From the bottom of my heart
From the bottom of my heart Mama Fu
This is a child I raised. He is now an adult and is the director of a renowned interior decoration company. Since he was young, he has always been particularly shy and reticent. Even though he is now a famous designer and has many admirers, he prefers to lie low. On June 15, I invited him to come to the Foundation and speak to a group of young people.
Family members met for the first time
This was a gathering for those who were about to graduate. I asked the designer to say a few words of encouragement to his siblings, who were about to enter the workplace. At the table, I did not say much. I leaned back and watched how my adult-child would interact with my younger children. This was the first time the young children met their older brother (perhaps they should call him “uncle”). There was a difference of at least 30 years between them; yet, after the older brother recounted a few funny anecdotes about his life in the old Children’s Home, the ice was broken, and the social distance between them disappeared – miraculously. Like a family, they sat around the table, laughed, and talked. I fully understand why all this has happened so naturally – because, despite the difference in age, and the diverse backgrounds they come from, they have gone through (or are going through) a similar psychological journey. It was so easy to understand and identify with each other.
I have a Table of Grace
I have a Table of Grace, perhaps it is of square shape, perhaps it is round; perhaps it can be found in the Foundation’s office, or perhaps it is located somewhere else. Wherever it is, a group of children is always gathered around it. This is where, in complete honesty and without fear, they talk candidly about their ups and downs, their victories and setbacks. This is where they beseech other family members not to make the same mistakes they have made, not to travel down the same erroneous route they themselves have taken; this is where they share resources and encourage each other. There are no blood ties between them; they were once strangers to each other. Yet they love each other as if they were from the same family. How could I not be touched? How could I not feel grateful?
For the last several months, I have been busy with setting up the Lord’s Grace Children’s Home. I would like to tell you about the new home; but before I do that, I want to say a few words about our “Independent Youth” program. At present, we have, under our wings, 16 young people, they are either high schoolers or older. They receive no support from their families and must survive on their own. Among them, four have parents who are serving a sentence in jail. Whenever these young people talk about their parents, they are either filled with anger or overwhelmed by shame. They were abandoned when they were young, and were forced to grow up prematurely. They cannot afford to be weak – not even for a second – for they are fearful that, once they fall, they will never be able to get up again. Coming from parentless or single-parent families, they have no choice but to look for part-time jobs, one job after another. After work, they go to school. They are tired and frustrated. They are like a spinning top that never stops.
We are not weak
I hope that when you hear this, you will not feel heavy-hearted. Like another child of mine, a PhD in Geology, says, “People call us disadvantaged youth, but we are not weak. All we need is an opportunity, encouragement, and support.”
Please continue to cheer us on – lend your support to our courageous children. They will not stop here, they will invent a new future, write new stories. I am totally convinced about this.
Before I sign off, I want to reiterate this: I have promised not to reveal the name of the designer. I’ll let him remain as he is: the gentlemanly, humorous, wise older brother; I’ll let him continue to sit at the Table of Grace. Even though no one knows who he is, I do. He is a child I brought up, someone I shall always be proud of!
