Cool news!

Government to spend S$11m more to boost social workers' salaries

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I think it's only fair that we recognise that social workers are human beings. You also need help. You also need support."

- Dr Vivian Balakrishnan

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Thought it was quite cool that government is recognising the difference in pay that workers are paid in the s aocial service agencies, VWOs, NGOs, etc. as compared to others. Personally, I feel that it's not only the social workers that need recognition. The admin staffs, the support staffs all need that support too! In VWOs or NGOs, it's not only that social workers are paid low. Everything is pro-rated from the profitable orgs. But still, it's a great step!

Even cooler is this news:

$10m more will be pumped into Budget to help needy: Balakrishnan

So many needy out there. There is an increasing societal issues and more programs may be needed to assist.

In today's sermon, Ps Ben prayed that we will not suffer from the "dry-eye" syndrome. He shared 2 real life stories. One of which it's a father who killed both his 5-year old twins in a cold-blooded murder. Dry-eye syndrome meaning even when we hear news as such, we remain dry-eyed, no reaction.

I cringe in my chair indeed. It sounds kind of like the examples I learned in the Family Violence course. Yucks... A part of me wondered what really triggered him to do that... yet, a part of me could understand a tad of it.

When I was younger (very much younger that time), I was a very angry person. I remember a time that I was so angry that I slammed a hard-cover book down on my sister's head. (Of course, she still remember till now.. always kena blamed that she is turned stupid by me. :P) I do recall also that when my sister provoke me in ways that can trigger my anger, I can get really violent. Slamming of doors, throwing of things, hitting my hand was quite a norm.

Things really took a turn when I turned to God. I began to know what is self control. I also began to understand what having a loving heart is all about. However, it was all made possible because of a Sunday School teacher (primary school days) and a tutor who brought me to church (secondary school days). I remember that even in my Uni days when I was very angry with a friend, a Unit Leader and friends prayed for me to be able to find forgiveness, to be able to understand self control. They were all very patient with me and they believed in me. And now thinking back, I believe a change was possible also because they cried along with me and they were deeply burdened together with me.

Life experiences makes us to be who we are. I can't say that I am perfect. I still get angry. I still get frustrated. I still struggle with forgiving. However, I choose to be patient because I was blessed by patience. I choose to be more loving because I was blessed by love. I choose to be more forgiving because I was blessed by forgiveness.

"Only one life and soon it'll pass, only what's done for Christ will last."