GOD IS EVERYWHERE.

A miracle had happened to me when I was a young kid of eight years old. I knew that I was dying with my physical conditions getting from bad to worse. The only place where I could move around was tiny little space beside the bed. I didn't have the energy to lift myself up from the bed. Life for me was too tormenting and there was nobody to turn to for assistance. At that point of time, I knew that I should pray for the Lord's mercy to cure me from my sickness . My prayers were answered. All of the sudden, I could see the clouds open and there was my guardian angel flapping her wings, keeping a watch over me assuring me that I would be all right. Two days later, I could get up from bed by myself without any aids. I was then too young to realise that our Lord, Jesus Christ had sent an angel to check on me.

As a teenager of sixteen years, I had always thought that no one was right except me. I didn't want to listen to the advice given by the elders. Just like the other kids, I would follow them to a mining pool where we used to have a quick dip before going back to our respective homes. During one of those occasions, I jumped and swam to the middle of the mining pool which unknown to me was an undercurrent movement that pulled me down almost reaching the bottom of it. I had only a few seconds of air left in my lungs before catching another breath. I could see the weeds moving in all directions. Out of the blues, I felt someone grabbed hold of my hair pulling me out of the water just in time to catch some breaths. I would have been a goner if not for the quick action of my friend whom I felt grateful to him for saving my life. It was a narrow escape but I believed I was still wanted in this world.

Believe me, people used to say one could not be a third time lucky so don't ever stake one's lives against risky chances. I am still suffering from hypertension with high chlolesterol . It was due to my irregular intakes of my medication, my blood pressure reading shot up sky high (210/120) and my cholesterol level was beyond around 9. I was hospitalised for a second stroke. This time, I felt that the right side of my body from the mouth to the leg was slightly paralysed. I could not move normally. The doctors put me drips, so to say, to bring down my blood pressure. The hit was really bad. I thought that I would remain in that conditions for the rest of my life. Suddenly, I felt something serene in a white apparition flying over my head while I was lying motionless in the hospital bed. I told myself that I was indeed very lucky that my guardian angel was beside me again in time of needs. Since then I began to recover slowly but steadily. Although I still experience walking difficulties but I am blessed that except for my right leg, the sensation has returned to my right hand and mouth. One thing for sure is that I cannot afford to take things for granted instead I should be more careful in future.

No matter what other people say, God is everywhere. If one prays hard, He will answer one's needs.

INSPIRATIONAL ADVICE.

This friend of mine whom I have known for more then twenty-five years told me today. "You should not feel hapless forever because of your disability. In fact, there is nothing much to worry about but to discipline and instil into yourself with the undying faith that you would be able to overcome your "so-called problems". If you look around yourself, you are very much better than many people. Your children have all grown up and independent. What's that you are worrying about? Like myself, I still have to support my four schooling children whereas your three children can look after themselves. As I know that they are very supportive in all respects. Why don't you make a resolution for this year by taking a walk at least three times weekly, beginning at a slow pace and increase it gradually. Get some early fresh air outdoor and I can guarantee that you'll be all right after two months. So then, the next time when I call you out for a coffee break, you will be able to drive and don't depend on me to pick you up from your house". If I were narrow-minded and sensitive, I would have the impression that he was tired of fetching me from my house but in actual fact. he is trying his level-best to inspire in me that I should not be dependable on others but myself. "Never worry worries until worries worry you" still remains ringing in my ears until today.

With such inspirational advice, I must not fail him but to proceed by aiming for the best possible results, that is, to be independent again. Can I do it?? Why not, another proverb which says that "if there is a will, there is always a way." I believe that most failures are caused by mankind themselves.

When I looked around the park, I noticed one unfortunate man swinging his right leg and left hand while walking. The poor fellow had a bad stroke but he still walks every morning to improve his stamina and physical conditions. There was another lady who initially looked like a "vegetable" and could not walk without the support of her husband. After two months, we saw that she was able to walk without any assistance from her husband. These were the examples which I saw with my own eyes.

I always have the bad habits of postponing things and in the end, I don't achieve anything at all. I must start somewhere, somehow whether I like it or not to improve my physical conditions. Let me report back to you after two months from now.

AN OLD TWIG.

It is always easily said then done. The world may not be static but when it comes to reality, bending a young branch is much easier than before it reaches to become part of a full grown tree. That is the time when you have either to saw or use an axe to remove the old twig from the tree 'cos it can no longer be bent anymore. It is not a matter of possessing the negative feelings but it does restrict the movements of advancement through aging although one may argue that things will change for the better at their own natural pace progressively but of course at a longer period.

Naturally, one would like to change for the better by casting away all those negative thoughts and old ways but in short it still boils down to the same principle as mentioned earlier. Another good proverb is that "one can pull a cow to the pond but one cannot force it to drink the water in the pond". You simply cannot change a person from the old ways overnight. No one in the right frame of his mind would want to remain static if the opportunities are one step way. Everyone wishes that the clock will able to turn back so as to be able to apply the vast experiences gained from the ups and downs of life to become a successful and better person. But circumstances forbid new changes in a very short time, just like "Rome was not built in one day".

I, for one, support changes but at times it is quite discouraging especially when you need assistance it would always be miles apart. I agree that through positive thoughts things will one day change for the better but it is always a matter of running out of patience without positive supports.