ORLANDO CHINESE CHURCH MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
JULY, 2001
For Mother's day this year, the students in the intermediate class of the Chinese School were asked to write about their "Mother's Hands" and "Mother's Eyes". The following are the articles that were written:
Mother's Hands
Mother's hands do many things---cook, drive us around… When she is angry, she will slap her hand on the table; it is like the thunder in the summer. She can hit us pretty hard. Mother often tells us to use our head as well as our hand, that way we will always do a good job. (Vincent Chung---8 yrs. old)
Mother has a pair of strong and quick hands---she can hold the phone with one hand and take the order with the other; in one minute she fries chicken, in the next she handles take-outs: She cooks, washes dishes fast and clean. At home, she mows the lawn, does laundry, cleans the house and holds me when has time. She does the work of at least three people. I like to learn to have such a pair of capable and hard working hands. (Katie Lai---8 yrs. old)
When I was small I liked to hold my mother's hand when I slept. It gave me a feeling of kindness. In that way I experienced the love of mother. I like the smell from my mother's cooking and love eating the food she prepares. (Steven Troung--11 yrs. old)
Mother's hands are fair and round. I like her to hold me; it is warm and comfortable. Her hands do many things around the house---She is a good cook and keeps the house neat. She helps me put away my clothing. I love everything she does. I know her hands well; I can know them by the smell. (Angela Sy---8 yrs. old)
Mother's hands, we cannot do without them. Without them, we will not have food to eat. Her gentle hands help us get up to go to school. She tidies things around the house so that we can come home to a clean place. When we do not behave, we get slapped on our behinds. When we behave, her hands will caress us. When we are sick, her warm hands will hold us. Whenever I think of her hands, I want to sleep in her bosom and I will be hungry for her food. We cannot do without mother's hands. (Esther Wong---8 yrs. old)
Mother's hands are soft. She wears a ring on her hand. Her hands are praying hands for us. She cooks, holds me with her kisses, cleans our rooms, and cuts our hair. Her hands are magic. One day I forgot my lunch box, but my mother brought it to my classroom. I love my mother! (Alex Sy---9 yrs. old)
My mother's hands can do anything. She cooks for the whole family and keeps the house very neat. She can sew badges and medals all over my Awana and Girl Scout uniforms. Her hands are big and strong, I will not be able to write down all the things she can do. (Angel Chung---9 yrs. old)
My mother's hands can do many things---carry things, draw, write, cook, drive, plant flowers, make small toys, and bake great tasting cookies. I love my mother's hands. (Priscilla Leung---7 yrs. old)
I love my mother's hands a lot. She really works hard---cooks for me, washes my clothing, drives me around, plays with me, helps me with my homework. When I have my birthday, she buys me gifts. My mother's hands are warm. I love my mother a lot. (Daniel Su---9 yrs. old)
Mother's Eyes
Mother's eyes watch over us when we swim, play, also when we do our homework. When we misspell a word, she will correct us. Even when she is not watching, she knows what we are doing. Mother's eyes are very sharp. She knows how to shop for bargain and nice things. When she is mad, she will stare at me. I will wait till she stop staring then quietly peak at her. Mother does not wear eyeglasses and I can see her eyes clearly. (Vincent Chung---7 yrs. old)
Mother's eyes can speak. When I fight with my older brother, misbehave, do bad things, and lazy with homework, she stares at us with wide-opened eyes. My brother and I will be really scared. When she is tired and do not sleep well, her eyes will be half-closed. We will keep quiet so that she can sleep. I do not like the wide-opened eyes and I do not like the half-closed eyes. I only like how her eyes look when she is smiling. (Katie Lai---8 yrs. old)
My mother has a pair of eyes that speak. When I was small, mother often tells me stories. I would look at her eyes as I listened. It was as if her eyes spoke with kindness and care. When I do not behave, her eyes will speak to me, telling me to behave and be careful. (Steven Troung-11 yrs. old)
When mother prays she closes her eyes. She sees everything we do. When my brother and I misbehave and anger her, she will stare at us angrily. But most of the time we behave, her eyes will be nice and gentle. I love mother's eyes; they are the best gift that God gave to me. (Angela Sy---8 yrs. old)
Mother's eyes watch over us. When we behave, mother's eyes seem to be smiling at us. When we do not behave, we are afraid to look at mother's eyes because we know we did something bad. It is like mother's eyes always see and always know. I am glad mother's eyes watch over me closely and remind us to be careful. (Esther Wong---8 yrs. old)
Mother's eyes are often closed when she is praying in church. Her eyes are like a mirror; I can see myself in them. They are also like broadcast station---if I do bad things, she gives me the angry look; if I please her, she gives me the happy look. Thank God for using mother's eyes to teach and protect me. (Alex Sy---9 yrs. old)
Mother's eyes watch over us when we are ice-skating, bicycling, swimming … They review my homework. When she is angry, she stares us with big eyes. We will cool off. Her eyes are very sharp, they often find the wild fruits in the backyard for us to taste. Around her eyes are wrinkles; I should not make her angry anymore. (Angel Chung---9 yrs. old)
Mother likes to use her eyes to read books and newspaper. She loves most to watch me play, and do my homework. Her eyes watch over all my needs. I love my mother. (Priscilla Leung---7 yrs. old)
When mother talks to me, her eyes will look at me with such kind expression. I cannot resist but submit to her. When we do something wrong, she looks at us to make us realize our faults. Her eyes give me comfort and security. Her eyes watch over us. We are excited and happy. (Daniel Su---9 yrs. old)
Shout With Praises
Thank God for saving a sinner such as I. Thank God for His mercy and grace.
On 2/4/98 God gave me the precious words of Ruth 3:18: "Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens." Quickly I held on to this promise, and learned to look up to God with trust. During the time of impatience, these words were my only comfort regarding our situation of immigration status.
On the evening of 2/6/01, my eyes fell on these particular words from my Bible reading: "I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me."(Acts 27:25) Oh God! Thank you for strengthening my faith. God further spoke to me through the Psalms: "I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the one who has done this"(39:9); "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him"(62:5); "My soul clings to you"(63:8a); "He says, 'I removed the burden from their shoulders'"(81:6a); and "Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."(124:8)
On 2/19/01, my eyes were drawn to Job 36:16 underlined in red: "He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction." I read, meditated and wrote this verse down over and over again until the words were firmly planted in me. My heart was fortified. Praise God! While we waited before Him, we were convinced that nothing is impossible with God. If He is willing, He can accomplish all things.
During this time, God worked in my life. A milk-drinking babe learned to grow and be submissive to Him. Oh Lord, may you increase and I decrease so that I may follow the way and run the race towards the goal with all the saints. Praises be to God our Lord! He bestows His grace upon us without ceasing. Glory, honor and power to Him forever!
PS: As I was prompted to write, we were not yet aware that we may now submit application for immigration. (Note: This family has been dealing with their residency status. Please pray for them.)