Remember you, Remember our nation

My Dearest Son Zi On,

Today is 5th March 2008. I suppose you never realized that you would miss 2008, another year of challenges both in your personal life and in the world around you.

Yes, you were looking forward to the country’s coming election. I remember you told me that you wanted to cast your rightful vote as a citizen for the first time! Somehow you seemed to know that the General Election would be held this year and you talked to me eagerly about it. Son, you were right, our country’s 12th General Election will be just 3 days from now. It is the day every citizen decides, and it is every citizen’s responsibility to cast his or her vote wisely, choosing a government formed by righteous, wise, caring, responsible and capable leaders. Son, you will be happy to know that this year there are many new and young faces, aspiring to take the baton to lead and bring our country to greater heights, aiming for a prosperous, just and peaceful nation and to meet the challenges of the new era. I am sure you want to see our country thriving under the sun as a country that every citizen is proud to belong, living life, pursuing dreams and moving forward with gratitude for the past and courage to face the challenges that life itself brings. This may have to start with every individual whether we are leaders or those being led, whether we are old or young, whether we are endowed with natural or trained capabilities or just quite ordinary, to be a person of substance, of courage, of persistence, of dependability, of drive, of compassion and empathy, and of true friendship. These are the qualities you aspired to be as you wrote in your journal. If every individual aspires and pursues these traits in his or her character development, I believe our nation will be one that every citizen is truly proud to belong.

I read this Psalm two days ago (Ps 33v12):
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.”

So I prayed for Malaysia, our beloved country. It is good to pray for our nation not only now as the people are going to the polls to choose their leaders who will wisely lead our nation and who will serve the people with integrity. It is also important to pray that we will be a nation whose people know and honour God as God. Son, I also prayed for two other countries which are very dear to me: Australia and New Zealand, and you certainly know why they are so dear to me besides our own country.

Son, if you can see us from where you are, I covet your special prayers for Malaysia on the 8 of March, 2008. By the way I have checked and confirmed that your name is in the national voting Register and a serial No. had been assigned to you. I truly hope that there is ballot box in heaven for you to cast your vote; and if there is, I know son, you will do it truthfully, wisely, and with a smile, for this is the first time you are exercising your right, and you believe that every vote counts!

I remember you, my hero son! I remember you at this time of significance for our nation.

Miss you so much, son! Miss you so much, my dear Zi On!
Love forever,
Ma together with Pa and your dear brother Brian,
5 March 2008