:By MEL LEE
DEAR, I never told you
this, but for three months after I learned of your pregnancy my
head was up in the clouds even though you were struggling with
morning sickness.
I could not get over the fact that you were heavy with child on
our sixth anniversary. Imagine, just the year before we were having
counselling sessions on our wedding anniversary!
The day your water bag burst and
I sent you to the hospital was the most exciting in my adult life.
And when our little Charis finally emerged and the nurse put her
in your arms, I saw tremendous love and gratefulness in your eyes.
God has been very kind to us.
Children, indeed, complete the family ("even as they rob
us of our sanity", I am sure you would have insisted that
I added this). You used to accuse me of spoiling her and that
she could twirl me round her little finger. Well, I adore our
little girl and I did not have the heart to refuse her anything.
Do you still remember how we both cried on her first day of class
in the neighbourhood pre-school? I vowed that would be the first
and last time I would cry for her. I was wrong. On her first day
in Primary 1, I insisted on sending her myself because I was afraid
you would chide me for crying. You roared with laughter when I
told you she acted like she was the grown-up.
But seriously, dear, our child has been a great blessing. I will
always remember how at Primary 2 she approached her school principal
to ask if she qualified for financial help after I got retrenched
at work and could not find another job for almost a year. But
at that time, I was more embarrassed than thankful and I scolded
her for telling others about my job loss.
She said she overheard a church-mate talking about the MWS Bursary
Awards, yet something tells me it was her godma Margaret who had
been speaking to her.
I was still a bit embarrassed when we accompanied Charis to the
MWS Bursary Awards ceremony but I felt proud of her. Later, we
signed up for a financial workshop at Daybreak Family Service
Centre. During the workshop, we were taught about money management
and given tips on saving.
I started to feel more hopeful about our situation, especially
after learning that it is possible for a low-income family to
have savings. Sure enough, a few days after the talk, God blessed
me with a temporary job. I was ecstatic! To top it all, the boss
sent me for retraining and employed me permanently after three
months. When I got my pay cheque I set aside $100 from my salary
and I have never stopped saving.
I am thankful we always have some money in the bank to fall back
on. We can even afford to take short holiday trips to Malaysia
now. Most importantly, our Charis has learnt from our example
of spending wisely. And you have stopped nagging me for pandering
to her whims and fancies.
Mel Lee is the Senior Executive, Communications and Fund-Raising,
of the Methodist Welfare Services.
Editor: The story of Jin Han and Susanna will continue in the
February issue of Methodist Message. Although theirs is a fictional
story, it reflects many of the situations encountered by our Family
Service Centres. Any similarities to actual persons, places or
situations are purely coincidental.
:
A financial talk at Daybreak
Family Service Centre which targets low-income families. - MWS
picture.
Methodist Welfare Services centres
Family Service Centres offer
professional advice and support to couples and families in distress.
Core programmes include casework and counselling, information
and referral, preventive and developmental programmes, among others.
*Covenant FSC Tel: 6282 8558 Fax: 6283 6361 admin@covenant.mws.org.sg
* Daybreak FSC Tel: 6756 4995 Fax: 6752 4709 admin@daybreak.mws.org.sg
* Kampong Kapor FSC Tel: 6299 7662 Fax: 6294 2116 admin@kampongkapor.mws.org.sg
* Sembawang FSC Tel: 6754 7050 Fax: 6754 0112 admin@sfsc.mws.org.sg
* Tampines FSC Tel: 6787 2001 Fax: 6787 4459 admin@tampines.mws.org.sg
Services for Children and Youth
Affordable quality child care and student care services are provided
for the holistic nurturing and development of each young life.
Preventive programmes, pastoral care, counselling and remedial
services are offered to youth. Annual MWS bursaries are awarded
to deserving school children from disadvantaged families.
* D'Joy Children's Centre Tel: 6294 9960 Fax: 6294 9597 admin@djoy.mws.org.sg
* iConnect Student Care @ FTPPS Tel: 6352 5996 Fax: 6252 5321
admin@iconnect.mws.org.sg
* Methodist Children & Youth Centre Tel: 6562 2211 Fax:
6569 8038 admin@mcyc.mws.org.sg
* MWS Bursary Awards Tel: 6478 4700 Fax: 6478 4701 admin@mws.org.sg
Services for the Elderly, Sick, Frail, and
Socially Disadvantaged MWS serves the elderly, sick
and frail at its nursing home through a comprehensive range of
services which include rehabilitative day care, home-help, physiotherapy,
residential long-term care and hospice care. At its home for the
destitute, it offers healthcare, befriending, counselling and
a safe haven. A volunteer-based hospice fellowship provides support
to the terminally ill.
* Bethany Methodist Nursing Home Tel: 6314 1580 Fax: 6314 1576
admin@bethany.mws.org.sg
* Christalite Methodist Home Tel: 6368 5179 Fax: 6368 7127 admin@cmh.mws.org.sg
* Methodist Hospice Fellowship Tel: 6761 0116 Fax: 6314 1576
mhf@bethany.mws.org.sg 