Christmas Reflection (Vivienne Ng)

 


Hi all. Vi here. Merry Christmas from our family of 11!!! Last night, we had the first reunion of ALL 5 foster kids + 1 sibling (Audrie Siew 's ex foster dg who has also stayed over before), except for the 2 babies we previously fostered. It was a riot! But a delight to catch up and to pray a blessing over them at Christmas.

Having lived 5 decades; believed in Jesus for 4 of those decades; been a psychologist for 3 decades, a parent for 2 & a foster parent for 1......

I am still awestruck & moved by the profundity of the Christmas Story & Message. It answers all the psychological, existential, relational questions I have had in my life, not just from my own childhood search for truth & meaning, but as a mental health professional and parent.
- As a psychologist, I know that there is something inside of us that yearns for absolute goodness/perfection as well as deep connection (unconditional love), but in my experience, we are not inherently good, despite humanistic theories and despite our efforts. We all fall short.
That God even wants a relationship with us is mind blowing....
- But as a parent, I know what lengths I would go to for my kids - to fight for them & to win them over. How much I desire their love despite the grief of having to punish them for wrongdoings! At the crypt and the cross, is where love and justice mingle, where truth and mercy meet.
- And, as a foster parent, I know that just belonging to someone, being wanted, valued and simply worth it, is all our foster kids desire. They all wanna either go home to their own families or to find a family of their own (for those who cannot go home). If no one cares for me or wants me, how can I be of worth?
What great love and sacrifice it too then, for our Creator, the God of the universe, to send His Son Jesus into our world in order to redeem us, when we could never ever pick ourselves up out of sin!! And that Jesus humbled himself enough to show up on earth as a helpless baby, and that He did it willingly too.... totally counterintuitive....but how personal is that?!!!
What amazing love He has for us, to choose to adopt us into His family through His Son, so that we can go to Him as our Father.
What incredible lengths our Heavenly Father has taken, just to meet us relationally - the fact that He knows us intimately & allows Himself to be known by us. Emmanuel (God with us) - that we can actually experience Him, & that He can be so near and not far away.
That is why the birth of Christ is such an amazing event.. separating time itself into "before" and "after". As I was reflecting on this the other day, I thought to myself, yet again, yes this is an amazing God indeed!!

Popular posts from this blog

Robin and Linda's Extraordinary Ordinary Lives

  Robin and Linda together with their own children and grandchildren   (FIRST PUBLISHED IN THE SOLID ROCK MAGAZINE, 2008) Of Such Is The Kingdom Of Heaven     It’s August 2008. Robin and Linda Lim, aged 56 and 52 respectively, share their five-room HDB flat with their three natural children and four foster children*: Terence (aged nine), Joshua (26 months old), Moses (20 months old) and Rebecca (15 months old). And there’s Oscar — a Siberian husky who started out as a temporary boarder and somehow ended up becoming part of the family as well. Take a peep into their extraordinarily ordinary lives.    Love Means Choosing To Sacrifice     Over the past five years, nine “special needs” children, ranging from newborns to teenagers, have been a part of the Lims’ family for between four months and five years. And though packed with four cots (one in the living room) and a double-decker bed, the Lims’ home is surprisingly uncluttered. Some of these children, Linda shared, have experienced negl
Read more

"A Cheerful Giver" (Michael & Irene)

3 foster children from HFG families received awards from MSF last weekend. Michael and Irene just shared with us what Nicole* (not her real name) did after the ceremony! Our hearts are so warm...Nicole, we are cheering you on! SHARING BY MICHAEL “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” - 2 Corinthians 9:7 NKJV Today I (Michael) really saw what this verse truly meant. Nicole* received the MSF Academic Achievement Award. Along with it she was awarded a prize voucher. During our journey back from church, Nicole was quietly discussing something with her younger foster sister. Nicole than came excitedly to me saying; "Daddy, Daddy, you can use part of the money and go enjoy a meal with Mummy!" I looked at Nicole surprised: "Why?". Nicole replied with glee; "I want to treat you & Mummy to your your favourite chilli dish." (She knew I like spicy food.) I decided to pull her leg ,"
Read more

MSF Award Ceremony for Foster Children and Youth 2022 (Audrie)

It’s MSF Award Ceremony for Foster Children and Youth 2022! We are so happy to see that 3 HFG foster children got the MSF academic excellence awards from Minister for Social and Family Development, Mr Masagos Zulkifli! Today, we want to celebrate these children and wanted to find out their dreams! We were onsite and managed to collect some short snippets. MICHAEL, IRENE and NICOLE* (14 year-old foster girl). Nicole, got an award for her Sec 2 results. Michael and Irene shared that they felt so happy for Nicole because they saw her putting in a lot of effort. With the transition from primary school to Secondary school, Nicole had to juggle between her CCA, her studies, moving between the homes of her natural family and foster family. She rose above it all to focus and do well in her studies. Nicole was happy that she got an award as she didn’t expect to get it. She shared that her dream was to be a teacher when she grows up, one who is patient and will put in a lot of effort to help the
Read more

Fostering Tea Session April 2023 (Alan & Eliz) - Caring for a Foster Child with Neurodiversity

  One Day At A Time – Eliz and Alan’s Journey of caring for a foster child with neurodiversity   How It Started Eliz and Alan’s fostering journey started when Alan asked Eliz if she was keen to attend a fostering introduction session and she agreed without hesitating. Before they took the leap of faith, they were considering how their lifestyle would be changed with a foster child in the house. They had a carefree lifestyle and were able to have vacations during off-peak season. They were also concerned about whether they could manage the caregiving of their aged parents if they were also caring for a foster child.  The couple did not have their own children, and Eliz felt that the marriage was incomplete without a child. Eliz waited for 16 years for God to answer her prayer and He called her to be a foster mother.  Doubts to Reassurance  After they were approved as foster parents, they received a call from MSF about caring for a premature baby, Eugene*. Eliz was quite hesitant about c
Read more

Launch of Befrienders for Families with co-developer The Salvation Army

Being foster parents and journeying with fellow foster parents in the past 10 years, we are very thankful for UBS Optimus Foundation’s support in this new program - Befrienders for Families (BFF) - co-developed by both HFG-SG and The Salvation Army Singapore (TSA)! Supporting the natural families of the foster children is also important in the entire care continuum. Last Friday, the BFF program was officially launched at TSA’s Red Shield Appeal Event 2023. Here’s a few photos taken at the event. We were too busy meeting new and old friends, and eating, so here’s only 3 photos!
Read more