Exemplary man

I received the news on 'Whats App' that a man I respected n looked up to had passed away. Though I was not close to him, I felt a sense of loss for the world. Yet I am certainly convinced he has gone to a much better place and for that I'm truly, from the bottom of my heart, very very happy for him.

Though paralyzed from head down after an accident, he went to visit an orphanage that I was helping to run. He came in a wheelchair to the orphanage to encourage the staff and children. Some of the staff who met him before when he was well couldn't help but wept (not in his presence) when they saw him. During devotion he encouraged us in the word n love of God. I was surprised n impressed when he said he was also going to the village to do rice distribution. Before going to the village he asked me how to say, 'God bless you' in Khmer. I told him and he practiced it on his own.

At the village, in a wheelchair, he did whatever he could. He clapped his weak hands, shook hands with whoever came his way and said, 'prae ong protean poa', which means, 'God bless you' in the Cambodian language. I couldn't help but marvel at his heart to love people n to show His love to the people around him in whatever limited way he could.

I thought a paralyzed man would be too absorbed in his own misery n self-pity to take notice of people more mobile and normal than him. But not him. This man who has God in his heart knew his inheritance, destiny and purpose in life. And he simply lived it out. Besides volunteering himself to visit the orphanage and the village, he gave generously financial support to to the running of the orphanage. Again, this extinct selfless man did not choose to hog the money for himself, especially at a time where he needed money most and he had no means of earning any money back, he gave sacrificially, like God did. What an exemplary life!

Thank you, Mr Ling Swee Chan; God once again led me to experience for myself there was this faithful man who loved God, showed God and gave sacrificially to God's work. I praise The Lord for your life and thank Him for helping me to begin to be willing to want to trust in man again.