The Story of the Kiu's Family。。。邱家的故事。。。

This story started with my grandfather, Kiew Pick Heng, who was born on the 20th, Nov,1897 in Foochow District, within the Province of Fujian, China who left his family for Borneo after the First World War,and returned to marry my grandmother, Bau Gi Hion six years after that. In 1924, both of them left China for Sarawak and never returned...


邱家的故事始于我的祖父邱碧恒公。他于公元1897年农历11月20日,在中国福建省古田县出生。第一次世界大战过后,他只身离乡背井下南洋谋生。六年后,他回到家乡与我的祖母,包基香成婚。过后,他带着新婚的妻子再次离家到了南洋的砂拉越。那一年是公元1924年,而他们再也没有回去了。。。

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Three Memories About Grandma

TWO PURSES

  Grandma used to have two purses, one of them was for the money separated unto the Lord. She would always take a portion out from the monies she received from her many children and placed it in her ‘holy’ (which means: ‘set apart') purse. And she would take out the amount of money from the purse every Saturday and got it ready to be offered during Sunday worship at the church on the next day.

     Grandma always said that she didn't have much wealth. However in the eyes of a young child, I instead reckoned that she must be very rich as she needed two purses to keep all the money she had! And in fact, I'd never heard her complaining about any lack financially nor did I ever seeing her not being able to dish out any money at any occasion. She not only had extra money to buy gifts, to help the poor and needy, she would also buy various kinds of gifts, toys and titbits for her many grandchildren. On top of all that, she was able to allocate a portion for the Lord and his church and should there be any special items calling for extra contribution, she would always participate without much hesitation as well.

 "How much one needs to give to the Lord in order to please Him?" I once asked Grandma. I could still vividly remember her very answer to that question of mine until this very day, "Its nothing to do with the amount of money you give. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion for God loves a cheerful giver, just as He took delight in the two little coins offered by the poor widow and despised her not."

I reckon that Grandma was truly wise because she knew enough to invest her temporal monies in things that are of eternal value. She is truly rich, don't you think?

Emmanuel

One day, Grandma showed me some silver necklaces and pendants of cross she bought after returning home from town. She said she's gotten them for each of her granddaughters. The back of each of the crosses was engraved with words of blessings, for example, 'Jesus loves you', 'abundance of grace', 'Emmanuel' etc.

I was at Grandma's side helping her out in putting each pair of pendant and necklace into individual gift packs for my cousins, therefore I was given the privilege to choose one for myself. Well, call me greedy, but it wasn't an easy task at all for one who had always wanted all the blessings available if possible to choose only one among the many! After flipping through all the crosses on the table several times for as long as I could possibly remember, I finally gave up in frustration and sought grandma's opinion instead, "Which one is the BEST?" 

"Emmanuel," grandma answered without any hesitation, "God with us is the blessing of blessings." She remarked ('Emmanuel' means 'God with us').
   
Unfortunately that my physique was incompatible with silver so that set of necklace and pendant would turn blackish after a while due to chemical reaction with the mineral contents of my sweat. Not long after that, I stopped wearing it and passed it for mum to keep it in the safety box after I got tired of having to take it to the goldsmith for chemical treatments to recover its shine repeatedly. 

I only realized the significance of that piece of jewelry many many years later. It was Grandma's act of bequeathing her inheritance according to the Chinese tradition when she gave those necklaces and pendants to us. The cross of Christ was Grandma's most valued possession in her whole life. Therefore, Grandma had indeed left behind her most expensive piece of treasure to every one of her granddaughters, with silver signifying the precious redemptive work of Christ her Savior, she blessed us with her prayer: "Jesus loves you, Emmanuel (God with you) and abundance of grace." 

'Emmanuel' was forever Grandma's final closing word of blessing in all her letters to my youngest uncle who went abroad to further his studies in Taiwan. I could never comprehend why Grandma couldn't come up with closing phrases other than that boring 'Emmanuel'....until it was my own turn to go overseas alone.

When I received the first letter from my dad, I started to understand just how precious it was to have God's presence with me as I came across that most familiar word of blessing at its conclusion! 

