Church Weekly for 13 April 2008
My dear readers,
Today let me tell you (from my Memoirs) of our blessed years with grandfather.
With Grandfather in the school of godliness
When I was six I was sent to live with Grandfather. My five years with this grand old man left its mark on my life: my thinking, my way of life, and my value system. During the five years, Grandfather imparted to me by example and precept the elements of godly living, just as the Word of God says in Proverbs 22:6 :
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Our family lived in Kluang, some eighty miles to the north of Singapore, in Johor State, Malaya. Mother had God-given foresight to send us to schools in Singapore, the "centre of learning." She reasoned: "English holds the key to the future, not Chinese, not Malay."
Mother was right. English, since then, has risen to become the pre-eminent global language, the lingua franca.
Thank God for giving our parents the resolve during those difficult Depression years to invest in the children's education. Big Sister enrolled in the Methodist Girls' School, while we boys went to Anglo-Chinese School. Today these schools rank among the top in Singapore.
While our primary objective for leaving home and parents was for a better education, we received something far more precious: spiritual lessons from an unusual man of God.
DAYS OF "PRE-MODERN LIVING"
Grandfather was Pastor of the Chinese Presbyterian Church at 4_ milestone, Upper Serangoon Road. The Church property comprised an atap and plank house on about 30,000 square feet of land, with six durian trees, a clump of banana plants, and a well, our source of water, in which lived a solitary catfish.
The atap house was a modest single storey building with four bedrooms, a kitchen, a centre living room which became the Sanctuary on the Lord's Day. Here lived Grandfather, his two younger daughters, Second and Third Aunts, Big Sister Siew Ai, and four brothers Siang Hui (Timothy), Siang Yew, Siang Hwa and Siang Yeow.
There were no modern conveniences: no electricity, no gas, no modern sanitation, no pipe-water. But there was no lack of godliness. Life was very basic, "back to nature," and no cause for regret, for "sweet are the uses of adversity." Here, under the saintly influence of Grandfather, we learned precious lessons of godliness, frugality, self-reliance, discipline - lessons which endure.
While Kluang was a mere eighty miles from Singapore, we children made the trip home only when the school term ended and school holidays began. Father's meager income did not allow us the luxury of more than three home-trips per year. In those days there were no telephones, so during the three school terms we did not hear our parents' voices.
What a far cry from today's instant communication by cellphone, and even videophone. On the other hand, absence made the heart grow fonder.
For young children like us to leave parents was a painful experience. Second Brother and I felt the parting most keenly, especially in the afternoons when we were back from school. For the first week, the two of us would steal to the back of the house, and console ourselves with a private "sobbing session." As the days passed and school work increased, our homesickness gradually subsided.
"Busyness cures homesickness."
As the saying goes, "Time flies," and before we realised it, the end of term was in sight. The prospect of seeing Father and Mother again was like heaven!
When I first set eyes on Grandfather, he was like Abraham to me, a venerable gentleman of threescore years and ten. He never re-married after Grandmother died in 1922. Why? He was sixty and had a good span of years ahead of him. He had his reasons which I surmise from his will, a document containing much food for thought. Being wholly given to God, remaining single would allow him to devote himself more fully to holy service.
Grandfather's Will - written in his own hand on 19 April 1926 in the "Peach River Garden," Senai. From the will I have extracted some precious lessons, testifying to God's excellent grace in his life. I quote:
To my dear children:
a) When I was nineteen, the Holy Spirit led me to the salvation grace of Jesus Christ. I gave up my sinful ways, and all my desire for the wealth of this world.
b) When I was twenty-six, I dedicated myself to preach the Gospel. I retired from my pastorate at fifty-eight. Thereafter I continued faithfully to preach the Gospel wherever I went, from China to Malaya and Singapore.
c) I received my call from the Lord, and I deeply believe that I must conquer sin and the devil everyday, over and over again. I praise the Lord that He blesses me increasingly all the days of my life.
d) I have never tried to accumulate great wealth, but only pray that God will give me the wisdom to lead all you children to trust in the Lord so that you may receive the true blessing which is Faith in God.
e) On earth I have no hope. My hope is beyond earth, that one day we may all meet in heaven and sing the Song of Victory. As for now, keep good faith with Christ; make good use of what He has entrusted to you by carrying out charitable works.
f) Put on the Armour of God so that you may withstand the wiles of the devil. Be diligent in prayer to receive the protection of God (Eph 6:10-20 ).
g) Our life in this world is like a day's journey. In one short day the journey is done. If this is so, why then should we crave for many things? Never forget the days of the devastating earthquake followed by the terrible typhoon when hundreds of thousands lost their homes and lives. But our God is always with us.
h) Keep the Commandments. Honour your parents. This is the most beautiful and precious opportunity not to be missed. (To be continued)
Lovingly in the Lord
Dr SH Tow, Senior Pastor