Over half a century ago, a 33-year-old father bravely stepped onto a plane in Hong Kong headed for Jamaica, leaving behind his young bride, eight months pregnant and three children, all under the age of five. One month later, I was born into the squalor of that city.
My father left in search of a better life for his family. His hope? To send for us as soon as it was financially and legally possible.
Some six years later, my 39-year-old mom and four children stepped onto a plane to be reunited with my father in Newfoundland, Canada. The journey from the other side of the world would be abruptly interrupted when an air traffic controllers’ strike shut down all flights as we landed in Toronto. In a world before cellphones, somehow my mom contacted a relative in Toronto who became our chaperone on a train headed as far east as we could go. Because Newfoundland is an island, our next mode of transportation would be a five-hour ferry ride, followed by a seven- hour bus ride to our final destination.
Exhausted from motion sickness and the long the journey, our family was finally reunited after a week of traveling. This would be the first time I would meet my dad, at the age of six.
There are moments in our lives that can be described as watershed moments when the course of our lives distinctly moves in a particular direction. For my family, it happened the moment my dad stepped on the plane in Hong Kong and set his sights for Jamaica. He was determined to find a better life for his family. My dad’s faith in a better life was not easy. It took great sacrifice.
Some 30 years later, I boarded a plane in Nova Scotia with a three-year-old son and everything I could stuff inside two large suitcases and headed to South Carolina to start a new job. My husband would join us five months later.
We moved because I had a job offer but God had another plan – His plan of salvation and it became another watershed moment for us.
Sometimes, our plans are forever changed by His divine plan.
When I ponder the great sacrifices my parents made in search of a better life for us, I often think of the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1 – 2:26. Suffering from a long season of childlessness, Hannah prays and begs for God’s favor to give her a son. In return, she pledges to give the child to the LORD all the days of his life.
I can’t even imagine how heartbreaking this must have been for Hannah. After years of brokenness from her empty womb, she gives birth to a son, only to give him to someone else to raise. Perhaps the Hebrew meaning of Hannah’s name, “gracious” or “favor” gives us some insight about her.
More than anyone, Hannah truly understood that Samuel was a gift from the Hand of a gracious God.
I love the fact that 1 Samuel 2:19 tells us Hannah and her husband went to see Samuel every year during the annual sacrifice. Also, tucked within the verses of 1 Samuel 2:19, the tenderness of God towards a mother’s heart is revealed.
“Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice.” 1 Samuel 2:19
The mother’s arms that ached to hold her child would find comfort in making a new robe for him every year.
Hannah’s obedience to God by bringing Samuel to the temple to be raised by Eli was a watershed moment. It became the path for Samuel’s calling.
Many times, I have marveled at the sweet, sweet grace of God, the God who plucked a little girl from the slums of Hong Kong and moved her over 6,500 miles to Eastern Canada. There, she would meet her groom. And once again, God would pick up that same girl and move her family to another country so that we could give our lives to Jesus. That is the relentless pursuit of our gracious God!
What are some watershed moments of your life and where has the Hand of God been evident in those moments?
Latest posts by Mei L. Au (see all)
- The Pursuit of His Presence – Are we willing to pursue him no matter the cost? - March 21, 2017
- Watershed Moments of Our Lives - November 22, 2016
Breathtaking! God’s sovereign plans will stop at nothing! Thanks for sharing your story!
Thank you, Michele! I am so amazed at how God moves in our lives! He is so faithful!
What an inspiring testimony of God’s holy pursuit and the courage of your family. Bless you and thank you for promoting me to reflect upon such watershed times in my own life. He is so faithful to us
Kelly, I pray that God will use your reflections to reveal His great care and love for you! He is indeed faithful!
Love this! Isn’t it amazing when we can look back and trace His hand, see His tender love and mercy written all over our story? Thanks for sharing this!
Christin, what I find truly incredible is all the times I can see God’s Hand on my life while I was not walking with Him! The many times He protected me from harm. The times when I felt so alone during my teenage years. It is deeply humbling!
What a beautiful testimony, Mei. Sweet, sweet grace of God, indeed! So grateful to have met you at Ann’s, and learn more about you here at the consilium. You are a gift.
Thank you, Patricia! I am so thankful we had the opportunity to meet at Ann’s too! It’s amazing how God knits our hearts together!
Mei, what a gripping and heartfelt story of God’s amazing grace, and His relentless pursuit of those He saves and draws to Himself. I can’t fathom all you and your family have endured, but I can see how you rejoice in God’s goodness to you, and moreover, how this has given you a real heart of compassion to share with those in need. You are a true comforter, comforting those with the same love and comfort, with which God has comforted you. Your life is filled with His grace, and kindness, and we all who know you are so grateful for your generosity in sharing your story (and His!) at every turn. And what truly wonderful parents you have. I know you have much (as do we all ) for which to be grateful.
Happy Thanksgiving, dear one.
Love
Lynn
Sweet Lynn, thank you so much for your kind and grace-filled words! I remind myself regularly where He graciously brought me from, so my heart is to love and help others for His glory! I have experienced and tasted His goodness and will praise Him all the days of my life! Happy Thanksgiving!
I love this post, Mei. Have you read the book Watershed Moments by Geri Meacham? I think many of us these moments.
Thanks, Mary! I haven’t read Geri Meacham’s book but I truly believe that if we reflect on our lives, we will see where God has placed circumstances/people that altered the course of our lives. Sometimes, it’s a decision or more importantly, a step out in faith. I think of the children of Israel when the 12 spies came back from surveying the Promised Land. What if they had listened to Joshua and Caleb instead of the other 10 naysayers? Because they chose to be afraid, none of them lived to see the Promised Land.
God is so precise and purposeful in His weaving of our life story. I’ve heard it said that we see the imperfect underside of our life’s tapestry while He sees the full, beautiful picture. Yet, at times He gives us glimpses and we recognize His divine plan in what may seem random choices or events. I love this glimpse of your beautiful tapestry.
Yes, what a beautiful picture of the tapestry of our lives – His story woven into our story!
I love this from the Voice translation: ” For now, we can only see a dim and blurry picture of things, as when we stare into polished metal. I realize that everything I know is only part of the big picture. But one day, when Jesus arrives, we will see clearly, face-to-face. In that day, I will fully know just as I have been wholly known by God.” 1 Cor 13:12