No matter how much our parents and elders love and care for us, none of them is able to accompany us everywhere we go at all times. And that all-powerful One, our heavenly Father Who loves us so much that He gave His only beloved Son Jesus Christ to die for us on that rugged cross 2000 years ago. He accomplished the work of salvation, washed away all our sins and sanctified us so that His Holy Spirit may abide in us forever! 

I started to understand the truth that 'a neighbor who lives close by is more handy than family that lives far away' while I was alone and away from home. When I faced challenging and seemingly deadlocked situations alone, I experienced the leading and saving hand of the Lord of my Grandma, the one God Who's closer than a neighbor or even a brother. He is indeed a very present help in times of trouble. It was the Lord who abides within me that held my hand and helped me first to overcome my self internally and then the external situations, many times in situations which I had already surrendered and given up on hope. I am who I am today all because of His grace, the undeserved, unearned and unmerited favor that He has lavished on me.

As I recalled, almost all the closing blessings my dad wrote at the end of his many letters to me were 'Emmanuel's as well! I wonder what went through dad's heart while he was repeating this prayer of blessing.... whether he was reminding me of the ever presence of our Lord so as to comfort me, or he was praying in his heart to remind our loving Father in heaven to take good care of me, his (and also His) beloved daughter, to lead me not into temptation and to deliver from evil? As he was repeating the same phrase his mother used to write him while he was away from home years ago I wonder, was he being reminded again of how the goodness of God had saved him from dangerous circumstances and opened ways for him to further his studies in time of uncertainties earlier on?

Even though my dear Grandma had already passed on, the Ancient of Days, the 'Emmanuel' God of Grandma IS still with those who believe him NOW. Truly, He IS the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, the God of Kiew Pick Heng (my Grandpa), the God of Pau Gee Hiong (my grandma), your God and mine. And we also believe that those who had fallen asleep in Christ shall rise again in the last days, just as Jesus said, "...but those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, ....nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him." (Luke 20:35-38)

CHICKEN SOUP & NOODLES

One of the happiest events throughout my childhood was the time to receive visitors. Every time when our relatives and family members come back from Sabah to visit us in Sibu, Grandma would wake up early and cook a big pot of chicken soup and estimated the time so that she could get the noodles ready upon their arrival at our doorstep.

Everyone in the family seemed to get used to this standard procedure, i.e., to pay a visit to Grandpa and Grandma would be the first thing they must do after they'd touched down in Sibu, and to enjoy a bowl of delicious chicken soup with longlife noodles; and bid them goodbye before they depart, not leaving without filling their stomachs with the same, of course!

When it was my turn to leave home for further studies, dad followed Grandma's tradition and prepared the same treat even though Grandpa had passed on to be with the Lord just a few months back while Grandma was away with her 'home-visiting' with my uncles in Sabah. When I return home for the first time during summer holidays two years later, even though Grandma was staying at my uncle's house at the time, she moved back to our home a day earlier just to receive me with her signature dish, yet again.

One the night I arrived in Sibu via the last Kuching-Sibu flight of the day, that was the very first time I touched down in Sibu's new airport, and it was the first time I travelled on the new airport road as well. The road was so new that the street lights were not installed yet! Even though it was very late already, I couldn't stop myself from asking dad who was at the wheel then, "I really feel like saying this, dad: 'Let's go uncle's house to pay Grandma a visit first!'"

We didn't make it to my uncle's place that night of course, because Grandma wasn't there any longer.

Grandma went home to be with the Lord on the third day after my graduation ceremony. Only dad rushed back from Melbourne to attend her funeral. Maybe it was due to the fact that I wasn't there at the funeral physically, I'd never really feel that Grandma had died. In actual fact, Grandma really didn't die. She's just rested from the toils of this world and went back to that better homeland that she had longed for.

Ever since Grandma got married with Grandpa and left China for Sarawam, she had never returned to her homeland after that. I cannot recall whether she had ever mentioned about her desire of returning to China or not. On the other hand, Grandma had repeatedly mentioned about heaven - the better homeland in the heavenlies for all who believe in Jesus because she believed and also knew deeply that her family and friends were there because of the same faith that they shared.

I know what I will say to my Lord Jesus and the angels that will be there to receive me on that glorious day when I reach our better homeland, "Let's go to Grandma and Grandpa's house for a visit first!" (that is, if they are not there to receive me)

Oh, I know for sure that Grandma would definitely estimate the time (even though every time is now over there) and get her most delicious chicken soup and noodles all ready to welcome my return, and yours too.

