Birdsong

There is a tree outside the Swallow's nest.  Initially a small tree when her family moved in, it has now grown tremendously.  One of her friends once mentioned that several types of this tree release a hard-to-take-it smell when it starts to flower.  In the years since they moved in, flowers had bloomed but the Swallow was happy to note that any smell was either non-existent, or her sense of smell was not acute.

There are mixed feelings when the Swallow views the tree.  There is a feeling of gratitude.  When the sun's heat is strong during the summer months in Singapore, the Swallow's nest remained cool because the tree provided relief from the hot rays with its canopy and multi-tiers of leaves.  However, there is also a feeling of disgruntlement because just like the trees in the forest which cast their shadows onto the forest ground, this tree often cast its shadow into the Swallow's nest, and additional lights had to be lit to brighten the nest.  Then again, there is a feeling of happiness whenever birds - yellow ones - perch themselves on the branches of the tree and the Swallow's family could do a spot of bird-watching without going too far from the nest.

Two Saturdays ago, such mixed feelings have been replaced by a feeling of thankfulness.  On that day, the Swallow had been struggling with a lesson on forgiving.  There was still a little bitterness in her heart which she was seeking her Lord's help to let go.  Her mate, a wonderful listener to her usual woes, had been away from Singapore.  Tears had been pooling in her eyes while she struggled with the bitterness, but as she did not wish to explain her distress to the young one who was with her, she tried to keep them from falling.  Alas, it was in vain...

The Lord knew her distress.  He knew her struggles.  He knew the hard lesson she was trying to learn from Him.  He knew how difficult it was for her, and He provided for her - a young one who comforted her mother to the best of her ability; and a birdsong.

Yellow Bird



Sitting at her table, writing in her post, she was disturbed by a chorus of bird calls.  Unlike the usual calls heard from afar, these calls came from just outside her window.  Walking to the window with her young one, they saw two yellow birds flying around and around in a circle and calling out to one another.  After a while, they separated and perched on different branches, but they continued to call out to each other.  A sense of wonder and awe enveloped the Swallow and her young one.  Could it be a mating call?  Was it a mating process?  The Swallow does not know, but it was a beautiful sight...when her mate returned to Singapore later in the day, she was still unable to express fully this sense of wonder and awe.

Sunset

It was also a turning point.  In the past, whenever the Swallow's heart was heavy with life's worries and cares, she would seek stillness and quietness by gazing at God's creation - waves on the beach, stars in the night sky, setting sun in the horizon, plants by her windowsill - and thus remember the One who created all these - the One who understood distress because He gave up His Only Begotten Son, the One who understood forgiveness because He gave up His life on the cross for people who rejected Him.

Churning waters

On that morning, in her bitterness, she had forgotten; she had taken her eyes off her Saviour and Lord, and had turned her eyes on what was missing instead.  Yet how her Lord loved and loves her - He brought her a birdsong that called to her; that reminded her to turn her eyes on Him again.  For that she is thankful for the tree outside her nest, and for the little birds that sit on that tree.

A Full Cycle

Preparing breakfast for her young ones was not something the Swallow looked forward to, when her young ones were younger but were past the milk-for-breakfast age.  Apart from a lack of experience in taking care of young ones then, she was more like a nocturnal creature by nature and nurture.  Staying up late was a no-issue for her but waking up with the dawn...yawn!

She could always count on her mate to chip in if she so wished, but that was not her way, so whenever the alarm sounded, she would leap (or try to anyway) out of her bed, dash to the washroom, give herself a quick wake-me-up ritual and prepare breakfast.  Was there any thanks from her young ones?  Sure, when it was something they liked, but more often than not, their usual response was "Bread again?"

Several years back, the Swallow had had enough.  The young ones will need to learn to "give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5 : 18a, NIV), especially when one had given up her beauty sleep for them.  Putting together a breakfast menu, with easy-to-prepare items as well as several of the young ones' choices, was a step in that direction.  On the days when the breakfast item was not to their liking, they still had a choice - eat it without complaining, or eat the default item.

