Life is either a daring adventure or nothing

Guess whose birthday we are celebrating?
Wrong! It was Father's day celebration!!!
Two Sundays ago, it was a special day for me. A group of youths that I mentor in church bought a cute looking cake and celebrated Father's Day for me! It was definitely a great encouragement and uplifting for me, espacially since that morning I had just rushed back from Malaysia coupled with a treacherous bus ride (bus broke down in middle of highway!).

As I reflected my mentoring journey with these fun-loving, wonderful, and also at times 'monkeying' bunch of youths, I really feel like a father to them. We walk through ups and downs in life together, I share with them my life experiences to inspire them (espacially on BGRs) and together we took on challenges and fun times! Each time they go through bad patches, my heart would ache for them and wish to make every effort to be there for them. Each time they conquered milestones like special performances and exams, I would make every efforts to be there to cheer them on.

PAUSE. This post is not to highlight about how 伟大 or noble I am to these youths. But as I mentor / 'father' them (at time mother them too), I began on a journey of understanding and appreciating what MY PARENTS felt and went through for me in my days of growing up. Times when I rebelled and insisted on going my own ways, or when I turned a deaf ear to my parents... or when I shouted and hurled harsh words in retaliation to them.... Gosh! It must have shattered their hearts because this was just exactly how I felt in my journey with these youths.

As much as my mentoring journey has blessed and made impacts to many youths, I believe the greatest beneficiary was MYSELF. Not only did I learn how to be a good father next time to my kids, but the most immediate thing is that I learnt how to be a good son to my father NOW.

Abusive parents will raise up violent kids. Pampering parents will raise up spoilt and demanding kids. Children will always role model after their parents. The kind of character we wish to raise up in our future kids, that kind of character we have to start developing NOW!