Saturday, December 25, 2021

Christmas Message 2021 - "May His Presence Be The Greatest Gift..." Ms. Elaine Sung

"As Christmas comes around and buying presents may take center stage; may I humbly suggest the gift of your presence (pun intended) to those dear to you..."

Reflections for Christmas 2021

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22 COMMENTS

“So this is Christmas, and what have you done?” sings Celine Dion.  Given this privilege by Andy to pen an article, it’s a good opportunity to reflect on 2021.  Perhaps a handful may have read my Easter article in this blog; if you have not, I’m sure it’s found in the archives (hint hint ;p).* This reflection continues my learning journey…

Post Easter, life continues to be impacted by COVID.  But more significantly, by another “c”- a dear family member’s diagnosis of stage 2 cancer. ☹  It was on Maundy Thursday when we collected the routine health report from the clinic.  Much to our surprise, a marker flagged something amiss and the full impact of it did not unravel till weeks after Easter as we ran tests after tests while dealing with the initial denial and fear of the unknown. 

I have to say this has been the biggest game-changer in my life by far.  Where is God when one is hit by a crisis (another “c”!)?  Thankful I have Christ (the big “C”!) who has been my anchor thorough it all. Though assured of His good purpose for it to happen, I had my share of questioning and lamenting.  It does not help that this family member is a fairly new Christian.  How do I respond to “why me” questions without sounding insensitive? What words of comfort can I offer when the pain brings a torrent of tears? What wisdom can I offer when the team of doctors are tweaking medication to address post operation pain? This brings me back to the start of my article, “what have I done?”  Many things have been scaled back not because of COVID measures, but because of being part of the care-giving team.  On hindsight, I see how God lead me out of a teaching role so I would have more time to spend with this family member.  Indeed, it’s a luxury to have time to just be around, not doing very much, but just being present.  To be present to help with physical mobility. To be present to catch priceless flashback moments of joys and regrets.  To be present to address questions like “who is there in heaven?”, “heaven so big, how will we find each other?” (I hasten to add I don’t have all the answers!). To be present to catch that tear, that painful cringe. To be present to pray.  To be present for the rest of family dealing with this crisis in their own ways.
& PRESENCE

As Christmas comes around and buying presents may take center stage; may I humbly suggest the gift of your presence (pun intended) to those dear to you.  One which money cannot buy and which only you can afford.  The Bible states in Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven”, may we steward time and the different seasons of our life wisely.  Incidentally, these wise words can be found in the song “Turn, Turn, Turn” by The Byrds.

Matthew 1:23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel – which means, “God with us”.  May His presence be the greatest gift you will receive.  

Blessed Christmas to all.

Thanks to Ms. Elaine Sung
for her reflections. 

*From the archives:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2021/04/reflections-for-good-friday-2021-ms.html

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflections-for-good-friday-2020-elaine.html

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2019/04/good-friday-took-on-new-meaning-ms.html

'Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel' - Enya 
YouTube Video from An Ghaoth Aniar.

Celine Dion - 'Happy Christmas [War is Over]'
An official Celine Dion YouTube video.
Images - Google.


22 comments:

KM said...

Time flies. Christmas 2021 is around the corner again. For families who have loved ones suffering from critical illnesses, the best gift is indeed your presence (sorry for the pun) packaged with undivided care and spiritual love. Have a Merry Xmas and Happy New 2022.

JERRY SARAM said...

I am very sorry to hear about a friend of your family having stage 2 C.
All I can say is pray and have faith in the Lord.
Also have faith in the doctors treating this person.
Stage 2 C, can be cured.
Leave it to our doctors and have faith in Jesus Christ.

MICHAEL LEE [SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA] said...

Just read.
The gift of presence something money cannot buy.
I am in this situation.
The need to be with my sister but can't happen.

JIMMY APPUDURAI (GUITARIST EXTRAORDINAIRE) said...