Initially, they were thrilled with most of the items on the menu, and when they did not like the day's menu, they did not mind the default item which was oatmeal as they liked to eat it sweetened with a little condensed milk.  However, after eating oatmeal almost every other day for some time, they started to abhor it, and pleaded with the Swallow to change the default item, so she changed it to "Any type of breakfast cereal with fresh milk" - no cooking involved and no less-than-desired-milk!

So the young ones took the breakfast cereal with fresh milk or chocolate-flavoured fresh milk whenever they were not keen on the original breakfast item.  Again, they were happy to eat the default item.  The Swallow had to buy cartons of fresh milk on a regular basis.  However, after a few weeks...yup, the young ones pleaded with their mother for another change to the default item.  That was when the Swallow said "Bread."  They could eat it with kaya, Nutella (a chocolate spread) or jam.  Thus it was back to bread again - a full cycle!

This learning journey has spanned many years.  Many times, especially when she was weary from lack of sleep, the Swallow had wanted to throw in the towel and just feed her young ones whatever they wanted, even if it was unhealthy for them, and many times, she did.  She was so weary...but again and again she remembered "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22 : 6, NKJV).  Did she want her young ones to keep complaining about the food?  No!  Did she want her young ones to be continuously fussy eaters?  No!  Did she want her young ones to be grateful instead?  Yes!  Yes!  Yes!  Drawing comfort and strength from her Lord God to see her through the tiring mornings, and days, she kept on, faltering now and then; but always going back to drawing from the deep reservoir of strength which the Lord has given through His Holy Spirit, and she is still drawing...

Has her young ones learnt to give thanks in all circumstances?  No, the Swallow doesn't think that they have reached that milestone...that is still a hurdle to overcome, but at least nowadays, they do not complain about the day's menu, and for that the Swallow is grateful.  Neither do they respond with "Bread again?", for they know the alternative is oatmeal...

Pistachio Cookies

Whenever one of the Swallow's young ones asks for pistachio nuts, the usual reply would be "Wait for Chinese New Year (CNY)".  During the CNY, they are sold in bigger bags and the price per weight is lower.

Pistachio Cookies

Now that CNY is over, and finding some surplus pistachio nuts after the young one had had her fill, the Swallow made some cookies tonight.  The cookies turned out better than expected, so next year, she will open the bag of pistachio nuts before CNY, use them to bake these cookies, then leave the balance for her young one instead...

PISTACHIO COOKIES (makes about 70 cookies)

Ingredients

• 250g unsalted butter, softened
• 130g icing sugar
• 350g plain flour, sifted
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp vanilla essence



Pistachio Nuts
- shelled (left) & with shells (right)

• 100g pistachio nuts, chopped (measured after the shells have been removed)

Method

1. Beat softened butter and icing sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy.
2. Add vanilla essence and continue beating until it is well mixed.
3. Fold in sifted flour, then pistachio nuts.  Continue this folding process until a firm yet soft dough forms.
4. Divide the soft dough into 2 portions.  Place one portion of the dough onto a piece of greaseproof paper (38cm x 25cm), then shape the dough into a sausage-roll (same method as rolling a sushi roll), about 4cm in diameter.  Repeat this step with the second portion.
5. Place both rolls into the refrigerator, for at least one hour, to harden.
6. Cut dough into slices of 1 cm thickness.
7. Line a cookie tray with greaseproof paper, then place the dough slices onto the tray.  Return any unused dough into the refrigerator until needed.
8. Bake the cookies at 180 degrees Celcius until light golden brown, about 12 minutes.
9. When cooled, store in an air-tight container.

Cookies for Chinese New Year

Pistachio Cookies

Click here for the recipe.

A Forgiving Spirit

At her gate this morning, the Swallow sent one of her young ones off to school then cast her eyes to the plants at the side and saw, to her dismay, that a huge part of her pothos plant was missing from its pot!

The initial reaction was shock.  What happened?  Where did most of the plant go?  Silly questions, as if what's left of the plant could answer...

