Singapore celebrates 49 years of independence today.
We watched the parade as we usually did but this year, I was particularly moved watching the military display in the beginning. God's been so good to our country. Though we be little, we have come a long long way from the humble beginnings none of us truly knew.
I had the precious opportunity to speak to Zachary the other day about God's blessings and provision for Singapore and his role as a child growing up here. It all began when we were leaving the Queenstown Library with out selection of books. (It was just the two of us though I can't recall why.) As we were pulling out of the parking lot, he asks me "how did Singapore happen?" I explained that Singapore the island was always where it was because God created the world and made the land we walk on. Singapore was discovered by Sang Nila Utama and he named it Singapura (changing it from Temasek as it was known then). It was only when Sir Stamford Raffles came that Singapore was developed into a trading port and things really started to happen. I told him that we were not always "on our own" (independent) since we really wanted to be part of Malaysia because it was much bigger and Singapore would be better protected if we were part of a larger body. However, that didn't turn out that way because God had other plans. MM Lee Kwan Yew was at the helm as Prime Minister when Singapore separated from Malaysia.
I got the chance to draw his attention to our military and our government because I wanted to explain to him how our very small dot of a country needs to be really clever in protecting ourselves, strengthening our reserves and creating a place for us in the world. We needed to make sure that if there were "bad guys" who wanted to attack or use us, that we'd be able to fight back and keep our people safe. Zac rather excited told me that he'd like to invent the best super robot that would be able to cover air, land and sea. It would have blaster cannons and a huge shield enough to cover the whole island. (I love his inventiveness and creativity!)
I was somehow able to tie into the idea that the people in charge now will eventually grow old and will need younger people to take their place. In our family, mummy and daddy will grow older and when we aren't as strong as we were before, who will be left to take care of our family and protect it? He answered "me and Eli!" This is the reason, I explained, that as children you have to go to school, learn how to do things on your own so that later you will be useful people. God doesn't intend for the both of them to do things all on their own and to understand everything right this moment. Instead God provides parents, teachers, grandparents, other adults and people who teach and train young children and guide them on the right way.
Though I don't know how much of our talk he will remember or if he remembers it at all. However, I was so blessed that I was given the chance to have a good talk with my older son. I can only pray that the seeds that I plant in his heart will take root and grow under God's care.. and I believe it will be so.
Praise God for teachable moments like these.
"Train up a child in the way he should go:
and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)
