JULY 4th - American Independence Day.
This day resonates with me. I can relate to it and it evokes a feeling of familiarity within me. It makes me think of perhaps the most important decision I have made in my life. It is the day I landed in Ireland with Mike and Audrey, the day we decided to make Ireland home.
'You are brave' - my friend said. I have left my job, my country, my friends, my church and most painfully my two older children behind because they were in the midst of their tertiary studies.
I don't know if I had made a brave decision but I do know that I had made a very difficult decision. In fact I think most people would not have made that decision. Who would want to give up familiarity for something unknown? Who would want to give up what had been tried and tested for something like a hypothesis?
But I do know one thing - that is I do not want to live with regrets. Alfred Lord Tennyson said, 'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.'
At best, I would paint a new and wonderful life on a different canvas. At worst, I would pack my bags and go home. I am not one given to impulsive decisions. Like every other decision, I think in a linear way. A = B = C = D. If things do not go forward in a good way, then I will go back to the very beginning (A) and start again. I am not the type to mull over yesterday's unhappiness.
'You are running away' - another person said. The fight or flight theory. Was I running away? NO.
I told her, take the story of the Israelites under years of slavery in Egypt. When God opened the Red Sea for them, were they running away? Or were they running towards the Promised Land?
One thing I know.
If we are faithful in our worship to God, He is faithful.
'Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake?' (Luke 11:11) God is faithful and He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. (Eph 3:20)
I see the faithfulness of God being played out again and again in my life and in my children's lives. Mothers will know how much our children's happiness and well being mean to us.
Sonya my eldest will soon be flying to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, New York City. She is going for a fellowship in oncology on an Irish scholarship. It is a period of training in a different country for experience in the process of being a consultant.
This is not an overnight achievement but years of perseverance, prayer, hope and tears - both mother and daughter. It is amazing to see how caring individuals helped to ease certain technical hiccups because of the lockdown when offices and embassies are closed for long periods of time. We are overwhelmed and grateful.
Would Sonya be where she is if she had not come to Ireland? I don't know. But I can say she is happy where she is. She is blessed.
Sam, my only begotten son has experienced the miraculous hand of God time and again. When very challenging situations arose both job and health wise, God provided. In our limited minds, we are devastated and cry out when everything looks impossible. But miracles happen. Would Sam be where he is if he had come to Ireland? I don't know. But I can say he is happy where he is. He is blessed.
Audrey has made great strides in both her studies and her present position in HR in Dublin Airport. She finds herself well-liked by her colleagues and bosses and being happy in her job is an added bonus. Would Audrey be where she is if she had not come to Ireland? I don't know. But I can say she is happy where she is. She is blessed.
JULY 4th - American Independence Day.
This day resonates with me.
OUR INDEPENDENCE DAY.
The year was 2010.
It has been 11 years since.
Michael and I are still very much in love.
No regrets.
