CELEBRATElife

This is my Thank You notes read at My Mother – Mdm Chieng Check Houng’s funeral service at Xin Fu Yuan Methodist Church, 7th March 2020.

Thank you Lord, today is a day of celebration for my mum’s glorious life in Jesus Christ. She has fought the good fight; she has finished the race, and she has kept the faith. Her crown awaits her.

Thank you Lord, I am here to give a testimony that the Lord that my mum served throughout her life is a faithful One. He is the One who created the universe from nothing and He is the One who can bring people back from death. Through His Son, Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, we can have eternal life.

Thank you Lord, for arranging Mdm Chieng Check Houng to marry into our Sii family 57 years ago. My mother didn’t bring anything, but only Jesus Christ – Emmanuel along with her while marrying into my father’s family.

Thank you Lord, though initially my father’s household didn’t recognize Jesus Christ. Because Jesus is called Emmanuel (God with us) and Jesus is with my mum, this has thoroughly transformed my father’ household since then.

Thank you Lord, through my mum’s actions of love and of grace in the constant help from the Holy Spirit, the promise of “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31) has been fulfilled in the past half a century, in our family, as well as in many of my mother’s neighbor’s families, my mum’s relatives’ families and others who came across my mum too.

Thank you Lord, during the first five years of my life living in a rural rubber estate, my mum used to tell me, my elder brother and my only sister, bedtime Bible stories at around 7pm every evening. Most of the time we heard repeated stories, such as Jonah in the big fish’s stomach, Samson killing thousand enemies, David killing the giant, Daniel sleeping with lions and walking in the fire, etc. She taught us to pray The Lords’ Prayer with her each evening. These have planted the seed of the Gospel in our hearts while we are still young. Her Bible stories in our memories were the best ever possible entertainment that I could have asked for.

Thank you Lord, my mum always used her real action of love to share her faith in Christ Jesus. She always believed “This one thing I do” and she kept doing it. She took every opportunity to witness the salvation in Jesus Christ with others.

Thank you Lord, my mum set up small groups at home to help young mothers of neighboring community to get to know Jesus Christ. She was always keen to visit neighbours who were needy to assure them that Jesus loved them too.

Thank you Lord, my mum always had faith that the One in her is greater than anyone outside and she had the faith to drive out demons from people.

Thank you Lord, my mum was gifted in sacrificing her life in upholding my father’s family and she took care of my grandfather till his last breath. She managed to bring the salvation of Christ to my grandfather before his departure to eternity. This marked the historical witness of the first generation of Christians in my father’s house.

Thank you Lord, my mum, through direct intervention, nurtured, encouraged and supported my elder brother (the late Rev Sii How Chiong) to answer the Heavenly Calling into full-time church ministry. This witnessed the historical record of the first Church Minister in my father’s house. He faithfully served the Lord and His people for 23 years till his last breath.

Thank you Lord, my mum always did small deeds, said simple things over and over again, which have life-long influences in the lives of her sons, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law grandsons, granddaughters, especially her great faith in praying and trusting in the Lord.

Thank you Lord, my mum through phone calls or letters kept asking if we were attending Sunday worship, or fellowship, or Bible study, or pray to our Lord. She always prayed for each and every one of us daily, repeatedly, unceasingly to ask God’s leading and protection.

Thank you Lord, my mum cooked wonderful dishes that we all loved to enjoy every time we came home from outstation. She still cooked chicken soup for us though she had great difficulties in caring or coping for her daily living in the last part of her life.

Thank you Lord, my mum never once complained about our long absences from home in the past more than thirty years. She loved to be with us and yet she bore with the difficulties. She never poured out her frustration or anger against the continued deterioration in her physical well-being in the later part of her life. She remained strong and cheerful.

Thank you Lord, my mum had a painless transition into eternity meeting her Lord after two weeks of being bed-ridden at a local medical center at 5:35pm, 5th March 2020.

Thank you Lord, my mum witnessed that the Lord that she served and trusted, helped her overcome the fear of lacking. She personally witnessed the Lord that has shepherded her, helped her overcome the fear of spiritual uncertainty, the fear of enemies’ attacks and the fear of insecurity.

Thank you Lord for allowing your goodness and mercy to follow my mum all the days of her life.

Thank you Lord for my mum has left a gift in terms of “Red packets” plus jewelry for each of her grand-kids for their education and marriage. More importantly, my mum left each and every one of us with a spiritual inheritance – her Christ-centered and others-oriented legacy, which will continue to teach us to walk closer with our Saviour, to love our Lord and others.

I would like to use the Psalm 23 that Rev Wong Kai Ho prepared in his sermon for my mum in her funeral service as a farewell gift for my beloved mum and encouragement for each one of you – you are all truly my mum’s bosom friends!

By Sii How Sing
(2nd son of Chieng Check Houng)

A Psalm of
Chieng Chek Houng

The LORD is Chieng Chek Houng’s shepherd;
Chieng Chek Houng shall not want.

He makes Chieng Chek Houng lie down in green pastures;

He leads Chieng Chek Houng beside quiet waters.

He restores Chieng Chek Houng’s soul;

He guides Chieng Chek Houng in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.

Even though Chieng Chek Houng walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
Chieng Chek Houng will fear no evil, for You are with Chieng Chek Houng;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort Chieng Chek Houng.

You prepare a table before Chieng Chek Houng in the presence of Chieng chek Houng’s enemies.

You anoint Chieng Chek Houng’s head with oil;
Chieng Chek Houng’s cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy will follow Chieng Chek Houng all the days of Chieng Chek Houng’s life,and Chieng Chek Houng will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.