I really look forward to this reunion that lasts forever, what about you?


 ~Written by: Ming Sing, granddaughter~ 

Sunday, October 10, 2010

《对外婆的回忆》

《对外婆的回忆》

在我的记忆中,外婆总是带着一副慈祥的笑容,我们都非常喜欢亲近她。每次她来我们家过夜,就会带来鼓励奖。她总是对着我们一个一个地分发铅笔啦、彩色笔啦、橡皮擦啦、笔销等,鼓励我们努力读书。

我们姐弟最喜欢的还是晚上睡觉前的诗歌、接着祷告、接着讲故事。。。这实在是回味无穷。因此,每次看到外婆来了,我们都兴奋无比!

现在回想起来,外婆带给儿孙们的祝福可大了。虽然只是一些小小的动作,但是这表示她有被主一直使用到底的心态。在老年的人生阶段里,她不但没有浪费时间,且做了最有意义的事情。外婆用自己那充满爱的生命来传递父神的慈爱,外婆到处把这宝贵的信息散播出去。她没有呆在家里不出门,她反而把天国的福音借着故事告诉儿孙们。她也看重小孩,正如主耶稣亲近小孩。

这种不屈不挠的精神、爱主爱小孩的每一个动作,到如今都深深烙印在我的记忆里。后来我发现,当我回到教会的儿童主日学服侍时,外婆慈爱的笑容常常在意念中浮现。外婆的榜样在我服侍的生涯,垫下一层非常重要的基础,那就是:

无论作甚么、都要从心里作、像是给主作的、不是给人作的。” (西323) 这实在让我学习到无论在怎么样的情况,应当从内心里面来服侍主。

生命虽然短暂,但是我们被安排在这个血缘、这个家族,是我们的福气。神给敬虔人的后代的福份是多而又多的。让我们选择继续跟随敬虔人(外婆)的脚步。

我所接触的外婆 ~ 虽然满头白发,却有神的恩典为她年岁的冠冕,她的路径都滴下脂油.( 诗篇65:11

外孙女,
何明雅
2009-06-23

我的爷爷和奶奶

我的爷爷和奶奶

其实,对小时候的事物不是很记得,可能是现在的我记忆力已经开始衰退了吧。。。哈哈 !但,无 论如何,印象深刻的事及人物还是记得的。

爷爷对我来说,是一个高大威猛的爷爷。不多话,爱喝 GUINESS STOUT (黑狗啤酒)到后来每天一定要喝一罐的COCA COLA 还有早上会去市区与“老”朋友们喝茶及车大炮。。。爷爷去世的时候,我才十二,三岁,所以对爷爷的印象是蛮模糊。总而言之,爷爷在我心目中就是我们一家的大家长,没有他也就没有我们。感谢主!

奶奶(阿仁)的事可就说不完了。有一段时期,奶奶在我们家住,就住在楼下的小客房里。记得小时候的我,有时候很无理取闹,甚至还会跟奶奶发脾气,但奶奶总是很有耐心对著我,不骂我。。。现在回想起来怪不好意思的。我知道因为天父的爱,所以奶奶才有那样的爱心来与家人相处。每天一定看到奶奶拿著一本圣经然后坐在客厅的靠椅,一边读圣经一边唱诗歌。偶尔我弹一些她熟悉的诗歌时,她就会跟著哼几句。。。回想起来蛮窝心的。

我们家客厅有个“小阶梯”,有一天早上,奶奶坐在客厅的靠椅休息,突然间醒起来,而且非常着急的站起来往厨房去,一不小心脚碰到阶梯摔倒了而且头额也摔破及流血。当时是我在家看奶奶的,我吓坏了,非常怕大人们会骂死我为什么没把奶奶看好。还好奶奶没事。感谢主!

