Blessings ... In Disguise.

Bumped into Clarissa today. My ex-student. She's currently in YJC now. She used to be so much of an 'ice queen' towards me. Didn't exactly expect her to run up to me and tap me on my shoulders to say a big "Hi!". =)

I'm glad to hear her sharing that she actually misses me ... as in my teachings and my lessons. My lame jokes and stuff! =) But ... sigh ... She's failing Maths like crazy now. Why? She used to be one of my best students.She is one of the 2 girls in Sec 5 N(A) who were offered A-Maths and she aced it with an A2! I was so proud of her! But now ... why? She even mentioned that she is thinking of quitting JC. =( All I could do then was to encourage her to hang on ... just 1+ year more and it'll be over... and she can graduate with a good ... or maybe decent 'A' Level cert and enter Uni to further her studies. I know she can do it. It will be such a waste if .... sigh... I dunno. =(

"Father, there is only so much that I can do. And I understand that it is never by my own works or abilities ... but it is by Your grace and Power that lives can be touched and changed. Please do something about Clar's situation right now, Lord. She needs a lot of help ... and encouragement. I pray that You will use me and the many others around her as Your vessel to work in her life. She seems so discouraged ... feeling that it is easier to give up than to continue with her studies in YJC. Father, you said in Your word that Your grace is sufficient for us... give her this grace that she needs to overcome the current obstacles she is facing in her life at this moment. I really dun wish to see her quitting and giving up just like that, Lord. I commit her into Your hands ... knowing that it is in Your perfect will for Clar to live a successful life! Take good care of her and help her attain that success You have in store for her." =)

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Below is a simple story that I've once read ... sharing about how we would often miss blessings that were coming our way because we were not expecting them to come in the manner we had expected. This reminds me that I must not ... and will not ... take any (possible) blessings that are coming my way for granted. That includes people that I meet ... persons that I am drawn to. You have been a blessing in my life. I thank you for that, dear ... and will not take you for granted.
Never.
Ever.

BLESSING ... IN DISGUISE

A young man was getting ready to graduate college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box.

Curious, but somewhat disappointed the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible. Angrily, he raised his voice at his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the holy book.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care things. When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart.

He began to search his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. As he read those words, a car key dropped from an envelope taped behind the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words ... PAID IN FULL.

How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected?