One day in 2030, a teenage boy is having a conversation with his father about a world history in 2020 when there was global pandemic called COVID-19.
“What was it like?”, he asks. The dad says, “It was very challenging moments, son. Our country were under lockdown orders, we couldn’t go anywhere, everyone had to stay at home for months to reduce the spread of the deadly Coronavirus. We even couldn’t buy the things we need from the grocery store since they ran out of the stuff.
The dad asks, “How did you feel at that moment?” The kid says, “All I remember was the school was closed so I had to learn from home, and I could play with you, dad! Mom cooked delicious food all the time, and we always had dinner together. I also remember that I could sleep longer because I didn’t need to get up early to go to school. I feel like that was the happiest moment in my life!”
In the simplicity of a child’s mind, he only remembers things that make him happy, one of which is closeness to those around him.
Today is April 5th, 2020. I’m writing this as a reminder to treasure every moment of time. This is the time you always wish you had; spending quality time with your family, playing with your kids, strengthening your marriage, learning new things, etc. Enjoy now because this pandemic crisis surely shall pass.
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Ever since we found out we were having twins we started getting asked LOTS of questions. Apparently having and raising twins is a novelty and something a lot of you are pretty curious about.
We totally get it.
We were terrified when we found out we were having twins as we questioned ourselves how in the world we are going to take care of two babies at the same time! Until today we are still wondering how, but somehow we all made it through each day. And even with those wild and difficult moments, we find our unspeakable joy to watch them grow.
So I thought I’d answer some of those repeating questions people ask over and over again. We don’t mean to be sarcastic, it’s just that sometimes we get a little tired of answering the same questions, especially when you are the twentieth person to ask since we entered the store. And that we know your initial question is going to lead to three more, and we can’t remember why we enter the store in the first place, and we’ve only got five more minutes before our (obviously twin) babies are going to have a meltdown.
Anyway, here are some questions that we’ve got asked:
Q: Are they twins?
A: Duh…! Isn’t it obvious? Two babies in a double stroller? Please forgive us, we don’t mean to be rude, we appreciate your admiration of our twins.
Q: Is any of you has a family history of twins?
A: No. Both I and my wife don’t have one. We checked with both our parents. They don’t run in our family… but they run around at home :D. We feel so privileged to be the first one in our family who has twins!
Q: How do you tell them apart? Did you ever get mixed up?
A: As their parents, of course we can tell them apart. Once I got mixed up during the first few weeks after the arrival because of sleep deprivation and exhaustion.
Q: Are they identical or fraternal?
A: Our twins are identical. For some reason, people like to classify twins in two categories: identical and non-identical (fraternal). Most people know that there are two types of twins, but they really have no idea what that actually means.
A: This is very common question people ask us. In our twins, we say that Alyssia is the older one, and it’s only by one minute apart from Kaitlynn.
I’d like to share some interesting opinion or belief about the birth order of twins. In Chinese belief, whoever comes out first is the youngest. Why? After talking to some people, we’ve found out that Chinese view about the birth order is based on baby position in the womb. So whoever comes out first must be in a lower position, that’s why he/she is the youngest one.
Got other questions? Just drop them in the comments below, we’ll try to answer them in another one of these posts in the future. Hopefully, it would help any curiosity you have about the subject.
In a lifetime, everyone must have experienced difficult times in his life. You may have been waiting exhaustively for an answer, praying to God every single day, but nothing seems to change. Day after day, month after month, year after year, things even get worse.
Many questions begin to arise in your heart, such as:
“God, where are you?” “When will this problem end?” “Did God even hear my prayer?” “This must be consequences for something I must have done wrong” “I’ve been faithfully coming to church and small groups, committed in a ministry, faithful in giving, but why is this happening to my life?”
We often blame God. Our guilt torment ourselves. That needs to stop! Our own conscience is deceitful. You must believe God has forgiven your sins, and God allows things to happen in your life for greater purpose.
God is always in control of your life, even your enemy who against you. In the book of Exodus, Pharaoh hardened his heart to not letting go the Israelites. God caused his heart to be hardened, but God also caused his heart to be changed for a purpose.
God allows you to experience difficult times so that His power and miracle can be manifested in your life. God is able to change your “test’ to become a “testimony”. He pays double for your trouble!
“When you are experiencing setbacks, it’s not because you had done something wrong, you may be doing something right. You are doing something which will change you into a different person God wants you to be!”
Joel Osteen
When you are in trials, don’t give up doing good things and being kind. You will reap what you are sowing!
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatian 6:9
People around you may be very discouraging, they say things that make you feel down and worthless. Do not give up or become weary. You shouldn’t keep complaining about your situation and asking what’s wrong with you. Keep in mind that your challenging situation sets a stone for you to go to the next level. The way God deals with your situation is not always the same as before since your faith may have grown stronger ever. God has a great plan for you, His intentions are for your growth. God is sovereign, He is able to do the impossible things!
Set your eyes upon Jesus and never give up! Never cease to pray, God never leave nor forsaken you. You will come out stronger than before!
“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay.” Hebrews 10:36-37 (NIV)
If you’re discouraged because of God’s delay in answering your prayers, understand the delay is NOT a denial. Just because the answer or the miracle hasn’t come – yet – that doesn’t mean God isn’t going to answer or that he’s forgotten you or that he doesn’t care about you. It simply means “not yet!”
“If you’re discouraged, turn it around by remembering God teaches you patience during delay.”
Part of becoming spiritually mature is learning the difference between “no” and “not yet,” between a denial and a delay. The Bible tells us, “He who is coming will come and will not delay.”
God’s delay may be a test of your patience. Anybody can be patient once. And, most people can be patient twice. And, a lot of us can be patient three times. So God tests our patience over and over and over.
Why? So he can see how patient you are? No!
He does it so you can see how patient you are. So you’ll know what’s inside you, and you’ll be able to know your level of commitment. God tests you so that you can know he is faithful, even if the answers you seek are delayed.
If you’re discouraged, turn it around by remembering God teaches you patience during delay. Ask him to transform your discouragement into patience.
You may be going through difficult times right now. You’re discouraged because the situation you face seems unmanageable, unreasonable, or unfair.
It may seem unbearable and inside you’re basically saying, “God, I can’t take it anymore. I just can’t take it anymore!”
But you can.
You can stay with it longer because God is with you. He’ll enable you to press on. Remember, you are never a failure until you quit. Resist discouragement and finish the race God has set for us.
