Tree-Clapping, Field-Singing Joy :
Salvation Comes to My Family!
I believe that the older we grow, the more separate our paths veer from our biological family. Nature dictates we branch out to new roads, into matrimonial families, individual units, independent entities. Considering that most of us in Singapore live our entire childhood, adolescent, and young adult life with our families, this process of separation--though progressive--is a painful one. Particularly when 1) we are close to our families, 2) when we become conscious of this yawning, inevitable distance.

This process of separation is always something that's been for my five siblings and I. It started off when the oldest two got married, when the grandkids started multiplying, when girlfriend and boyfriends started creeping into the picture, and we all, well... got older. We plucked the courage to venture and live our own lives. Amidst this excitement, there always was also a tinge of sadness—that the love we so know between us was being forced to change, in lieu and light of other loves arising. I guess this Barcelona endeavour is the perfect case in point.

When I woke up this morning, I was crabby and tired. With only 6 1/2 hours of sleep and a 7am Wordswright conference call to prepare for, I felt like a slug that'd just gotten salt sprinkled on it. As my toes tingled and (what little of) my leg hair raised in the chilly air, I sat down with a thump at my desk. I fumbled around, grumbling for my phone.

What greeted me on screen were two messages. One was an advertisement (bah, delete!) and another, interestingly, was a text from my oldest brother.

I've always loved my brother. Tremendously. All my siblings for that matter. But as is with most Chinese families, we are shy to be frank, blatant, and perfectly honest with our feelings. Which explains the heartening, thankful feeling that welled when his initial “How are you Sarah?” quickly gave way to sharing how he was now experiencing the start of a greater love from Above. As I read his text, 10,900km away on a frigid Spanish winter morning, the fatigue that was hovering above me dissipated into thin air—quite quickly, and quite literally. Like a Cyril Wong poem I once read, here suddenly was honesty peaking like warm sunbeams, past dark clouds. In its place, I rediscovered that indelible warmth and confidence that can only exist between siblings.

From surprise to excitement to a massive grin, what finally replaced that cheek-aching smile were warm, fresh tears. Of joy. So strange considering I was feeling crap just moments ago. But still, even when we are faithless, God remains good and ever faithful. My precious brother’s salvation is the perfect case in point :)

*A toast, to a day filled with incredible rejoicing :)*