204th Reflection💬

“The Lord's mercy, how to receive❓”

Let go of whatever is in your grip.

……

Another me said, “I heard that one of the main reasons why you follow Jesus is that He’s shown you mercy and re-unite your family.”

I said, “Yes, the Lord brought back home my dad, who had been away for more than 10 years.”

Another me said, “How did the Lord bring him back?”

I said, “At the beginning, dad seemed to come back from somewhere I didn’t know. He said he wanted to see sister and me.”

Another me said, “When was it?”

I said, “When I was primary, he left. He wasn’t back until I was senior secondary. Then, my sister met him occasionally. Every time we met one another at Tai Sun Siu Mei Restaurant.”

Another me said, “So it’s when you’re senior secondary the Lord brought your dad back home, wasn’t it?”

I said, “No, it wasn’t.”

Another me said, “Why?”

I said, “Who welcomed him back? Everyone pointed their finger at him. Mum told me she allowed sister and me to meet dad not because she had forgiven him but because he had the right to do so. What’s more, we lived with my aunties. Everybody said he was bad.”

Another me said, “When did your dad bring you home in the end?”

I said, “2007, the year I graduated from the university.”

Another me said, “2007, weren’t you still living with your aunties?”

I said, “That year, I was having so many arguments with my eldest cousin. Then I happened to overhear that mum was discussing the renewal of the lease contract of her flat with the tenant. And I told mum I was moving back.”

Another me said, “How about your dad?”

I said, “When he found that I was moving back, he said he’d like to follow too.”

Another me said, “So your mum accepted your dad and here came a family union.”

I said, “Naive! Mum asked me not to move back. She suggested staying with my aunties. It was free. And she could renew the contract. My decision cost quite a handsome amount.”

Another me said, “What is your response?”

I said, “I said I would move back. I didn’t want to stay with my cousin.

Another me said, “You moved back home and received your dad. Did your auntie agree to it?”

I said, “Whether she agreed or not, I could move back, right?”

Another me said, “Was it that your mum finally agreed, seeing that you’re so determined?”

I said, “No way. The flat is hers. If you were the owner, would you stop leasing it, open the door and welcome back one that you hate the most?”

Another me said, “If I were your mum, I’ve have told the Lord that I just couldn’t it. But without her support, how could you have moved back?”

I said, “I asked her, how much was the rent?”

Another me said, “What question it was! You considered paying the rent and moving back .”

I said, “What’s the problem? The Lord’d granted me a teaching position. I could settle it.”

Another me said, “Even though you could settle the rent, this didn’t mean that your mum should lease it to you, right?”

I said, “I told her, if she didn’t lease it to me, I’d look for another flat.”

Another me said, “Finally?”

I said, “She leased it to me. And I welcomed back home my dad, whom the Lord guided.”

Another me said, “How about your mum?”

I said, “She’s back home together.”

Another me said, “Alas, so to receive His mercy costs a lot, doesn’t it? The rent in Hong Kong is nothing funny.”

I said, “My mum’s really nice. So far she’s raised no rent at all. I just took my rental payment as my share of the family expenses.”

Another me said, “Is there any share of family expenses be as expensive as the rent of a flat?”

I said, “Het, if you haven’t let go whatever is in your grip, which hand is free to receive the mercy from the Lord?”

Another me said, “When did the Lord show mercy?”

I said, “So forgetful! I just told you the Lord brought back home my dad. Are you capable enough to guide him back home?”

Another me said, “Fine. You’re right here. The Lord did show mercy, but just 50%. The remaining 50%, you got to settle it in your own.”

I said, “No, no, no. The Lord had the bill all settled Himself.”

Another me said, “How dared you say that? The fact is the Lord had you pay for the other half of His mercy.”

I said, “What? Doesn’t all that in my hand belong to the Lord?”

Another me said, “Stop kidding me. Let’s be honest: the Lord shows half of the mercy and you get to pay for the other half.”

I said, “Do you really believe Jesus is the Creator?”