Yesterday was a busy day for us. Of course, our own children and grandchildren visited us as usual to pay their respects. We give thanks to God for them and pray for them everyday. They are very near and dear to us. We also remember we have one more child who cannot share in our celebrations. She is Dora Poh Chin a resident at Peacehaven Nursing Home.
Poh Chin was born 1969. she is God's special child. (see blog on 4th July 2009) When we first returned to Singapore we used to bring her home for Chinese New Year, but this is not possible or practical as age catches up with us. Besides she is happy in her own environment where she receives tender loving care.
There was a whole stream of visitors to our home yesterday - we counted more than thirty people came to pay respects. We had Indian, New Zealanders, Australians, British, Malaysians and of course Chinese. Glad we belong to an international Salvation Army. Singapore comprises people of all races living peacefully with each other. We give thanks to God for the peace and harmony that we enjoy and we don't take this for granted. The majority of population in this island are Chinese, or ethnic Chinese. It has been said that the sun never sets where the Chinese are today.
Chinese everywhere hold on to their culture and traditions. There are slight differences in the observances of these traditions in the different countries. In any case tradition is a living thing and as such is subject to change. I cannot expect future generations to observe in exactly the same way.
Take for example the reunion dinner. It used to be held in the home of the patriarch or matriarch, the eldest or most senior the the family. We held ours, as mentioned early at our son's place. This is more practical and everyone is happy. Some families have their reunion dinner at Restaurants.
Today is the second day of the New Year and while waiting for visitors to arrive, I am using the time to blog expressing the random thoughts that come as I type.
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