Home, Family, Ambition

After two years of roaming around other people's countries, I'm finally back home. Not too long, just for a month. But still, longer than the duration of my vacation for the past few years. Guess what? It feels good to be back home!

 

Finally, I can string words of three to four languages together in a single sentence and everybody understands me. I can communicate just by my facial expressions without having to utter anything. I can just give a suggestion and everybody obliges. I see more happy and smiling faces around me everywhere I go. I love it. Yes! I'm finally home!

 

As I look around my home sweet home, I notice a few things. For example, the rusted 'stainless steel' rack in my shower room, the leaking windows and walls of my house, the ill-fitting dish rack in my kitchen, the yellow-stained plastic bowls which I bought three years ago, the gas-stove with only two functioning burners out of four... It's time to change.

 

Yet, there are some things which we cannot change. Like the íncreasing strands of silver hair of my mum's, or my youngest brother's becoming gruffy, manly and authoritative voice, or my eldest brother's love for fast-food and sedentary lifestyle...

 

"After going abroad for so long, what is it that truly matters in life?" my juniour asks me as we have lunch together.

 

"Definitely not money." I answered without a moment's hesitation. "It's bonding.. family bonds and ties, love, friendship."

 

I love to see the flicker of light in my brother's eyes as I suggest steak for dinner, the glow on his cheeks as we buy new crockery for our house, to see my mum break into a bright, beaming smile through the corners of her mouth as I cook and serve piping, hot plate of steamed fish on the table, and to hear my family's glowing compliments of the tangy, zesty, chicken salad that I mixed for them...

 

Is there anything more important than money in life?

 

Suddenly, I realize that I have to earn lots to afford and provide a comfortable lifestyle for my family. What is a little sacrifice compared to the comfort that they (or all of us) will be able to enjoy with the 'fruits' that come along with it? Without pruning, from whence comes sweet fruit? When everybody gets to achieve everything that they desire, Í get the satisfaction that every drop of blood, every ounce of sweat, was well worth the pain. This, is Asia, after all, where wealth is distributed across the family. 

 

That, is why, probably I'm ambitious. I want a better life, quality life, which affords me the freedom to do what I want, to meet more new people, and travel to countries with wonders and exotic names. I'm ambitious because I know it can be better. I want it to be better. Not only for myself, but also my family and friends.

 

Who says a woman has to discard ambition just to take care of her home and family? I've seen many examples and it works. Very well. In fact, it is precisely because of our loved ones that we have so many ambitions, which will lead to resources to protect them and give them the life that they desire. So, just because we have a family, it doesn't mean that we have to sacrifice one to achieve the other. We can still enjoy our family and achieve our ambitions simultaneously.

Lemon, it is only sour when you first bite into it, but you can definitely do it. Get up, Jean, face the world and the music! Time to stand up for yourself and take charge! Surrender everything to God and He will take cafe of the rest. Trust in Him.