You & Your Family

  PRAY THAT I can pee. This must be one of the most unusual prayer requests I have ever been given. Yet it is probably one of the most needful, sincere and, may I add, worthy requests made. Being able to pee, for this patient, is what stands between her discharge from hospital after a […]

  THE SON WAS ACCOMPANIED by his mother for their first counselling session. “He is defiant,” she complained “and he never listens to me. We cannot get him to stop playing with the computer all day.” The 13-year-old sat there avoiding any eye contact with either of us and would only offer monotone responses. He […]

  “BY THE WAY, WHO ARE YOU?” or “Are you a family member?” These two questions were often asked by well-wishers at the wake of a dear friend who passed away recently. The questions were directed at a small band of helpers as we busied ourselves distributing refreshments, ushering, collecting love offerings and going about […]

  HE ENTHUSIASTICALLY EXTENDED HIS HAND and introduced himself. I am Isaac, he announced to my surprise as I had braced myself for a name that I assumed would be difficult to remember. When Isaac adopted this rather quaint English name is unknown to me. I wondered if it was chosen recently in preparation for […]

  “HOW INHUMAN!” my friend remarked with a tone of disbelief and disgust. He had just been sharing with me on how Orang Utans were being mistreated in Thailand. It seems that some are used as forms of entertainment during some Thai boxing bouts and even featured in pornographic films. My response was to say […]

  I HAVE ALWAYS tried to live my life without regrets: to not look back on decisions made earlier. I also try to avoid the disappointment of unmet expectations by moderating them and by focussing more on meeting the needs of loved ones and others around me. In this way, I try to avoid more […]

  I LOVE TALKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE. By relating to them, I can understand why and how they cherish every moment of their life. I especially enjoy hearing them share their stories, life-experiences and “God moments”. I believe the youth whom we serve in the schools do not need great ideas or any great programme. […]

  “I AM OLD and I accept the practicalities of what being old means.” This was the one and only statement that she made with reference to the problems of being an elderly person. The practicalities included deteriorating eyesight and giving up some of her previous work positions in a charity for abandoned children she […]

  HE PROUDLY ANNOUNCED that his mother had promised that if he did well for his examinations, he would get an I-Phone. The school counsellor and I exchanged looks and concluded that this reward would cost his mother a third of her monthly salary. Just as I was recovering from this surprise, he added that […]

  WITH THESE SOLEMN WORDS, we are reminded that no man should be allowed to come between a husband and wife. Whilst most couples do their utmost to guard against this, the invaders that ultimately undermine a marriage can take shapes and forms that we least expect. I want to focus on a disruption of […]

  “DO YOU COUNSEL CHILDREN?” the anxious mother asked me, to know more about the counselling services I offer. “Yes”, I replied and added, “I would like you and your husband to come too.” The couple turned up with the child in tow. They were eager to tell me all the problems they were having […]

  HELPING MY CLIENT consider what adjustment she would have to make when she divorces her husband, one consideration stands out clearly. “How will my church receive my decision?” she wondered aloud. She was long past deciding on whether to divorce or not. Now comes the equally difficult step of thinking about the consequences of […]