Thanks Andy
Many stories have manifested along these lines including my own stomach cancer...
have lost so many of my close friends and family to the big C., including my mother, father, four aunties... yes, it is forthcoming in my genes... my own cancer disappeared which puzzled my doctors.
xxxxx

Anonymous said...

i too got stage 4 cancer of the neck n throat n hs undergone 30 radiation n 3 chemos n waiting for next PET scan to see if situation hs improved. i certainly does affect lifestyle n all foods hv no taste n feels lethargic

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thanks Elaine for your reflections and, like you mentioned, learning journey. It's a bugle call for us - both family and friends - to support our loved ones who need emotional care and assistance.

Thanks to friends and readers who wrote in to reply with your candid and sincere responses.
We all certainly need such encouragement and positive vibes on this difficult highway...

Wishing all a Blessed Christmas.

"May His presence be the greatest gift you will receive."

ANONYMOUS said...

I am not suffering from the Big C myself but my third brother died of bladder cancer. He was operated on numerous occasions. He passed away in 2004 and I am still trying to get over it.

GODTUBE CONNECTION said...

"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" is a Christian hymn for Advent and Christmas written by John Mason Neale. This glorious hymn calls upon various divine bodies to give wisdom, salvation, victory, and safety among other requests.

Songwriters
John Mason Neale
Published by
Public Domain

The Story Behind O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

"O come, O come, Emmanuel" is a Christian hymn for Advent and Christmas. It is a translation of a Latin hymn, "Veni, Veni, Emmanuel." The 1861 translation, by John Mason Neale, from Hymns Ancient and Modern is the most notable in the English-speaking realm, but other English translations also endure.

The lyrics and the melody for "O come, O come, Emmanuel" emerged independently. The Latin text is first documented in Germany in 1710, whereas the melody most commonly associated in the English-speaking world has its origins in 15th-century France.

The Biblical Origin of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel"
In Scripture, the name "Emmanuel" first appears in Isaiah 7:14, which says, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign; The virgin will conceive, and give birth to a Son, and will call Him Emmanuel” (NIV). The original meaning of the name is: “with us is God,” or “God with us.”

Although it says in Isaiah 7:14 “thou shalt call his name Immanuel,” Mary and Joseph didn’t give their son that name. Instead, they followed the directions given specifically to them in Matthew 1:21 (Joseph in a dream) and Luke 1:31 (Mary by the angel Gabriel) to name Him Jesus.

As seen in Matthew 1:23 above, the meaning of Emmanuel is “God with us.” The promised child was given the name of Jesus but was also Emmanuel, God in the flesh.

(Original article - click connection to read)

DEBRA NELSON [YOUTUBE] said...

Enya's voice is light and ethereal, but if you listen closely, she has a very wide vocal range and the depth of her voice is strong.

CHIT-CHAT said...

Enya Patricia Brennan (born 17 May 1961) is an Irish singer-songwriter and musician, known for pioneering modern Celtic and New-age music. Regarded as the "Queen of New Age", Enya is the best-selling Irish solo artist of all time.

She has sung in ten languages, most notably English, Irish Gaelic (Gaeilge), Latin, and Welsh.
Enya is Ireland's best-selling solo artist and second-best-selling overall behind U2.

Her discography has sold 26.5 million certified albums in the United States and an estimated 75 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

[WIKI]

GRACIE TEO [FACEBOOK FRIEND] said...

Andy,

Wishing you & your family a blessed Christmas. These 2 covid years have been tough for many. But thanks to your blog, you’ve brought lots of fond memories & cheer to many! keep blogging!

Cheers!

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Hi,
It's FB friends like you who keep me going.
Sincere comments, so bubbly and encouraging, knowing that there are folks out there who love our local music history and read about them too.
THANKS SO MUCH GRACIE.
GOD BLESS AND A BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND FAMILY.

Also thanking contributing writer like Ms. E. Sung who took care and trouble to pen her lines when she is so busy herself with her daily duties...

