This is long but I promise it's worth reading.

Current physical state: I hope that when I recover, no new ailment comes up. Lately it's been one after another. ...Throat is better; muscles are generally better; just had the craziest contractions-- I felt like I was birthing my intestines out! Gross. My room mates think that I’m developing lactose-intolerance. I had spinach-feta-tomato omelette at the Pickle Barrel with Jon this morning after my visit to the clinic which had no doctors :( Thank God for Wayne Hsieh who I can call anytime. Hmm... There is a lot to reflect on. I have learned so much these past couple of really crappy-hard weeks. Hmm.. I shall summarize and compartmentalize.

1. THE BIRTHDAY SURPRISE.
I called Jon last night and something along the lines of this: “On Sunday, because of the accident, I don’t think I was able to express this very well. I just want you to know that I really really loved your surprise. I really enjoyed it. The show was glorious. Thank you!” :) I could tell that he really appreciated me telling him that. :) So You Think You Can Dance? 2008 Tour. The only one in Canada. I got to see it on my birthday, with the man I love the most. God protected us that day. My love is alive and well. I am blessed. A most memorable 23rd birthday!

2. GRATEFULNESS.
Last night, my room mates and I were got to share and pray together. I said that I was sick of being sick, but I know better than to be angry at God for it this time. hehe. :) We were all stressed about different things-- my body, Laura’s B.Ed madness, Alyssa’s tears.., Amie’s singleness and life coming up. When I prayed, the Spirit prompted me to thank the Lord! Thank God that we have the opportunity to be educated; thank God that we have friends to love and grow with; thank God that we have a house to live in and we’re not starving; thank God that I’m still alive and not even close to dead despite of all my ailments; thank God for lessons to learn... A lot of times, we focus on what we don’t have and what we’re lacking, and we fail to notice the ABUNDANCE of good things that God has given us. We are all SO BLESSED despite of the “crappy things” we are going through. We keep on falling short of His glory. I asked that God would help us to always be grateful. He is always, always, with us and taking care of us. The words of the Bible are true-- He won’t ever leave us nor forsake us! God, make us so grateful. :)

3. BEARING ONE ANOTHERS’ BURDENS
Yesterday, I stayed at home and because of the accident which interrupted my life, I wasn’t able to prepare for the birthday lunch I was gonna have with my “Girl Class” (Kristin Spino-Mauceri, Caitlin Armstrong, Melody Thompson, Vanessa Collins.. Alyssa joined us too!). Before that, I was planning to go to chapel so Kristin was going to give me a ride, but I was in pain and decided to take two days rest (yesterday and today). So instead, they all came over with gifts, Swiss Chalet, and the Robitussin for my phlegmy and hurting throat. I told them that lately, everyone, especially Jon, has been taking care of me and I feel bad. My roomies get stuff for me in the house; Jon’s been driving me around and helping me with everything; Tarryn drove me to school the other day. I love taking care of everyone else but I feel bad when people take care of me. Which, I “know”, is silly. They told me that I have to let them take care of me. They wouldn’t let me get up to take anything to and from the kitchen because I was hurting. They ordered me to sit my butt down and let them do everything. It was a little uncomfortable, but I kept being reminded of something Ashley Saunders told me last week when I was needing encouragement: “This is what the body [of Christ] is for”.

And it’s not just for the sick.
Vanessa was sharing about how behind she was at schoolwork as well (Everyone's been struggling with schoolwork lately, eh?). So, Kristin (who likes working at home) offered for all of us to meet up in the library and work together. She said it’s because “that’s what Vanessa needs, so we should!”. Again I thought, yeah... when someone in the Body of Christ is suffering in one way or another, we shouldn’t hesitate to actually DO something about it. Everyone is learning to offer prayer (which is great and which I always appreciate!), but not everyone goes out of their way to practically help. I think of how God’s been really teaching me this lately.

When two of my friends didn’t have food, I felt like God wanted me to not just pray for their situation, but to feed them! When Aylish’s friend, Louis Dussome, didn’t have a place to stay, Aylish asked me to pray for him, but I really felt like God was leading me to ask someone to let him stay in their room. Thank God for Matt Murray! :) And now... Louis has his own house!

Also, I think of the lady who stayed at Tyndale and booked a guestroom at reception. She came back and gave me and Jon a slice of the pizza that they ordered. She said “we’re Christians so we share!” and I said, “not all Christians are willing to share”. I guess that’s why I felt weird taking the pizza at first.. and why I feel awkward when people go out of their way to do things for me. Not everyone in the Church actually wants to help.

But this is not the way of Christ.
We are called to bear one anothers’ burden.
If someone is hungry, we don’t just hope for them to find food and go our way. We stop and give them food.

Father, please continue to teach us Your ways. What does Your economy and society look like? Let us see Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.