Then came disbelief.  Why steal a plant?  One has heard of money, jewels, even unmentionables being stolen, but a plant?  Why did he have to steal a plant?  Her plant?

Then grief hit her.  All her hard work...gone...just like that...and it was growing well too...new shoots were showing...

How could he do that?  Why didn't he stop to think how she would have felt...how could he?  So inconsiderate.  All he had to do was ask, not that the Swallow would have given him, well, maybe she would have shared, that's what she has been taught to do, and she knows it is the right thing to do.  He could have checked with her and hear her response, right?  He could have asked and given her a choice, right?

More and more thoughts like these assailed her.  She could feel bitterness slowly building up in her heart, but praise be to the Lord, she heard that still small Voice...it's just a plant...forgive him...just as I have forgiven you...

How does one learn to have a forgiving spirit?  By learning from the Lord Jesus Christ.  He was sinless, without spot or blemish, the perfect sacrifical Lamb who was slain to take away the sins of man.  He did not have to die for man - He was the Son of God, yet He did die, and such a cruel death, rejected by those He came to save - because He loved the Swallow and the rest of mankind, and He forgave them.

ABOVE ALL by Michael W Smith

Above all powers, above all kings
Above all nature and all created things
Above all wisdom and all the ways of man
You were here before the world began.

Above all kingdoms, above all thrones
Above all wonders the world has ever known
Above all wealth and treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure what You're worth.

Crucified, laid behind a stone
You lived to die, rejected and alone
Like a rose, trampled on the ground
You took the fall and thought of me -
Above all.

When one has been touched by that kind of great love and forgiveness, one can only ask, "Please, Lord, help me to forgive too..."

The LORD is Salvation

After a couple of months break, the Swallow has begun another journey with the Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), this time seeking to learn from the man Isaiah.  He was a major prophet during the reign of four kings of Judah, namely Uzziah (Azariah), Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, and his name means "The LORD is salvation."  God called him to deliver a message of warning, comfort and deliverance at a time when Judah was facing many challenges.

The book of Isaiah is found in the Old Testament and it has sixty-six chapters.

Although history is not her forte, the Swallow is looking forward to studying the book of Isaiah, simply because the LORD is her salvation.

Some of her favourite Bible passages from Isaiah...

• Isaiah 9 : 6 (NKJV) - For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
• Isaiah 12 : 1 - 2 (NKJV) - And on that day you will say: "O LORD, I will praise You; though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me.  Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; 'for YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.'"
• Isaiah 26 : 3 - 4 (NKJV) - You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.  Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.
• Isaiah 40 : 29 - 31 (NKJV) - He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
• Isaiah 46 : 4 (NKJV) - Even to your old age, I am He, and even to grey hairs I will carry you!  I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

There are also songs written which are based on the writings of Isaiah, and that is the icing on the cake for one who loves to sing!  The following chorus is based on Isaiah 61 : 3...

BEAUTY FOR ASHES (author unknown)

He gave me beauty for ashes
The oil of joy for mourning
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness
That we might be trees of righteousness
The planting of the LORD
That He might be glorified!

A Father's Care

The Swallow's father was a protective father, often exasperating her with his demands and actions during her childhood years.
 
Like the first time she had been allowed to attend a gathering at one of her friends' home.  The approval had come with a long list of dos and don'ts that hinted of a lack of trust which the Swallow felt she had not earned.

Like the time she had gone to a farewell dinner for one of her Sunday School classmates, and had had to hitch a ride from her teacher.  He had scolded that teacher, in front of a carload of students, for bringing her home beyond the curfew set for her, without making any allowances or hearing any explanations.

No, he was not a perfect father.

However, when he had submitted himself to the Lordship of Christ, he became a better father.

Over time, the long list of dos and don'ts had gotten shorter.  When the time came for the Swallow to leave Malaysia for Singapore, there wasn't even a list.  Only frequent long letters penned by a father who was more eloquent when writing than when talking.  Through the letters which brought news of home and family, the Swallow had felt loved and cared for.  The letters had brought solace to a lonely heart during her early years in Singapore.  Whenever he worried for the Swallow, he wrote or he prayed, trusting her to his Heavenly Father's care.

