Stories

Second Battle - Independence

My mother survived the war, but life was not easy. With absolutely no education under her belt, she had to work several jobs to earn a living, from being a Chinatown restaurant waitress to a domestic helper.



She then got married and had a child. However, her hope for a better life was dashed when she found herself in a marital battleground with a husband who not only already had two wives but was also a compulsive drinker and gambler. Faced with great odds, her survival instincts again led her to stand on her own two feet and be independent of her husband, working to single-handedly bring up her only child.

Third Battle - Faith

In her younger days, Mother was brought up a Taoist and she staunchly embraced it. Her life struggles led her deeper and deeper into pagan worship. Instead of the peace she was seeking, she was vexed with fear and misery. One night, I found her woken up with the haunting fear of ‘someone trying to harm her’, and she soon became suspicious of everyone around her. She was so deep in idolatrous bondage she could not leave the ‘gods’ in her life and possessed an even stronger belief in the need to carry on the Taoism torch for her ancestors.

Christianity, which I embraced at an early age, was taboo in her world. Nothing would break her extreme hostility towards Christianity. So, it was no surprise that when I tried introducing the Christian faith to her, she would look daggers at me. Mother was my only kin. I had hoped so much that we would see each other in heaven after this life on earth. Five years were spent arduously praying and pleading with the Lord.

By divine intervention, Rev. Philip Heng, Pastor of Galilee Bible-Presbyterian Church, brought Mr and Mrs Chew Fook Wah from Malaysia with him to share Christ with Mother in Cantonese. She did not reject their visit, albeit with much apprehension. It was the power of the Holy Spirit that paved the way.

After six solid hours of spiritual battling, with Rev. Heng and I praying intently by the side while the Chews, led by the Holy Spirit, broke through the walls, Mother finally received Christ into her heart. Her burning questions and fearful concerns began with hostility but ended with repentance—indeed a divine closure. Even as I write this now, I choke with tears of gratefulness to the Sovereign God.



Thereafter, with her consent, Rev. Heng immediately arranged for all the pagan idols in the house to be removed. No more fear! No more hostility! That was a pivotal moment in her life, and mine.

New Life in Christ

Since that day, Mother never looked back—she finally found the inner peace and joy that she was seeking. Soon after, she was baptised at Grace Chinese Church at Queens Street, where she grew leaps and bounds in her newfound faith. Despite being illiterate, she learned to memorise and recite Bible verses eloquently in Cantonese.

It was 26 wonderful years thereafter of walking with the Lord in faithful service: in the refreshment team, senior choir, visiting the sick, and vigil ministry. She amazed me more than I could ever imagine. Without fail, her first hour of the day was by her room window praying, just like Daniel in the Bible, interceding for everyone—even my friends—by name (really!).

As an occasional visitor to Mt. Carmel BP Church, the church I grew up in, her friendly nature drew many of my friends to her. Everyone would fondly call her ‘Bak Leong’ (伯娘), a very respectful term of endearment one could be greeted with in Cantonese. At that time, Mt. Carmel was blessed with an epoch of many newlyweds and new babies. Mother would provide the much sought-after help with newborns one after another—as a great commission to serve God—until her own grandchildren arrived. Such was her giving heart to the Lord.

Fourth Battle - Lung Cancer

The Lord was good to Mother. She had enjoyed excellent health and strength into her eighties. She travelled around independently and did loads of things people ten years younger could not do. Her first hospital stay was when she was 82. She was warded for the first time for diagnosis of fourth-stage lung cancer and was given six months to live if she did not remove one of her lungs.

Even in the throes of a terminal illness, she had not forgotten the goodness of God. Whenever anyone visited her, she never failed to say “感謝主耶穌”—Thank You Jesus in Cantonese—no matter how gloomy her condition was. To this very day I can still vividly recall how her team of nurses and doctors remarked on her positivity and cheerfulness despite the pain from all the biopsies and tests. She would reply, “I have Jesus!”

When do you ever hear hospital staff celebrating an in-patient’s birthday? Well, they did with Mother—surprising her with a cake on her birthday! She not only shared the cake but also the good news of Jesus with the hospital staff and other patients around.

Then came the hard question—to operate or not to operate? After much praying, we made the hard decision not to proceed with radiation or surgery because of her advanced age. Amazing grace—God gave her another three good years of leading a normal life with no major complaints. Though she grew more frail, she had a better quality of life with palliative care.

I remember the morning when we were gathered around her hospital bed. She was already comatose, her face ashen but peaceful. As I watched her, I suddenly saw her ashen face turn into a radiant glow—a glorious sight! And that was when she drew her last breath. The Lord ushered her into His loving arms to enjoy eternal fellowship with Him in glory. She was 85.

Yes, my mother fought several battles in her life and she emerged victorious. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day”—2 Timothy 4:7-8.

As I stood before her tombstone, I wrote in my heart…

A FAITHFUL HEART

You fought several battles, Mother,

I am proud you emerged a winner;

It was a worthy fight, Mother,

You finished your race, one after another.

Your strength lies in your kindness,

Resilient spirit and selflessness;

It’s time for you, Mother, to rest,

For our loving Father saw your best.

So He drew you into His arms lovingly,

“Come to Me”, He whispered tenderly;

With tearful eyes we watched your face glow,

Calmly and gently, we let you go.

Although Mother had left us twenty years ago, the celebration flag of her legacy will continue to fly high.

Dawn Leong-Yeo is a mother of 3 adult children and grandmother to 10 grandkids aged one to eleven years old. A passionate reader, lifelong learner, and novice writer, she works in a museum as a children’s educator.