap so I knew it’s time to give. So I went upstairs, telling myself if there are people there means it’s a no, but to my surprise no one was there but her. I spoke with her a little and as we were talking I was thinking how am I going to approach this topic, sensitive you know.
Anyhow God is a miracle working God I didn’t have to bring it up she asked me instead about her daughter and how she s doing in class, so I got to talk about her daughter and as smoothly as I can approach the topic, my heart was beating real fast. I asked her about Ally and if she has registered her yet, she said no but I’ll be doing it today, wow!! Amazing just on time, she would need the money to register her daughter, simply because if the material fees are not paid up then Ally will not be receiving any form of books or worksheets etc. I do not know exactly the amount of the new pricing that the school planned for her but I’m glad that everything worked out well and Ally now is in school.
Her mom broke down and cried, her husband passed away unexpectedly last year and she has 7 children to support, in this modern society that seems impossible, but God has sent people around her supporting and giving to her. We know deep down inside that maybe Ally might not even remember us in years to come and this story might never be told again but we know that we’ve planted a seed in these hearts and I hope someday that, that seed would grow. We love them we help them without expecting anything in return or whatsoever.