Most of the time, he had been there to fetch her home.  After late night social events so that she need not take the bus home on her own.  When she had to stay late in school for extracurricular activities, he had waited patiently for her at the school gate, sometimes falling asleep in the car while waiting for her to finish. Also, if she had made impulsive offers of a ride home for some of her friends, he would fetch these friends home, without making a fuss.

After the curfew incident, having cooled down the next day, he had also apologised to the teacher for his outburst.
 
Thank you, Swallow's dad, for showing the Swallow that the Lord God can change lives.  You trusted in Him and He helped you to leave a life that was filled with dreadful habits for a life that pleased Him instead.
 
Thank you, Swallow's dad, for doing your best to protect her during her growing up years, even though it had exasperated her time and time again.  Looking back with a mother's vision, she knows that you have tried to be a good father the only way you knew.
 
Thank you, Swallow's dad, for praying for her - when she was choosing a career; when she was choosing her mate.
 
Thank you, Swallow's dad, for being there for her - at the school gate; bringing her for her job interview in another state which entailed two nights of broken sleep in a swaying train.
 
Happy Birthday, Swallow's dad!  You have been and are a wonderful father, and grandfather.

Home-Made Pasta



One of the Swallow's young ones love to create.  When she has the time, she will usually be found doing something related to art eg painting, doodling or origami.

To nurture her young one's creativity, the Swallow will try to find ways and means to provide her with opportunities to dabble in art or craft.  One recent opportunity was making pasta at home.

The recipe is simple, with ingredients easily found in a home where home-cooked food is favoured.  The young one had fun cutting out the shapes using cooking cutters, and the joy that came when the young one realised she had helped in the cooking preparation?  Priceless...

HOME-MADE PASTA (serves 1)

Star-shaped Pasta

Ingredients

• 100g plain flour
• pinch of salt
• 1 tsp cooking oil
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3 tsp water

Method

1. Put all the ingredients in a bowl and mix with your hands to make a dough.  Squeeze and knead it for 2 - 3 minutes until it is smooth.
2. Sprinkle some flour on to a work top and roll out the dough very thinly.
3. Cut into desired shapes using plastic cookie cutters, or just invent your own shapes.

   

   Pasta craft in progress

4. Cook for about 10 minutes, depending on the thickness and size of the pasta shapes, in a large saucepan of boiling water.  The pasta should be soft but still firm and chewy.
5. Drain through a sieve over the sink.  Serve hot with desired sauce.

Notes

• Steps 1 to 3 can be done by young ones with minimal adult supervision.
• Steps 4 and 5 should not be attempted by young ones unless they are dependable and subject to parent's permission.

Pasta-Making Craft

Pieces of Art by a Young One

Click here to read how this can be done by children with some adult supervision.

Pizza Base #2

The Swallow uses this recipe when she wants to serve pizza as a meal but she has no yeast or fresh milk in her nest.  This recipe is suitable for use in an electronic oven.

PIZZA BASE #2 (serves 3 - 4)

Ingredients

• 125g self-raising flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 70ml warm water

Method

1. Mix flour and salt together in a large bowl.  Add olive oil, stirring all the time.
2. Slowly add warm water into the mixture, stirring all the time.
3. When water has been fully added, use hands to form the mixture into a ball of dough.
4. Sprinkle some flour onto a work-table or chopping board.  Turn the ball of dough onto it and knead the ball of dough until it is smooth.
5. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough into a circle about 30cm wide.  Place the pizza base onto a baking tray.

To find out how to put a pizza together, please click here.

Pizza Base #1

The Swallow uses this simple pizza base recipe whenever one of her young ones wants pizza for lunch.  You just need milk, no need for yeast. It is also suitable for baking in a toaster oven.  When available, her young one would help to knead the dough.

