A Gift Amid Adversities

Issue 51 May/June 2022

Gift A

Amid Adversities

About the writer: Corlynn Kho From Kuching, manages a small and happy family.

Enjoys looking up to the sky, favours autumn, good food and music.

Feels thankful for the life and new identity given by God. Currently learning to master the rhythm in life to make every day count.

In

Translated by: Choo Ting Hou

疫

view of the widely known and fearsome COVID-19, “ ” (which means pandemic) was selected as the Chinese character of the year for Malaysia in 2020. As the wave of infections peaked in the state of Selangor, my parents tirelessly reminded us to abide by the SOPs, while repeatedly offering tips to keep away from the disease.

Nevertheless, my dad was infected, when we least expected it. It started when he was feeling under the weather one evening.

Hence, my mum immediately asked my uncle to send dad to the hospital. However, being a person of strong character, my dad stubbornly said to the woman he loved, “I’m not going.”

Even so, my aunt, a person who rarely makes any decision, volunteered to dial 999 to request for ambulance service. Just imagine the standard of Malay language of an elderly person born in the 1950s. You get what I mean, don’t you?

“I can’t understand a single word you said,” sure enough, my aunt was dressed down by the phone operator.

The operator asked my aunt to hang up and wait for a return call. Pick a guess – did the operator call back? The answer is no!

Gentle reminder – please read this entire article before you make a conclusion though.

About an hour later, an ambulance arrived at our doorstep. Two medical workers, who showed much lovingkindness, succeeded in persuading my dad to follow them to the hospital for the necessary tests and treatment.

Frankly speaking, after reading about a few incidents of infected patients stranded at homes while awaiting arrangements from hospitals, what happened to my dad was totally beyond expectations and unbelievable.

“An angry phone operator who insisted on discharging duties with high EQ? ” “Accurate information provided despite a language barrier? ” “The hospital dispatched an ambulance amid a ravaging pandemic, even though it couldn’t determine the patient’s state of urgency? ”

These were the questions lingering in my mind.

After dad had been admitted, the hospital informed that the test result had turned out positive. Being away from home, tears started rolling down my cheeks when I heard the news. I tried to call dad numerous times but he didn’t pick up.

“God, please allow more time, not now!”

I prayed helplessly on my knees.

In the morning of the second day after dad’s admission, he finally answered my call. He was in exceptionally good spirit. I gathered the courage and asked,

“Dad, when can ‘my’ God be ‘our’ God?”, but he politely refused.

On the third day, dad’s condition turned for the worse. On the fourth day, after talking to me about his intended arrangements in case of his death, I seized another opportunity to ask, “Dad, would you like to have Jesus as your personal Saviour?”

This time, he answered with a weak voice, “Yes, I do.”

Even though both dad and I were having emotional breakdown, I thank God for helping me to remain calm and maintain a clear mind. I managed to pull myself together and found a sample of the sinner’s prayer, which I used in leading my dad to say the prayer. It was the first ever experience in my life. What’s more important is that it was my beloved father who said the prayer. God’s love to me was simply unfathomable. How wonderful!

RECALLING THE SITUATION BACK THEN –

what

if

dad

had

not

contracted

COVID-19? What if the ambulance did not turn up that evening? What if dad was not put into a life-or-death situation? What if it wasn’t because of God’s compassion and love which turned “sufferings” into blessings, which selected me and the prayer warriors to take part in His salvation plan, which moved my dad, a person with a stubborn spirit, to humble and commit himself to God by declaring, “I am a son of God!” If none of these had happened, how then could dad receive a new heavenly identity, an eternal

life,

adversities?

and

a

gift

amid

The sudden turn of events was totally beyond our control. It was solely God’s sovereignty.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3: 1-2a - New International Version).

God’s love was poured into my household like a fountain.

Three months later, dad was still afflicted by the sequelae of COVID-19, while having been admitted to the hospital thrice. Even so, he would read the Bible whenever he could. He has browsed through the Bible in just two months, causing me to feel inferior.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16 - NIV).

In the face of adversities, we often feel intimidated, frustrated and disappointed. However, I’m thankful we can fully rely on our God who grants peace, joy and hope, which transcend all understanding.

This is what sets Christians apart from others.

Are you facing adversities? Are you troubled by the salvation for your family and friends? Don’t give up, but wait patiently for the help from God! The original Chinese text was taken from “The Bridge” published on 10.01.2022.