This is T w e n t y F o u r

Here's a list of twenty four rather randomly selected things I am grateful for, in no particular order ...

O n e

... apart from this one, of course. The unending, so much better than my wildest dreams, grace and mercy and love of God! I shudder to think where I would be if I did not know and had not been known by the God of the universe who has seen me and loved me. As I look back, I see his hand in every moment. Life is so different when you know the Author has written all the pages for your good and his glory. So not knowing what tomorrow holds is less scary because I know the ultimate Ending! (Side note: I got baptised 10 Easters ago!!!)

T w o

My family, what a rock! I used to resent not having any relatives nearby (my childhood boast was that I had no cousins in the same continent!) But now I see that it brought my family so much closer together. Even though I haven't lived at home for several years now, they are such a regular part of my life. I am so grateful that I get to make phone calls home to talk about the football, my random aches and pains, discussions about the Bible and their doings. It does sting a bit to not be able to be at home in this time, but I have to remind myself that Covid-19 aside, I wasn't planning on being home anyway! And this is my 7th consecutive birthday away from home. Maybe next year?

The number of inside jokes we have is astounding!

T h r e e

Home. Growing up, I used to resent never belonging. I was out of place in Malaysia. I was out of place in the UK. I felt like such an outcast, whenever we went out in public, my family would always stand out (this was a nightmare for a self-conscious teenager) . I used to long for that feeling of being just where I was meant to be. A follower of Jesus, Peter, once wrote that we are 'elect exiles', meaning that as disciples of Jesus, we are always going to feel out of place, because this here, isn't our home. We find home when we're with God, and even more so when he sets the world right at the end of this creation. So my physical and national outsider-ness is a reminder of my spiritual outsider-ness. I'm called to make the most of these days, but long for the days that are to come.

F o u r

Biculturalism. As much as the previous point makes this out as a big struggle, it has been such a great thing to grow up as the product of two cultures. I love them both. I value the way both my parents were raised and I love that I can see the beauty of the diversity in what people value.

F i v e

Malaysia. I have rediscovered such a love for this country in the past few years. There is so much beauty, in the people and the community. Man, there are so many things wrong with it too. But that just means there's work to be done! I look forward to seeing how I will be a part of that. Oh, and I've been so encouraged by the heartwarming posts and stories about Malaysians during this MCO #kitajagakita

S i x

A job! I remember being in my car, about to drive home after teaching tuition in 2016, checking my phone, "Congratulations, Catherine! You have been awarded the Teaching Scholarship." How that text message has shaped my life! I've been so blessed by being able to grow and learn in the last 8 months. It's crazy to have found a job that fulfills my love for being around people and my sneakily growing love for admin work! My colleagues are incredibly supportive and just real fun too! They even sent me a birthday present (snail mail yay!)

S e v e n

Gospel City Church family. Different church, same God! I've been so blessed and convicted by GCC's simple love for God, one another and the sharing of God's word! There is such an earnest and humble zeal that I see in the lives of my friends there, which constantly reminds me that the gospel we believe in is such GOOD NEWS! It would be wrong not to speak of it (do ask me about this!)

E i g h t

Churches and Christian communities of my past. Trinity Church York. Uni of York Christian Union (UYCU), MCKL CF, SMACC, Acts Ampang, RGBC, SMKBJ CF. All the people in these various places have taught me vital things about God's love for his people, and how to live in response to that! They have loved me and sowed into my life and I am so grateful.

N i n e

Housemates. Man, I've had so many. I counted 48?! (to be honest, I don't remember all of their names!) Of that, 7 were roommates. There've been ups and downs. Some pretty terrible downs. Yet I have made so many lifelong friends through that! Praise Jesus!

T e n

York. I often forget how I almost didn't get to go. I forget how much of a privilege going to university there was. I forget how big of a dream it was for me to study in the UK. But today, I want to remember the blessing of the scholarship. The blessing of a course I loved, people I loved and a delightfully quaint city and a lifetime of happy memories.

E l e v e n

My students. I find so much joy in interacting with my students, getting to know them and seeing them improve in class. It's so humbling to sit with so many brilliant minds and kind hearts. Here's some things they've said to me in the past few days during our consultation chats.

"Miss, how are YOU doing?"

"What have you learnt about yourself during this MCO time?"

"Please make sure you're getting rest as well!"

"I really appreciate the things you do for us."

