(English translation
at the bottom)
因為換領身份證的措施，日前家中突然迎來一位三十多年沒有踏足的成員，我越想越覺得是上主將苦難(媽媽思考退化)變為祝福(忘掉與家人之間的嫌隙)。
細心回想，這是主再一次在我生命中將苦難變為祝福。原本我對友人解釋，今次是我第三次經歷苦難變祝福，但屈指一數，原來除了今次，最少還另有八次，而且都是在人生當中，經歷一些突然或出乎意料的轉向：1982, 1988, 1993, 2003, 2008, 2011,
2015, 2017。
那些苦難是甚麼呢？有家人或自己的健康問題、有學業上的挫折、工作上的困難、際遇上的突變…...這些困難、苦難變成甚麼祝福呢？是認識主…...家人之間放下嫌隙…...在最佳時機置業…...媽遠離迷信及拜偶像的居住環境、停止迷信及拜偶像的態度……放棄不合適的移民計畫……離開不合適的工作崗位……有空間治病或照顧家人……改變人生目標及生命成長…...重返教會和研讀聖經......媽媽決志信主……
所以，上主能將苦難變為祝福，並不是口號，更非自我安慰的講法，或者是一種「阿Q」精神。
這些祝福，有些是經過一段時間後才浮現的，有些是需要放下自己原本的目標，才能察覺和實現的。
《每日經歷神》一書，今天(七月七日)的文章《不能壞的冠冕》中有一句：
『你是否鍛鍊自己以神的思想為思想，而不是認同世人的思想？』
疾病、挫折、困難等，原來不是苦難而是祝福(對我有好處或有幫助的事)？
我又記起《聖經》《羅馬書》8章28節說：
『我們知道，萬事(有古卷是「上帝使萬事」)都互相效力，叫愛上帝的人得益處，就是按他旨意被召的人。』
另外，記起《以賽亞書》55章8
- 9節說：
『我的意念非同你們的意念，我的道路非同你們的道路。這是耶和華說的。天怎樣高過地，照樣，我的道路高過你們的道路，我的意念高過你們的意念。』
有了經歷，才會明白，才會共鳴。
2019年7月8日後記：
日前有傳道人來家訪，贈閱一本2013年7-8月份的《靈修日程》。今天閱讀至第31頁的「反省問題」時，有一條是：『回想你人生中上帝曾轉禍為福的情形。你在那一刻還是事情過了很久才知道上帝正在作美事？那時，誰或甚麼令你明白或感受到上帝的同在？』
現在回想，自己八次轉禍為福的情形，大都是過了很久才領悟到其中的【福】，並且是以這種思考邏輯去分析的：如果不是神引導我行乙路線而我仍然行在甲路線上，會有甚麼遭遇？對自己和家人會有甚麼影響？我還會遇到那種種祝福或美事嗎？
2024年6月後記：
2020年底，媽媽突然在一夜之間被天父接去，之後回想，我才明白，自己由2015年全職工作【無奈地】轉為兼職，甚至多番轉折和限制之下，【無奈地】提早退休，原來是讓我逐步適應【退】，才有更多時間陪伴媽媽渡過最後的歲月！原來那段日子是那麼珍貴！如果可以預知她離開，我定必更早退休陪伴她。
2021年，我寫了兩篇文章去記述此事：
《難忘的八分鐘日出，最美好的兩年》：
《回到小孩的樣式》：
 |
| 30.6.2019 3:54 p.m. 晴空下黑雲掩至，如困難突然來襲 Sudden downpour on the sea, just as problems in life arise suddenly. |
 |
| 30.6.2019 4:01 p.m. 雨過天青 Rain on the sea subsided under a blue sky |
Blessing in disguise
Days ago, a family
member who had departed for more than 30 years came back home suddenly for a reunion because
of the territory-wide identity card replacement exercise. I then started to
realize that God has turned a suffering/problem (mom's cognitive impairment)
into a blessing (forget the misconception about the family member).
Initially, I described
this as the third time I have experienced suffering being turned into blessing
by God in my life. But when I reflect more carefully, there were at least
another 7 times in my life!
What were those sufferings?
Illnesses of family members or myself...difficulties/failures in my studies or
work...What were the blessings? Came to know Christ...repair the relationship
between family members...purchase a property at the best timing...more time to
accompany family members...time to treat illnesses...drop an unsuitable
job...drop an unsuitable emigration plan...change my life goals and grow in
life...
The saying that God
could turn suffering/problem/curse into blessing is not a slogan, nor just a
wish of Christians. It could be truly experienced. Sometimes the blessing come
after a period of time, sometimes the blessing could only be seen when I put
aside my own goals.
In the article ‘An imperishable crown’ in
the daily devotional book ‘Experiencing God Day by Day’ for today(7th July),
“Are you training your mind to think the thoughts of God rather than thoughts
of the world?”
So, illness, drawbacks, difficulties are blessings (things that are good or helpful to me) and not sufferings?
So, illness, drawbacks, difficulties are blessings (things that are good or helpful to me) and not sufferings?
This has reminded me
of Romans Chapter 8:28,
"And we know that
in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called
according to his purpose." (NIV)
I also remember that
in Isiah 55:8-9,
“For my thoughts are
not your thoughts,
neither
are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are
higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts." (NIV)
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts." (NIV)
Only when we have
relevant experiences could we comprehend and echo with these verses.
Now when I reflect on my 8 incidences of 'blessing in disguise' in my life, mostly they had taken a long period of time before I realized the blessings. I have used this logic to help my reflection: if I did not walk on path B but I am still walking on path A, what would have happened to me and my family members? Would I still receive those blessings or things that have been good for me ?
Post script on 8 July:
Two ministers had paid a home visit days ago and gave me a booklet 'Upper Room' of July-August 2013. When I read the questions for reflections on pg. 31 today, there's one which asked me to reflect on the situations of 'blessing in disguise' in my life; when did I started to realize that God was doing good things; who or what had made me understand or feel the company of God.Now when I reflect on my 8 incidences of 'blessing in disguise' in my life, mostly they had taken a long period of time before I realized the blessings. I have used this logic to help my reflection: if I did not walk on path B but I am still walking on path A, what would have happened to me and my family members? Would I still receive those blessings or things that have been good for me ?
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