虽然年老时的奶奶比较顽固,但奶奶在我们的整个邱家扮演著非常重要的脚色,就比如是贯穿整个家族的一个核心人物。奶奶常常默默为著每一个人向上帝祷告,而神的祝福也就这样笼罩在这个家庭里。若是我们家中没有这样的一位奶奶,那么我相信今天我们的感受也就不会那么强烈了。

2008年尾我妈妈,三伯和八叔做寿的时候,小叔带来了一份非常珍贵的东西那就是以往奶奶的VCR 。。。当看到过去的一点一滴的时候,心里就觉得非常感动及激动。虽然奶奶已经过世很多年了,但我还是非常非常怀念这位奶奶。

我感谢神让我出生在这个家庭当中,我的人生有苦,有乐,有悲,有喜。。。这都是神所应许的,我在当中学习了非常多的功课,也让我学习应该如何更加爱主及珍惜自己的家人。

最近看了一本书 The Power of a Praying Wife”,让我非常体会到祷告的力量。无论在任何的环境之下,只要我们愿意祷告,阿爸天父必会垂听的。

Do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.  For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.  But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to youLuke 12:29-31


你们不要求吃什么,喝什么,也不要__心。这都是外邦人所求的,你们必须用这些东西,你们的父是知道的你们只要求祂的国,这些东西就必加给你们了路加福音1229-31


Written by: 朵朵  18-June-2009

祖母的。。。


(一) 两个钱包 TWO PURSES

    祖母有两个钱包,其中 一个钱包放的是属于主的钱。她总是从儿女孝敬她的钱中抽出部分,放进那分别为圣的钱包。 每逢主日, 她总会在周六之前,便将奉献的款项从那钱包里拿出来放好,预备在崇拜时奉献给主。

    祖母总是说自己没有很多钱,但在还幼小的我眼中看来并非如此, 因为她有两个钱包  (一笑)。事实上, 我从不曾听她说自己没钱,更不曾看见她拿不出钱来。她不但有多余的钱送礼,帮助有需要的人,还时常买好东西给她众多的孙儿们,吃的、玩的、看的、用的都有。而且她还能先把钱分出来奉献给主和他的教会。如果教会有特别的捐献, 她也总能在那钱包中拿出钱来奉献。

        犹记得,年幼的我曾好奇地问祖母要奉献多少钱主才会高兴呢?她说:“奉献并不在乎金钱多少,只要凭着自己本心酌定,不必作难,不可勉强。只要捐得乐意的,主都会悦纳,正如主不轻看那个穷寡妇的两个小钱一样。”她的回答我至今仍然记得。

 祖母真的很有智慧, 因为她晓得把短暂的钱财投资在永恒不朽里。她果真很富有!


(二)以马内利 Emmanuel

 还记得有一回,祖母和爸爸一同去了一趟街,回来时对我说她在金铺订了些银链和十字架的银坠子, 要送给她的孙女们。她还特意要银匠在十字架背后铸上她的祝福,我还记得几句,如: 耶稣爱你主恩满溢以马内利等等。

 祖母在分配银坠子时,是我帮她分配,放进每个袋子里的。因此,她让我自己选一个。挑着挑着,对于每一个祝福都想要的我,实在难以决定。我只好对祖母说:“那一个是最好的呢?”

以马内利,”祖母毫不犹豫的回答,有神与我们同在是最好的福分了。” 以马内利翻出来就是神与我们同在的意思)
  
 可惜我的体质不适合戴银,戴着戴着,链子坠子都变黑黜了;反复拿去金铺用化学药水洗了几次,觉得麻烦,便交给了妈妈收起来了。

    很多很多年以后,我才了解,祖母当年是在按着华人的习俗,在她尚未离世之前,将这些银链坠子赠给我们这些孙女们,当作她所留给我们的遗物。


    主耶稣的十字架是祖母这一生最宝贵的,所以她实在是将她的至宝分给了她每一个孙女们,并且加上了铸在十字架上声声的祝福和祷告:耶稣爱你,以马内利,主恩满溢


       还记得,祖母写给远在台湾深造的小叔的每一封家书都以这句 以马内利为祝语。我一直不明白为什么祖母这么单调,难道她没有别的祝语好写吗?直至我自己独自一人远赴他乡求学时,接到爸爸的信,读着他末了那再熟悉不过的祝语,以马内利时才明白,神同在,是多么的宝贵!