PIZZA BASE #1 (serves 1 - 2)

Ingredients

• 1 cup self-raising flour
• a pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup fresh milk

Method

1. Mix flour and salt together in a medium-sized bowl.
2. Add milk gradually, mixing the ingredients until a lump of dough forms.
3. Continue kneading the dough until it is smooth.  If necessary, add more flour, 1 tbsp each time.
4. Stretch and press the dough to the size of the toaster oven tray.

To find out how to put a pizza together, please click here.

Home-Made Pizza

The Swallow's young ones love pizza!  Their craving for pizza is easily satisfied with just any type of pizza, whether store-bought or home-made.  Since the cost of making a pizza is actually not as high as what one is charged at the shops, the Swallow prefers to make her own pizza when it is just the family that's eating it.

Putting a pizza together is easy.  First, a base is required.  There are many types of pizza base - with milk; with yeast; without milk or yeast.  Bread can also be used as a base.

Then a sauce has to be spread on the pizza base.  Any kind of red, white or brown sauce may be used.  Just ensure that the sauce is not too runny.  Mayonaise or leftover sauces (thicken with a little cornflour solution, if needed) can also be used.  Sprinkle with some herbs or spices to get a unique flavour.

Next, add favourite toppings.  Be adventurous.  Anything goes.  Serious.

Some suggestions:

• cheese, cheese & more cheese!
• corned beef & large onions
• Hawaiian Pizza (with ham & pineapples)

  

  Hawaiian Pizza

• Japanese seaweed, crabsticks & bonito flakes
• mushrooms, mushrooms & more mushrooms!!
• Sausage Pizza (with pepperoni salami or other types of sausages)

  

  Sausage Pizza

Cheese is next.  Mozzarella cheese is a good choice to hold the pizza together, but any other cheese is fine. Alternatively, beat 1 - 2 eggs and pour over the toppings.  This works just as well.

Finally, bake the pizza in a toaster oven or an electronic oven (220 degrees Celcius), for about 15 minutes.  If the cheese starts to burn, cover with a piece of aluminium foil.

Making pizza at home is all about one's creativity and imagination...enjoy the process...with practice, the results may be better than what is served at the shops and for a lower price.  What's more, the young ones have fun too if they join in the process!

My Living Sacrifice

The Swallow, like everyone else, is often assailed by doubts and fears.  BUT she is also always reminded that when she puts her trust in the Heavenly Father who watches over those He loves, she has nothing to fear but Him alone.

MY LIVING SACRIFICE (author unknown)

My heart longs for you, my Saviour
I would follow you, my Lord
Your kindness and love are vast as the skies
Your faithfulness never dies
My God and my King
Your great name I sing
My offering of praise I bring.

Jesus, O Jesus
I give you my life
Jesus, O Jesus
I give you my life.

My soul contemplates Your glory
I worship in holy awe
In quietness and in confident trust
I rest in all that You are
I'll sing to the world
Your glory and grace
Until I behold Your face.

Jesus, O Jesus
I give you my life
Jesus, O Jesus
I give you my life.

Comfort Zone

In her youth, the Swallow made a leap of faith when she moved out of her comfort zone in Malaysia to travel to Singapore.  Growing up sheltered and protected, aside from the campfire experience, this was the first time the Swallow had travelled alone.  There were struggles with fear - of the unknown, of the future, of wondering whether it was truly God's will for her.

For each hesitation, each struggle, assurances came when she read God's Word...

Like Abram (later given the name Abraham) in Genesis 12 : 1 (NKJV), "Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you.""

Like Joshua in Joshua 1 : 9 (NKJV), "Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Like David who wrote in Psalm 37 : 3 - 5 (NKJV), "Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.  Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass."

Taking hold of the promises from His Word, she set out to explore unknown territories, fully trusting that the Lord God would see her through, come what may.  Till now, He has proven faithful.  He has never failed in His promises.  He has seen and is still seeing the Swallow through each day of her journey.

Two days back, the Swallow was asked to leave her comfort zone again, though it was a relatively smaller kind of leaving.  One would have thought that having made such a major move like the one in her youth, the Swallow would be an old hand at trusting her Lord God.  Sad to say, it was not so...there were the same struggles with fear...