"Miss, one more question. Is it your birthday on the 16th?"

Cry! What have I done to deserve such sweethearts?

T w e l v e

Books. Although I don't read as much as I should or could, I have read some great books over the last few years, mostly non-fiction. But since this list is in light of my 24th birthday, I am so thankful for the books I read in my childhood and teenage years. I remember a time when I was never found without a book; bed, dining table, toilet. Some of my first loves included Malory Towers, The Chronicles of Narnia, Anne of Green Gables while later obsessing over Pendragon, Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. Man, I should read more.

T h i r t e e n

Singing. I have so many fond memories of singing in primary school in the privacy of my best friend's room. These then evolve to memories of 'realising I could sing' in secondary school and then being part of The Big Project, a great initiative by a senior to provide students the opportunity to perform regularly. In college and university, I sang here and there. Being part of a gospel choir, Zamar, gave me great joy! I've just been thinking too about some open mic nights I got to do with friends. Good times.

F o u r t e e n

Ba'kelalan. A remote part of Sarawak that has been imprinted on my heart! Love the people and the way of life there. So grateful that we got to go twice and spend time with our keluarga angkat and all the kiddos! A joy to see how Jesus is shaping and transforming lives there!

F i f t e e n

Education. Kindergarten, primary school, secondary school, college, university. I have for the most part enjoyed being part of an educational system. I'm thankful for every person who impacted my experiences of education, and for the teachers that inspired me to be like them.

S i x t e e n

Musicals. Chose this one for #16 cos I always used to dream of being sixteen, going on seventeen! Sixteen is long gone now! My love for The Sound of Music began early and, though I have loved different musicals since, it will always be my favourite! Grateful I got to see a production of it on stage last year for my birthday!

S e v e n t e e n

Transportation. Funny point. But still— imagine if I had to take a boat across the sea to get to the UK and back?! Planes have made it so easy for me to travel across the world. And buses and trains make going back to Penang from KL so accessible. Growing up with a family spread out across the world, transportation is a ginormous blessing

E i g h t e e n

Travel. On that note, I have loved being able to visit different countries and places in my lifetime. Places that are immensely different to one another. But my honourable mention shall be Ireland. The family did a road trip in 2018 around Dublin, Cork, Galway and Donegal. I must say it is the most beautiful and magical place I've ever been to!

N i n e t e e n

My tears. I say this thinking of how I get so invested in movies and TV shows that I watch. I cry in pretty much every movie I see. Cried 8 times in Finding Dory (weird flex, but ok). I don't know what it is about these clearly fictional events that give me a release, I love movie crying but also hate movies that are intentional tear-jerkers (I will not watch Marley & Me). Also I have cried quite a number of times over football-related matters #YNWA

T w e n t y

Competitive nature. This is one side of me that I don't always love, but I think it's not all bad! I love a good competition. I love winning. I love not losing. This comes out mostly in board games, card games and arguments 🤦‍♀️ What I do love about it is how it has drawn me to so many other competitive people— what joy! I must say this competitiveness does not apply to sports. Hm...

T w e n t y O n e

A working body. The past year has shown to me how much I took my health for granted. Nothing major happened but I saw how stress and 'bad luck' affected my day-to-day life for nearly 8 months. I call this my 'feet problem'. Terms like overpronation, knock knees, tendonitis were thrown around. But wow, after visits to the hospital, a musculoskeletal specialist, a physiotherapist and a podiatrist: I am pleased to have mostly overcome this. I say mostly, because these weeks of less movement have started to affect my feet again :'( Wearing my shoes with special soles now in my room! ALL THIS TO SAY, (haha, rambly me got sidetracked!) I am so, so grateful that my body works the way it should. God has reminded me how easily I place my happiness in my own ease and comfort! Also thank God for the NHS - I paid £8 in total for all my treatment in the UK!

T w e n t y T w o

Cheesecake. Heh, just wanted to say we ordered cheesecake today! The housemate's birthday is a day after mine so we thought we'd splurge on one :P

T w e n t y T h r e e

Humans. I must add in at this point, I tried to stray from naming individuals, or even groups of people because there are so many people the list would go on till 240! But I am so grateful for every friend who has stuck by me and supported me and listened to me. Especially you, if you're still reading this! I've loved being invested in these various relationships over the years and growing from our conversations and mistakes !

T w e n t y F o u r

Today. And every day.