  父母、长辈纵然深爱我们,却无法时刻与我们同在;唯有那爱我们的天父,赐下他的独生爱子耶稣为我们被钉死在十字架上,成就了救恩, 用自己的宝血洗净了我们一切的罪,以致他圣洁的灵得以住在我们内里,永远不离开。


独在异乡为异人的时候,我了解远亲不如近邻的道理。在无依无靠的困境中,更加体会那比近邻更亲密的主,也是祖母的主,他如何带领祖母,也同样的带领我走过。他是我在患难中随时的帮助。在多次的已经自我放弃的情况下,是那在我里面的主,紧紧握着我,助我首先克服自我,而后在外的挑战。我今日成为何等样的人,全是因主的恩才成的。

回想起来,爸爸写给我的家书的祝语,几乎也都是以马内利耶!不知道爸爸写这祝语的时候,除了提醒我主与我同在以安慰我以外,是否也默默祷告慈爱的天父可要记得保守并看顾他那远在天边的宝贝女儿――我,不叫我遇见试探,拯救我脱离凶恶呢?又或者,他在写家书的时候,想起自己在新加坡留学时,收到母亲大人的家书时那千篇一律的宝贵祝语,那同在的神如何一次又一次的使他化险为夷,又为他开路使他得以出国读书等等的往事呢?

往者已矣,唯有那亘古常在者,祖母那以马内利的神,仍然与信靠他的人常同在。他诚然是亚伯拉罕的神,以撒的神,雅各的神,邱碧恒的神,包基香的神,你的神,我的神。并且我們也信那在主耶穌里睡了的人在末后也必復活。正如耶穌所說:“。。。配得那世界的,又配得從死人中復活的人,。。。他們和天使一样,不能再死;既然是復活了的人,就是神的兒女了。至于死人復活的事,摩西在荊棘篇上提过,他称主是亚伯拉罕的神,以撒的神,雅各的神;神不是死人的神,而是活人的神,因為在他那里的人都是活的。”(路加福音廿章3538节)

(三)鸡汤面线 CHICKEN SOUP & NOODLES
         小时候 我最高兴的其中一件乐事便是:“有客从远方来”。 每逢沙巴的亲戚回来诗巫时,祖母便会煮好一大锅的人参鸡汤,算好时间烧了热水,等候儿孙一抵达,便能第一时间烫好面线给大家接风、洗尘。

   每个人几乎都习惯了这样的程序:回到诗巫的第一件事, 便是向祖父母报平安,并吃碗鸡汤面线;启程前,也必向他们告别,照例少不了那豌鸡汤面线啦!
  
    后来我自己长大出国读书,那时祖父已经去世,祖母正在沙巴作她的家庭探访”,爸爸却还是按着祖母的惯例煮了鸡汤面线给我饯行。两年后的暑假,我第一次回乡,那时常住大叔家里的祖母还特地会到我们家来迎接我;桌上当然少不了她的招牌鸡汤面线。

    在我毕业后乘搭古晋-诗巫最后一班班机抵达诗巫的那个晚上。。。那是我第一次看见诗巫的新机场,第一次驾驶在新的机场路上;路是如此的新,连路灯都还尚未安装好呢!
    
  虽然已经很夜了,我还是忍不住开口对正在驾车的爸爸说道:“还真想说,让我们先去大叔家看看祖母吧!”
   
  当然,那天夜里,我们并没有去大叔家向祖母报到,因为她已经不在那里了。

  祖母是在我的毕业典礼过后第三天回返天家的。我们家就只有爸爸赶回参加她的丧礼。因为没有在场,所以从来不觉得祖母死了。其实,祖母真的从来没有死。她是息了世上的劳苦,回到了那她所羡慕,更美的家乡。

  祖母自与祖父结婚,随他离乡背井下南洋定居后,从不曾再回到中国的故乡。我不记得祖母是否曾提起要再回去她的故乡。反之,祖母却曾多次讲到天堂,就是那信主之人都将要去的那更美,天上的家乡,因为她深信,也深知道,她的家人、朋友因着同样的信,已到达彼岸。     

  我知道,那一天,当我第一次回到那更美、永久的家乡时,我会对那来迎接我的主耶稣和他的天使说(那是,如果我亲爱的祖母没跟他们一道来接我的话):“让我们先去祖父母的家看看吧!”

  我知道,祖母一定也已算好了时间 (虽然在那里哪一时都是“现在”every time is NOW, 把热腾腾的鸡汤面线煮好了,只等着我的归来、你的归来。

  我期待这永不再分离的重聚!你呢?