How long before the Swallow has learnt to fully trust her Lord?  How long must He be patient with this child of His?  How long?  How long?

Psalm 103 : 17 - 18 (NIV)
But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children's children, with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.

The Swallow is truly thankful that her Lord God is so patient with her.  Again and again, for each hesitation, each struggle, assurances came when she read His Word...Joshua 1 : 6a (NKJV), "Be strong and of good courage." and Isaiah 30 : 15c (NIV), "in quietness and trust is your strength."

Where will the Swallow's strength come from?  Where should she place her trust?  While reading His word, a reminder came in the form of the song "My Living Sacrifice" which she had heartily sang in her younger days.

Thus reminded, the Swallow will put her hand in her Saviour's hand, and follow wherever He leads, even if it will be out of her comfort zone.  She will, with her Lord's help, fear Him alone - not the unknown, not the future.  Is it God's will for her this time when she leaves her comfort zone?  She does not truly know, but she knows that her Sovereign Lord is always in control and for that, she will trust in Him, come what may...

Another Assam Dish!

Assam Fish

Click here for the recipe.

Assam Fish

During the recent holidays, the Swallow's mate took one of the young ones fishing and they came back with a Queenfish (her young one's pride), a Wolf Herring, a Garfish, several Hardtails and a few Scads.  Quite a haul compared to previous trips when the Swallow's mate came home empty-handed.

The Queenfish weighed almost two kilograms and the Swallow's young one could hardly contain his excitement when he had successfully reeled the fish in.  With the Queenfish, the Swallow prepared Assam Fish, a dish enjoyed by everyone in the family.  The pineapples in the recipe was a fitting touch for the lingering Chinese New Year (CNY) mood.

ASSAM FISH (serves 6 - 8)

Assam Fish

Ingredients

• 1 whole fish, about 1.5kg - 2 kg, cut into steaks
• 15 pcs fresh red chillies
• 3 tsp belachan granules
• 10 shallots
• 12 candlenuts
• 2 cups tamarind water
• 4 tamarind pieces
• 1 can of pineapple rings, drained and cut into slices
• syrup from the can of pineapple rings
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup oil
• Additional boiled water, if necessary

Method

1. Ground chillies, belachan, shallots and candlenuts into a fine paste (add a little of the tamarind water if water is needed to keep the grinder moving).
2. Heat oil in a wok until hot. Add the grounded paste and fry until the oil separates from the paste.
3. Add tamarind water, tamarind pieces, syrup and salt.
4. Add the fish steaks and cook for about 5 minutes. Turn the fish steaks over and cook for another 5 minutes.  Remove the fish onto a plate.
5. Add the pineapples into the wok.  Continue cooking for about 2 minutes.  Season with sugar to taste. Return fish to the wok, mix well.
6. Serve hot with rice.

Notes

• Batang is suitable for this dish.
• Pineapples may be replaced by lady fingers aka okra.
• Use dried chillies for a spicier touch.

A Christmas Gift

Growing Strong in the
Seasons of Life -
paperback edition

With the quiet days she was having the past couple of days, the Swallow decided to read a book that she had not touched for a long time.

Looking at the books in her home library, the Swallow's eyes fell on the book "Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life" by Charles R Swindoll.  The book was a Christmas gift from her youth leaders, twenty years ago.  The Swallow cannot recall whether she had finished the book, but two decades is a long time and whatever was read would be worth another reading.

The author centres the book, which can be read devotionally, around the four seasons of the year.  He describes winter as a season of reverence, spring as a season of renewal, summer as a season of rest and autumn as a season of reflection.  He aims to help readers become stronger Christians as they both hear and do the Word of God.

The Swallow hopes, as she reads this book in the days and seasons ahead, to be encouraged in her Christian walk, and to grow stronger in her faith and in the knowledge of her Lord and Saviour.

