91. God’s wisdom to reach out to my great-nephew, an egoistic teenager

Name: Sis B requested to remain anonymous
Date: Dec 2009 (Testimony Shared in late Jan 2010)
Location: Singapore
Note: Sister B is from our Grace Fellowship

Sometime in November2009, I was concerned with the egoistic attitude of a 16-year-old great nephew. For sometime his parents had problems talking him out of the excessive playing of computer games. This resulted in some ugly incidents at home. I talked to his parents my intention to correct their son’s bad attitude. I was waiting for the right opportunity to confront him.

In December I left with Bro. Joshua, Sis Florence and their children for a trip to Cameron Highlands. On the way down from the Highlands heading back to Singapore, I talked to them about this situation and asked for their counsel. Their advice was that this “lecture-confrontation” way would not be helpful. It would only result in my great nephew resenting and avoiding me. Their advice was to spend time building relationship and communicating with him. At the same time, to use the platform of the family prayer to reach out to him through the Word of God. I then decided to give up the idea of confronting him. Meanwhile, I prayed to God for wisdom and guidance in this matter.

In January 2010, the GCE ‘O’ Levels results were announced and he scored 12 points. We were very pleased with this good news. I planned to pat him and say, “Well done.” My friend, in her wisdom, suggested that I reward him with a ‘hongbao’ (which was cash in a red packet). This, I did, in the presence of his parents and prayed for him - thank God for the good results and committed his future into God’s hands.

The next day, my nephew sent me a sms that the son who knew that the family was going through a financial challenge, hugged him and cried; and wanted to give the ‘hongbao’ to him. My nephew told him to keep it for himself. A few days later, my sister-in-law told me that this great nephew took $10 out of the ‘hongbao’ to give to her. I was happy to hear all these and see the good and generous side of him surfacing.

I thank God for His divine intervention in this family situation and the godly counsel of Bro. Joshua and Sis. Florence.

Sister B