  


孙女:敏心书写

Thursday, October 7, 2010

至於我,和我家,我們必定事奉耶和華

至於我,和我家,我們必定事奉耶和華-----媳妇:延玲珍
    我是在醫學院的基督徒团契中認識維超的. 維超很有才华, 被選為主席, 我是他的文書;不久我們就戀愛了,但因為出生背景及教育文化、個性差異很大, 其間曾經猶豫是否合适互託終身;经過禱告尋求, 靠著主的恩典、憐憫與帶領, 我們終於一起步入紅氈的另一端.
   
    很高興能夠進入邱家大家庭,承蒙爸媽及兄嫂的厚愛, 只可惜遠住台灣, 無法對公婆盡孝道,求主藉著這本書能夠時常追憶對邱家大家長的懷念與感恩, 並且联絡手足之情, 在主愛中常保合一.
   
    維超說我們是異國婚姻, 有許多方面需要磨合學習;還好我們有共同的基督信仰, 就有靠山了!其实每對夫妻都帶著自己的「原生家庭」進入婚姻, 都有不容易的難處. 我們都是過來人, 也特別懷抱重建蒙神喜悅祝福的家庭異象, 因此維超和我在2003年成立「台灣家庭更新協會」, 開辦週末三天兩夜的「恩愛夫婦營會」,至今我們的团隊已經服務了一千多對夫妻, 反應十分良好. 東馬事工由維超在詩巫的同工劉邦耀夫婦負責, 非常值得各對夫妻参加, 必定受用無窮.可上網查詾  www.cffc.org, 祝福你們!

    以下是我在2010年榮獲第二個碩士(教牧輔導碩士)的感言見証, 在此與各位分享, 並請在聖灵里彼此代禱, 讓邱家的每一位成員都能夠靠主一生榮神益人!

      我自幼失怙(一歲左右),聽大人說父親生前是基督徒,聖經說:「神是孤兒寡婦的主」(詩6851469),這也是我自小的經歷。猶記得兒時最快樂的事,就是星期日早上可以到教堂唱詩歌、聽故事、以及拿漂亮的卡片(當時是國外宣教士)。因此,在我小小心靈中知道教堂是個有愛、有平安的地方。

      就讀高中時,我是寄宿在一所基督教學校。由於從小對神有體會,很自然的,我就參與學校的團契服事,在這三年的住校生活中,最難忘的是每天早上有一股吸引力,帶我到一間非常小的禱告室讀經與禱告,如今回想才明白是聖靈的感動,帶著我每天早上渴慕地親近神。漸漸地,我羨慕一生服事上帝,並且暗自許願:「希望將來成為師母」。
     
      四年的大學生涯也在基督徒團契中很充實的度過,神果真讓我成為“師母”,但不是牧師的太太而是醫生的妻子。雖然如此,這並沒有打消我願意服事神的心志。我與丈夫把家庭開放成為佈道所,一年後成為正式的教會(林口靈糧堂)。在孩子一個個相繼出生後,我除了在家帶孩子,並協助先生的事業(診所)。這期間,神讓我經歷自己婚姻家庭的問題,並且看見一般基督徒家庭的需要。有一句話“在別人的需要上,看見自己的責任。”聖經以賽亞書5812:「…你必稱為補破口的和重修路徑與人居住的。」成為我們委身自己服事上帝的目標。

      “家家有本難念的經”,這句話說明家庭中實在有許多無法向別人說盡的事,看到家庭(特別婚姻)是神所看重的,但卻出現一些破口時,神把這一塊被撒但侵略的境界顯示出來,要我們服事這個世代基督徒的婚姻家庭。2003年在台灣成立的“家庭更新協會”,其宗旨是建立合神心意的婚姻。至今已經有一千對以上的夫妻參加了“恩愛夫妻營”(其中有兩百多對是牧者傳道夫婦),看見基督徒的婚姻需要被關懷與幫助,我們夫妻很感謝神的揀選與恩賜。