Four Seasons

After several days of rain, the sun broke through the clouds this morning.  Even as the Swallow is writing this journal, she can feel a little warmth seeping into her nest.  For the past few nights, she had to use a blanket and the ceiling fan was turned off.  If one checks with her mate, this is a rare and sporadic occurrence.

Although Singapore does not have the common four seasons - winter, spring, summer and autumn, the Swallow would like to think it has its own four seasons...

When it is very cold and very wet ie lots of wind and lots of rain, the Swallow would think of winter.  These will be the months when the Swallow would snuggle under a blanket, outfit herself with long pants instead of shorts, and turn the fans off; when the plants require minimal or no watering; when the sun can hardly be seen or its heat, felt.

The Swallow thinks of spring when Chinese New Year (CNY) comes along.  These will be the months when the sun comes out from hiding among the clouds; when the flowers are out in bloom (ok, make that out in abundance at the shops); when new leaves and flower buds start showing themselves among the plants; when birds can be heard whistling among the trees.

Singapore's summer would be the months when it is very hot and very dry; when watering plants is a daily affair; when the swimming pools are crowded; when going out of the nest is a chore; when the air-conditioners are turned on every night; when temptations to turn on the air-conditioners in the days are daily struggles.

Autumn in some countries will bring with it a change of colour, from green to hues of red and orange.  However, in evergreen Singapore, the Swallow thinks of autumn when the rains come again after the very hot and very dry months; when the air-conditioners are used occasionally at nights or not at all; when examination fever is felt.

With the burst of sunshine through the clouds this morning, it seems like winter is officially over and spring is in the air.

Quiet Days

The Swallow is spending quiet days in her nest.  Ever since her mate's grandma passed away several years back, the family's round of CNY visitations to elderly relatives begin a couple of days into the new year, when these relatives have done their own round of visitations and are settled in their own homes waiting for younger members of the family to visit.

The traditional reunion dinner with her mate's extended family members, usually just before CNY, was brought forward this year and was held two weekends back.  For the Swallow's side, the family reunion was done in December when they returned to Malaysia around Christmas.  It was almost a daily affair as the family gathered over meals, shopping, bowling, and movies.  The young ones too had their fun catching up with a cousin, basically creating noise and sometimes havoc, either in her parents' or in one of her siblings' homes.  The family had their own reunion dinner last night, a simple home-cooked meal of chicken, fish, beancurd, vegetables and soup.

With CNY visitations yet to begin, and with reunion dinners all done, the Swallow's family has a couple of days free from rush.  Her mate has taken the opportunity to spend some back-to-nature time with one of her young ones, hoping to share some special time with him as he is growing up fast.  Meanwhile, the Swallow hopes to spend time with her other young one, doing stuff that had to be put off during school days eg craftwork and jigsaws.

Temptations

It is not the best time for the Swallow to go window shopping right now.  With the delight she finds looking at nature especially plants and flowers, the huge amount of blooms on display in markets and supermarkets is a great temptation to the Swallow.

Just yesterday, a seemingly innocent quest to look for some last-minute items for Chinese New Year (CNY) brought a variety of flowering plants and cut flowers into her path.  The Swallow stopped short of drooling over these displays.   The only thing that stopped her from succumbing to the temptation to buy any of the displays was the cost.  There is no harm in just looking, right?  So she stopped to look, and look, and look.  Then she felt it - just a little thug..."Wouldn't that plant look good in such and such a corner?" "Wow, such beautiful colours!  So fitting for the home since it has been raining for a while and everything is so dreary..." "Hey, those flowers are sold only for CNY.  Just get one.  No, better to get more.  One looks so lonely..." Thoughts like these came swiftly to the Swallow...more lingering...more stops...suddenly she realized what was happening.  For a moment, she was where Eve was in the Garden of Eden...

Quickly, she grabbed her young one's hand and made a smooth exit to the check-out counter, muttering along the way "flee, flee, flee from temptation...".  However, that was not the end...along the way to the main exit from the shopping complex, there were more and more plants and flowers, showing a riot display of colours and variety.

