My precious princess, time flies and you enter Primary One this year. 

You are the daughter God has promised to us. Your name, Elizabeth, means God is abundance.

When mummy and daddy prayed for a second child, God heard our prayers and you were conceived. This means that you are fearfully and wonderfully made by God (Psalm 139:14), with a destiny for your life.

God has sustained your life the last six years. 

Your weight at birth was at the 97th percentile but it fell below the 10th percentile by the time you reached the one-year mark. We could not figure out why; neither could the multiple specialist doctors we went to.

However, God provided an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan through a very curious general practitioner.

God has granted you courage to go through many blood tests and visits to the hospital. He has also given you a healthy crown of long hair today (just like Rapunzel, as you always wanted).

As your proud Daddy, I would like to share three things with you as you start on your new journey. 

Salvation belongs to the Lord

Daddy has been very amazed by your childlike faith in the past year. You have done well, by the grace of God, to heed your children pastor’s call to share the Gospel with five of your classmates in 2018.

In doing so, you enjoyed the privilege of bringing some of your friends to Christ. You have played a part to ensure that they will be on their way to heaven to be with God after they pass on from this life. 

I am praying that you will continue to be an ambassador for Christ in your new class. 

It may not be easy. I recall the time you were discouraged when some of your classmates rejected your sharing of the Gospel – and yet you persevered. In the future, when you are discouraged by friends, persevere in your faith. Remember, salvation belongs to our God. You can cling to God and He will uphold you with His right hand (Psalm 62:7-8).

When you go through primary school and eventually puberty, the world may tempt you to focus on beautiful possessions such as the latest stationery, bags, shoes and mobile phones, and shape your idea of what beauty is.

Do not forget your identity as God’s precious child. It is marked by the fruit of the Holy Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). This is true beauty that the world does not promote; it is permanent and are marks of a mature young woman walking with God. 

As you frequently recite this memory verse, James 1:22, I want to encourage and remind you to be a doer of God’s word.

During a recent trip to a slum in a nearby country, I was amazed by how God helped you not to be frightened by the hundreds of flies and pungent rotting rubbish as you focused on helping the adults distribute rations to the locals.

I pray that you will not be overwhelmed by the need to accumulate things and the competitive spirit of the education system. Always have a heart of gratitude because God has blessed us with much in Singapore. 

May you be guided by the Holy Spirit in your new journey. Remember that you can always come home to daddy and mummy no matter what happens. We love you and will help you!

Love,
Daddy
January 2019