      2005年神帶領我到美國北加州豐收神學院接受裝備,我清楚神不只要我在真道上造就自己,更重要的是學習像神,有神本性一切的豐盛,特別是神的愛與憐憫。我希望在神所定的時間裏唸完課程,接下來繼續輔導訓練的裝備,或是婚姻家庭相關的服事,甚至將來到中國宣教(聽說中國基督徒的婚姻很需要幫助)。總之,「至於我,和我家,我們必定事奉耶和華。」(書2415)是神所託付的異象和使命。

【小儿子教会见证: 母亲的智慧】

   很高兴今天能在这里为主作见证,也为我母亲的一生作见证。
  
    我的母亲是一位多产的妇人,一共生了十三个小孩,而我是老么。感谢神,我出生那年母亲是五十岁,父亲六十岁,我虽是高龄产妇所生,身体却没甚么缺陷。虽然我的IQ并不高,EQ却不错,因为母亲给我很健康的生长环境,使我懂得处理情绪,更感谢主,她带给我很好的宗教信仰,所以我的「RQ」(宗教虔诚参数)也很高,这是最宝贵的。
  
    母亲虽然是一位平凡的乡下家庭主妇,只有学教育程度,但她充满神的智慧,使她善于教养小孩,而且是教养十三个小孩。母亲是身教重于言教,使我们看在眼中,可以学习她的榜样。她最好的榜样,就是常读经;她的床头放着一本圣经,不论如何忙碌,总会抽出一些时间读圣经,甚至睡前会读圣故事给我们听,有时也会读一些宗教故事例如“天路历程”给我们听,使我们从小就羡慕做一个天路客。感谢主,她给我们这么好的成长环境。
  
    母亲不但在读经和上教会很虔诚,更是把信仰生活化,成为我们学习的好榜样。她很爱祷告,每天都是清晨五、六点就跪在床前祷告,不但为儿女祷告,也为教会、国家、社会祷告;她心胸非常宽广,也教我们不要自私自利。有一次我大姐生病很严重,她就拿着圣经,一边祷告呼求主,一边赞美主,使我看了非常感动;另有一次我九哥因被大树压到而脑出血,躺在医院一个星期昏迷不醒,医生几乎都放弃了,但母亲仍继续祷告,结果我哥哥活过来了,至今还活着,将荣耀归给主。
  
    母亲实在有智慧。虽然家里的小孩很多,有时难免吵架,但她总是赏罚分明,不会偏袒谁,所以我们兄弟姊妹都能和睦相处,至今仍彼此感情融洽,不会为财产相争。母亲虽疼爱小孩,必要时仍严厉管教,我不乖时也会被她打,有一次还被她关在漆黑的仓库中,她的目的就是要我明白不可做坏事。我曾沉迷与朋友的玩乐中,半夜两、三点才回家,她就坐在客厅中等我,说她一直为我祷告;有次我很不听话,她怎么劝戒我都不听,她就在我面前哭泣,我从未见她哭得那么伤心,圣灵感动我,从那时我就戒掉那个坏习惯了。
  
    母亲也是勤劳的家庭主妇,而且有很好的见证。她不但勤劳,并且很少埋怨,家中事务非常烦杂,但她总是笑瞇瞇的,感恩地哼着歌曲。即使有时她难免对一些人、事、物有些抱怨,但在我印象中,她从未对我们的主埋怨过,因为她知道她所信的是一位又真又活的主,祂能承担我们一切的劳苦愁烦,而且伸冤在主。她总是让我们在这样健康的环境中长大。
  
    最重要的一点是,她很喜欢传福音。我们的家族中有一百多位成员,难免有人不信主或信心软弱,她总是不断地为他们祷告,甚至还亲自到他们家中探访,劝戒他们。因此她虽然在八十八岁时去世,如今已有三年多,却仍如希伯来书十一章中所说的,那些人肉体虽然死了,却「因信仍然说话」。最近我仍听到有亲戚提到我母亲曾对他们讲过经文或圣经故事,使他们因而信主;有位亲戚过去曾是非常败坏的人,现在却成为教会极热心的执事,他作这样的见证,使我非常感动。

  我相信今天早上母亲因信仍旧说话,透过我这个小小的器皿来见证她,见证我们所信的耶稣基督在我母亲身上、在我们家庭中,行了何等奇妙的事。我觉得母亲很有福气,不但我们家中每一个人都很有福气,连我们这些信耶稣的人,更是有福气。我不知道如何去宣扬这样的爱,但我相信母亲的爱就像上帝的爱,透过我们这些基督徒,可以把它表达出来,在这混乱黑暗的世代,如同明光照耀。

