Start of School Hols and a friend's sad news

Dear All

Today is SACPS PT conference. So, the girls do not need to go to school. Hence their school hols started today (23 May 08 - Fri).

As Felicia was having head and tummy pain prior to the exams and during the exams, she didn't fair too well this SA1. She still complains of head and tummy pain. Sometimes when I lie with her and talk to her, whenever I think how physically weak she is (aesmatic, pains here and there, cough and flu etc), my heart aches with sorrow. Then just 2 weeks ago, a good friend of mine who had migrated e-mailed me asking me to help pray for 1 of her twin boys. Both 13 month old babies had been born with physical defects. Their frontal skull is already fused. The younger one has a more serious problem and needs surgury this 2 June. The older is not as serious but surgury is still needed but not currently. Later on, she told me that both boys do not have their urinary tracts extended to the tip of their penis. The tracts end at the base of the penis. They would need surgery later on to extend it.

Looking at her twins photo, you'll never guess that they have such serious physical "handicaps". It may be due partly to the fact that she had them in her early 40s. When I hear of children with worse problems that my Felicia, I thank God that He is merciful to me that my heart-ache is not as worrying than others and that I should not be so self-pitying. I guess God would only give us burdens that we can bear. My shoulders and heart are weak, I don't think I can bear the burdens that lay on my friend's shoulders as well as she does. I admire her for her courage and faith in God.

Sometimes, we don't appreciate what we have till we see how others around us are fairing. Then we start to see things more in perspective, rather than dwelling in our own sorrows and problems. There are people worse off than us and we should be thankful that our cross is lighter than others.

Love Theresa