How do I Love my neighbour?

Strange when you ask the question then answers pop out of books, videos,daily situations etc. My joy has always been teaching kids music and how to make music part of their character and identity. I constantly think of ways to get them to enjoy what they do, or I rummage through books to see if they would be happy with the music they played.

I guess it's got to be thinking about the other person, what would bring a smile, laugh or the "ting ting" in their eyes.
Hungry? Feed them. Sick, heal them. Sad, console, or be there. Weak, strengthen with encouragement. "kan cheong" teach them to be calm. Angry, self control and calm down before acting.

So I get laryngitis and I sense I've been talking too much and I should do more and talk less.
I resolve to give someone else the amount I give myself.
I will be more thankful and in turn be happy at heart.
Just pray God will be pleased.

Teacher scrutiny

It's so easy to find fault with people, systems; almost blaze to give advise. Then the scrutiny on your own life as a teacher...did i do anything to contribute, are the ideas shortlived and not have any root? Ah the struggle to do the right thing and make it last.

How do you disciple someone? The challenge laid down when the helper comes into your home with no experience in looking after a young child and our family. So I make the attempt to be patient, setting the household chores, teaching every action from the cup of tea, the cooking, mopping behind the furniture to the ironing. I repeat the teaching as i do with my tuition kids who didn't practice during the week; how do you practise the task step by step.

People have flaws. So they will mess up and we have to continue to hope, continue to pray cos only God can change them, only He has the wisdom to help us change.

I was just thinking about passion

I was just thinking about living with a passion， a drive that makes you fully alive and I stumble upon jenni's blog ：） Actually i've been reading about it during QT ； angst， joy all in the different spectrum and suddenly everything is abuzz with new energy. Why stumble through the whole life process and not be totally invigourated, and filled. There's so much to enjoy and jenni's reminder to pray for each friend， each soul i come across adds them to share in this incredible gift of life. I am grateful and blessed.

Where is Barney？ He's enjoying his star wars dvd， watching it on big tv with sound effects that literally rocks your world cos he's discovered the different enperience of watching it on a small screen video and one with sound surround. He'll probably come in soon asking for his 4 o'clock milk. Then we'll decide whether the park or a nap before dinner is a better idea.

Yes life throws us opportunities to have a few talents or more， experience love in a family or commaraderie with friends. For me singing in a choir， being part of a music teachers community In both people continually feed the group with delicious food， with their energy and enthusiam， ideas， thoughtfulness， and i am humbled by their untiring generousity and i am compelled to try to be better and bless and contribute to love and give life. I'm reminded of how easy it is to retreat into cocoon but how glorious to share the gift of life. A continuous decision to choose to give and be blessed.

Train the child in the way he should go

We all want our children to grow up knowing what's right and wrong, have a sense of integrity, know how to care and share, how to be independent, creative, problem solving, always search for the truth, always have God to guide our way. What's stopping us? Ego,Fear,Faulty reasoning like he's too young, etc Jesus keep me humble, help me take steps to grow.

Method in madness

I had expected the best well known education to be of the best run programme but after 2 lessons, I have come to realise things are never perfect. I sent Barney in to Julia Grabriel thinking they would be cater to every child and provide a sound well thought through lesson, but they start 10 mins late then they take 30 mins to take the attendance. Yes the teachers try to personalise each encounter with each child, helping them take off their shoes and trying to remember their names but another teacher holds the attendance sheet and goes around asking the child's name again then they give out fun passes in the class and try to greet every of the 20 children present. My thinking is there are more efficient ways to taking the attendance and learning names.

Yes they teach the kids to do 2 pieces of art work one in english and one in chinese, but they only have 10 chairs so the other 10 children get to play with the same toys while waiting their turn. The teacher tells me, the kids learn more at play anyway. So i sigh and make the best of the situation and play with Barney while waiting again to do a piece of art.

So what did the lesson accomplish? Was it effective in teaching the child the objective for the day? I would have to say yes. Barney enjoyed the new toys, he could say the "f" sound and "fish" and "Yu".

So i guess i should be more forgiving and understanding, and take with a pinch of salt that there is learning going on even if things don't happen the way i would like it to. There is method in the madness of coping with the noise of 20 kids (2 which are constantly crying)and 20 adults and 4 teachers in an enclosed room.

Would it be better shifting to a smaller class? My preference is yes but i do realise it might lose the dynamic rucus. So i sigh again..maybe i just need to be more patient.

So if i look at it from a social perspective. Barney does learn to be patient to wait his turn, he does learn to share his toys while waiting, he does learn to watch quietly when the teacher teaches, he does learn his manners when choosing water or juice, he does clean up when it is time to clear his toys due to peer pressure and the number of people doing so. So i admit i'm not as patient as i thought i was.

Yes they took a little longer at things but even though we missed out on story time, and the 1pm lunctime was replaced with a snack of 4 biscuits, some sultanas and 2 pieces of honey melon..I guess i will complain at the right time or just hold my peace until another time.

Why do people avoid people?

It's strange, when you do attend a social, some would rather avoid people then feel uncomfortable. I thought when I did attend one where i hadn't met up with people for some time, it would be one of acceptance and catching up; instead the two responses that sounded forthright was "we do work you know." Yes i do understand this but i thought we could share other topics of conversation, like movies,kids, food,ideas, parents etc..and the other was " I don't like the posturing and posing." I don't get it, firstly i wasn't posturing or posing and i'd really just like to know you better, maybe in some way i could be a blessing. Well at least the pizza party was more loving. Maybe i just need to show more love and thoughtfulness. Will pray for more wisdom.

Why do church buildings get bigger?

I thought the building quaint and the size perfect to get to know people but now as all other churches have done before there is going to be a reconstruction. Why not use a fifth of the amount and plant a new church? Or better grow 5 new churches?