ANONYMOUS said...

Cancer is common. My dad went through an operation for lung cancer some time ago and he has thyroid cancer now. Hope you are well. I am doing fine.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

To All Readers

It is obvious names have been left out for personal and confidential reasons.
These are genuine comments from others who have reacted to the article written.

ANONYMOUS said...

My brother had passed away because of cancer. As a professional his own health was at risk when he had to go through a very well-paid but stressful job.

He died early, in his 50's. He was neither a smoker nor a drinker but spends hours in both his day duty and night time shifts with the tasks he had to do.

It was a risky job as the lives of many people were in his hands.
He is, though, "in a better place now."

Blessings.

ANONYMOUS said...

I am a lady and have survived for more than 15 years now.
It was an ordeal to have go through such a predicament but I was diagnosed with Stage 2 C.
I think it was early detection that made the difference.
The depression made it worse but family: my husband and 3 children helped me through the days. I am back at work now but doing something at home that I love.

All the best.
Love helps.
And like Ms. Sung says - presence.

(This piece was dictated to Andy.)

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

SEASON'S GREETINGS FROM THE FOLLOWING
READERS N FRIENDS [NO PARTICULAR ORDER].

THANK YOU FOLKS FOR READING THIS ARTICLE N OTHERS
DURING THIS FESTIVE PERIOD:

STEPHEN HAN
CEDRIC CORK
TAN SOO KHOON
ALFRED SONG
JIMMY YAP
DANIEL ABIDIN
JERRY FERNANDEZ
JIMMY PRESLEE
WINSTON KOH
MIKE BANGAR
VINCENT TAN
CHEW HEE HONG
CHARLIE YAP
JT CHEN
SARAM JERRY
PETER HAN
AUDIE NG
K.V. JOHN
MATTHEW TAN
JAMES KWOK
HAPPY TAY
STEVE FARRAM
CHOW WEN HING
SAMMIN ANG
AUDIE NG
RICKIE CHNG
LAURENCE LIM
CLARENCE PERERA
MUN CHOR SENG
EDWIN GOH
MUN CHOR SENG
HORACE WEE
JIMMY CHNG
SEE CS
MICHAEL CHENG
LIM KUAN MIN
STEVE HO
SUNNY WEE
EDDIE WEE
TED HA
OOI C. HOCK
DANNY BOY
CEDRIC COLLARS
RONNIE SEE
NICK STRAVENS
PAUL YEO
EDDY ENG
SAM
YEO C.MENG
ANNA LAW
BRENDA
GEORGE CHEW
J. CHEONG
TAN TP
CHAN BB
J. YEO
DEREK McC
YEN CHOW
DAISY KOH
S. LENG
WIFRED LIM
OLIVER B.
KEVIN ATHEWS
FABIAN FOO
RICHAR R.
JIMMY APPUDURAI
VICTOR LAM
IRENE YAP
PATRICK CHAN
DANIELLE TAN
JOEY KOH
ALOYSIUS TAN
JK LIM
RICHARD TOH
ALEX HSIEH
LARRY LAI [MR/MRS]
ANTHONY TAN

AND MANY MANY MORE...

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

AND THANKS TO THE CONTRIBUTING WRITERS WHO
WROTE THE SPECIAL CHRISTMAS MESSAGES 2021:

MS ELAINE SUNG
PHIL CHAN
HIROSHI DEGUCHI
J. n A.

MATTHEW TAN OF THE MANDARINS said...

"May all family members and friends who need a New Year miracle be blessed; those with a bad year with hope; those with heavy burdens have their loads lightened and may this person reading this prayer have a happy and safe NEW YEAR."

[EDITED]

STEVE HO [of STEVE & THE HEARTBREAKERS] said...

Have a great start to the year 2022.
May you and your family be blessed all year round.

JIMMY CHNG [DRUMMER - THE DECIBELS] said...

HAPPY NEW YEAR

SUNNY WEE said...

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2022