Yea, some of you know the story. We nearly lost him twice when he was in his mother’s womb. Now he had grown up to be a beautiful boy in the Lord. Today is his 4th birthday.
When Caleb saw the blog post I wrote for his elder brother, he asked me umpteen times: “How abt me? How abt me?” I painstakingly assured him: “You’ll have your turn boy. Its not your birthday yet. Good things must wait.” And there it is. Today, he got the best. He got his whole childcare centre to celebrate for 
him, with a beautiful cake and much finger food for everyone. And he got beautiful presents for all the friends in his class, something that his elder sister and brother never got to do before. (In fact, my wife and I didn’t want our children to have elaborated birthday parties after their first year, becoz first the preparation work is really time consuming. And more importantly, we wanted our children to grow up humble, and contented with whatever they have in life. We wanted them to receive things from what the Lord given them thru grace, rather than they keep on desiring for them. I guess this is one great lesson I’d learned in my life. Evidently, what the Lord prepared is always the best, beyond my imagination. But what I kept desiring for, ultimately didn’t turn out as good as it seems to be, and I’ve confirmed these many times in my life).
However, my wife and I decided to have this birthday celebration for several good reasons.
First, it is becoz we wanted to thank the childcare centre for taking really good care of our 3 children these 4 years. Coming next year, Mary is moving to Primary 1, and my 2 sons are transferring to their mother’s childcare centre, with their mother as one of their teacher. We wanted to bless and thank the school (The Tampines Salvation Childcare Centre). Its an ordinary school, with ordinary teachers, but we see it as the best with full appreciation, coz it is God’s provision for us and our children.
Second, I wanted Caleb to see that God had actually generously provided for him when he asked. But he must come to realize that God’s provision is always better than what he desires. The biblical principle that holds me all these while is: Never focus on what you desire physically, desire the Lord Himself and you shall never be deprived of the best. So with my children leaving this centre coinciding with Caleb’s birthday, it signifies God’s provision after all.
Maybe I’ll share something about Caleb over here.
Caleb is my youngest child. He is born with a beautiful appearance, yet a ‘weak heart’. Surprisingly, he is the most emotional among the 3. He compares easily, feels lousy easily, gets angry easily, turn unsatisfied easily (he could receive something now, yet the next moment saw his siblings with something, he’ll turn jealous). If he wants something, he wants it now. And he loves to eat. If he is given his choice food (namely, cookies, chocolates or sweets he likes), he’ll not share with his siblings, finishing all with one gulp once his siblings ask for them. And he craves attention, and he is pretty sticky with his mum. To me, Caleb seems to have the best of everything, had a beautiful face, capture the attention of people easily, being doted as the youngest also, yet he seems to have overwhelming ‘flesh’ in him. However, I saw the purpose of the gospel in him. Only the gospel can change his nature, and even make them beautiful testimonies in his life. If he grows up knowing the gospel, and overcome his flesh with it, he’ll be a strong witness for the Lord. So the whole idea of God is to have the gospel work thru his nature, and makes this boy truly beautiful.
And to do that, I realize I gotta really see the uniqueness in this boy’s personality. Honestly, though this boy is sticky and demanding, he is close to heart. He is one unique boy who has no interest in watching TV programs. While his siblings could get so carried away with TV shows, he juz desires the cuddle and attention of his parents. It makes us feel so warmth at times. Though he’s weak emotionally, God has certainly compensated him with physical capability. In fact, he has the best motor skill among his siblings and could balance and ride a 2 wheel scooter when he was 3. He loves soccer, and is a powerful left-legger. He picks up sports and ball games easily, to my surprise. I bet he’ll be an all-rounder of sports next time. Everything abt him juz becomes unique when I view him with an extraordinary Christ-like eyes, assuring how God made him in his own class. And educating him is abt giving this spirit to him which could really change him to become one truly useful for the gospel.
Today, I woke up in the morning, overwhelmed by this boy’s adorability. In fact, he came into my room feeling frustrated becoz he couldn’t find something, but he turned sweet when I reminded him 
abt his special day, and went on to kiss his chubby cheeks. For a second or two, he stares into me with his sweet face, bright eyes, beaming with joy. I wish I could give the whole world to him at that moment. Then I said: “Boy, do you know Jesus really loves you.” Then he got mischievous and tossed around on my bed, without paying attention to my words. Nevertheless, I believe God spoke thru me, in accordance to how I felt for him in my heart. Then I recalled, when my wife had him in the early stage of pregnancy, I somehow knew this would be my last child. So I asked the Lord, “Lord, let this be a boy, so that he could be an impactful pastor for your kingdom.” My wife surprisingly prayed likewise too. After that prayer, I was pretty assured in my heart that this will be a boy. And true enough, it turned out to be after the 4th month ultrasound scan. And even truer was Caleb is both a dynamic and ‘emo’ boy, who could respond to people boldly, yet also gets emotional and insecure easily. Once people dun see eye to eye with him, he gets defensive and sometimes even throws a big fuss out of it. Pretty unreasonable, I felt. I told my wife many times: “If this boy could manage his heart, then he could be effective for the Lord.” So I carefully give him both the carrot and stick during his growing up years, though he is the youngest. I give him lots of encouragements so as not to embitter him. Yet I make sure he doesn’t get away when he turns unreasonable and let loose his anger/tantrums easily.
So today, he’s into his 4th year. Caleb no doubt gives me lots of memories. Even the name itself has 
a significant meaning. Actually, few people know. The name Caleb was given me becoz of the faithfulness of my second man, Deacon Wengang. Wengang has fought the most battle with me, since the start of our real Christian walk. He shared the same vision as I; claim the same promise as I. He was by my side, silently assisting me as with all his strength and might as I lead the church all these years. The Church and I prosper becoz of him by my side. Yet Wengang was designated by God to be my ‘Caleb’, while I took on the role of ‘Joshua’. (If you know the story of how Land of Canaan was conquered by both of them as leaders of Israel). Wengang played that role beautifully, and in my heart I know he will get the best inheritance in his life. Yet this is a hard fought battle with much continuous trials and tests, which could only be won without turning to the right or left. And the reaping of that best inheritance (best land) comes after the whole of Israel has more or less got their own land. So the saying goes: “Good things must wait.” But its not a wait for nothing, but the wait for the BEST. I wanted my little boy to share this sentiment too. I wanted him to be assured: God didn’t want to give him other people’s best, but God always wanted to give him his best, coz he is chosen by God in his own class. So I named him Caleb, so that he will someday come to know the significant role played so beautifully by Uncle Wengang.
While I wrote this blog, it is juz so significant again. While Caleb juz cross his 4th Birthday, Uncle Wengang and family are fighting another battle for their love one, i.e. his dad who is still in Hospital, ICU. I wanted this to be penned down so that Caleb could read it someday. You want the best? Then you must believe the best, and fight the real battle, like a real man!