小儿子:邱维超于1998年母亲节

怀念伟大的父母

              怀念伟大的父母-----------------十二儿:邱维宋书写


   今天是母亲离世十五周年,我跪下祷告祈求上帝给我聪明智慧写一篇感言,祷告完毕,精神特别好,就开始写了,感谢神的带领。
   
   自懂事以来,就看见妈妈白天忙着做家务,常常做饭团喂我们吃,睡前还要烧热水给我们一大群儿孙女轮流擦身体及洗脚;然后还要讲一题圣经故事、唱几首诗歌给我们听,直到我们都睡着为止。我的信仰基础就是从那时候建立的。记得年幼时还在民丹明成小学旁的教堂内表演唱游节目呢,都是妈妈一手教导的;妈真是入得厨房、出得厅堂的伟大母亲。
   
   妈妈懂得用罗马文写信给新加坡的阿姨,很可惜小时候没有跟她学习如何书写罗马文。年幼时,妈妈管教我们很严格,也不准我们讲骗话,而且要我们待人有礼,也教导我们许多礼节,与外甥侄儿们玩耍时,若他们有意见在我妈面前告我的状,我必定被严格地处罚,因为我的辈份比他们大,所以我对母亲又尊敬又惧怕----「敬畏」也!
      
   自从离开学校进入社会工作,遇到无数次的危险,但都化凶为吉,深信这些都是上帝的看顾怜悯和保守,因为妈说她每天都为她的儿女们祷告。记得有一次我严重受伤,流了很多血,昏迷了三天三夜;醒来时,口渴得很,突然想起妈曾经说过,出血很多时口会很渴,但千万不可多多喝水,不然就会流血不止,所以我就忍着不喝水。后来真的渡过死亡关卡,感谢神的保守。
    
  回想当年我和内人巧雯刚结婚时,一心只想努力工作赚钱,也从来没有去求告上帝。内人因出生在拜偶像的家庭中,嫁来我家时还带着符头类的东西来,我发现时就向她申明我们家是信靠基督的,妳也来跟我妈信耶稣,将这些符头丢掉吧!之后,我母亲就风雨无阻地在每星期六傍晚时就来到我们租的房子过夜,并且甘愿睡在客厅,就是为了要在第二天礼拜日带我们去教堂聚会敬拜真神。起初我们会找很多借口不想去,但是渐渐地习惯了,也就认识救主耶稣,并且学习信靠衪!而且五个儿女也都归入主的名下了。现在我更加体会到「这一生最美的祝福就是认识主耶稣、信靠主耶稣」!

     上帝赐给我很多的恩典,其一就是我的五个儿女自从信主以后,他们的生命得到更新,很乖巧、听话又懂得努力求学,未让我们操心。这实在是母亲凭信心爱主又爱人的福音行动带来美好的成果,我由衷感激母亲赐给我们这项最大的财富。

    记得有一次妈得了重病,一直卧床不起,她就求告神再给她多几年的时间,好叫她能够去把福音傅给其他还没有信主的家人。上帝果真垂听她的祈求,又让她增寿十年,带领多人信主。

   内人时常回忆往事并且对人分享家婆对她的爱和关心。当她接连生下三个女儿时,她急得哭了,但是母亲却微笑安慰她说:「上帝赐妳福气,别伤心」。当时我们夫妻不明白真意,还埋怨上帝为什么不早点赐下男孩,现在这恍然大悟,衪要让我们生养众多,一共三女二男,真是有福啊!如果太早就了男孩,恐怕我们就会再想多生了。感谢母亲的鼓励!荣耀归主名!
      
   我的爸爸是一个安静不多话的人,时常对我微微笑,不随便骂人,也常对我说一些人生道理,其中一句令我深刻难忘:
   
            「人不知世故,知世故,人已老;
                人不知父母,知父母,人已亡。」

此话真有意思,又让我回味无穷。当我年龄渐长时,就更加明白其中含意。我也时常用这句话奉劝年轻人和朋友们,要趁早寻得人生目标和真意,同时也要及时孝顺父母,以免「子欲孝而亲不在」就会后悔懊恼不已了!