After a few more abrupt stops and lingering, her young one wised up, and quickly made her move to drag the Swallow away.  Making the most of a teachable moment, the Swallow explained about temptations to her young one.  How adults too have their own battles to fight against temptations.

1 Corinthians 10 : 13 (NIV)
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

The Swallow is grateful to the Lord God for providing a way out for her through her young one's presence.  The Swallow hopes that her young one would be equally grateful if and when the Swallow pulls her away from temptations.

The next best thing?  The Swallow plans to stay away from the shops for a while...

New, Every Morning

With Chinese New Year (CNY) soon approaching, just two days away, wishes of "Xin Nian Kuai Le" or "Happy New Year" have already been making the rounds.  Making her way to the check-out counter this morning after some last-minute grocery-shopping at the supermarket before it closes its doors for a couple of days in lieu of the CNY holidays, the Swallow could not help hearing a conversation between the cashier and a customer...

Customer : Aiyah, so crowded, so hard to move around.  Jostling here and there.
Cashier : Never mind, auntie, the new year is coming.  Start the year happy.
Customer (taken aback for a short while) : Yes, that's true.  Must start the year happy.

Most people want to begin a new year with happiness.  For the Chinese, it is a tradition to start the year off with new things.  New clothes.  New shoes.  New bedsheets.  In some extremes, even new homes!  New things do bring a measure of happiness to one's life.  However, how long does this newness last?  How long will the happiness last?  Within a few minutes, new can become old.  All it takes is a stain upon the new clothes, shoes or bedsheets and they are no longer new.

As with any first day of a new year, young and old are filled with fresh resolutions.  To do better in their studies, work or business.  To exercise more in order to stay healthy (some weight loss would be even better).  To spend more time with the family.  Yet how many of these resolutions have already been discarded, or not followed through?  How many of them are truly fresh resolutions?  If one looks back through the resolutions made in past years, most are actually 'recycled'.

Ecclesiastes 1 : 9 - 11 (NKJV)
That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun.
Is there anything of which it may be said,
"See, this is new"?
It has already been in ancient times before us.
There is no rememberance of former things,
Nor will there be any rememberance of things that are to come
By those who will come after.

The feeling of happiness is fleeting.  One may be happy today, but tomorrow may bring with it sorrow and pain.  Yet it is commonly said that unless one has known sorrow, he will never understand what true happiness is.  The feeling of newness is also fleeting.  There is nothing new under the sun.  Every few decades, fashion apparently reinvents itself, yet it brings traces and memories of fashions past.

So why do people go around wishing others "Happy New Year"?  The Swallow believes that in these people, there is a longing in them to see past the sorrow and pain around them, to see into a brighter future, to hope in a better tomorrow.

Is there such a way?  To be able to see past the sorrow and pain?  Is there a brighter future?  Will there be a better tomorrow?

Yes, there is!  This is the Swallow's testimony...when one looks to the only source of true happiness - the Lord God Himself - then there is always something new, every morning...

NEW, EVERY MORNING (author unknown)

New, every morning, it's new
The love of God to me is wonderfully new
New, every morning, it's new
The mercy of the Lord is wonderfully new
Great is His faithfulness
Constant is His love
Great is His saving power
Coming from above (Hallelujah!).

New, every morning, it's new
The love of Calvary is wonderfully new
New, every morning it's new
The mercy fresh outpoured is wonderfully new
He is our daily Strength
He's our daily Guide
If we will wait on Him
And in Him abide (Hallelujah!)

New, every morning, it's new
The love of God to me is wonderfully new
New, every morning, it's new
The mercy of the Lord is wonderfully new!

Lamentations 3 : 23 - 25 (NKJV)
Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not,
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore I hope in Him!"
The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.

True happiness is real joy, and that can only be found in the One who made the heavens and the earth.

How can happiness last? How can there be freshness to each day, a newness to the things done each day/ When the Swallow looks at her Creator, the Lord God who showers her with love and mercy each day, her happiness is no longer fleeting, her joy is real, her days are always new...