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When I was six I was sent to live with Grandfather. My three years with him left an impression which has become part of me: my thinking, my way of life, and my value system. During the three years Grandfather imparted to me, by example and precept, the elements of godly living, just as the Word of God says in Proverbs 22:6 :
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Our family lived in Senai, some forty miles to the north of Singapore, in Johor State, Malaysia. Mother had God-given foresight in the upbringing of her children: it would have been an irretrievable blunder to let them grow up in a rubber estate, and not to send them to the schools in Singapore, the “centre of learning. ” Mother reasoned: “Unless they study English, there would be no future for them. ” That was in the ‘thirties.
How right was Mother. English, since then, has become the pre-eminent global language.
Thank God for giving our parents the resolve to invest in the children’s education. Eldest Sister enrolled in the Methodist Girls’ School, while we boys went to Anglo-Chinese School. Today, seventy years later, these schools rank among the best in Singapore.
While our primary objective for leaving home and parents was for a better education, we received something far more precious: the spiritual benefits from a rare man of God — Grandfather.
Grandfather was Pastor of the Chinese Presbyterian Church at 4¾ milestone, Upper Serangoon Road. The Church property comprised an attap and plank house on about 30, 000 square feet of land, with six durian trees, a clump of banana plants, and a small well, our sole source of water.
The attap house was a modest single storey building with four bedrooms, a kitchen, a centre living room which doubled as the Sanctuary for worship on the Lord’s Day. In this home lived Grandfather, his two younger daughters, Seond and Third Aunts, Eldest Sister Siew Ai, and four brothers Siang Hui (Timothy), Siang Yew, Siang Hwa and Siang Yeow.
There were no modern conveniences: no electricity or gas, no modern sanitation, no piped water. But there was no lack of the atmosphere of heaven and godliness. Life was very basic, “back to nature, ” and no cause for regret, for “sweet are the uses of adversity. ” Here, under the saintly guidance of Grandfather, we learned precious lessons of godliness, frugality, and self-reliance, lessons which endure.
While Senai was a mere forty miles from Singapore, we children made the trip home only when the school term ended and school holidays began. Father’s meager income did not allow us the luxury of more than three home-trips per year for taxis were not cheap. In those days there were no telephones, so during the three school terms we did not hear our parents’ voices. Absence made our parents even more precious.
For young children like us to leave home and parents was a painful experience. “Second Brother “ (Siang Yew) and I felt the parting most keenly, especially in the afternoons when we returned home from school. For the first week, the two of us would go to the back of the house, and console each other with a private “sob session. ” As the days passed and school work increased, our homesickness gradually subsided. “Busyness cures homesickness. ”
As the saying goes, “Time flies, ” and before we realised it, the end of term was in sight. The prospect of going home for our holidays, and to see Father and Mother again was like heaven!
When I first set eyes on Grandfather, he was like Abraham to me, a venerable gentleman of threescore years and ten. He never re-married after Grandmother died in 1922. Why? He was sixty and had a good span of years ahead of him. He had his reasons which I surmise from his will, a document containing much food for thought. As a man of God, and remaining single, he could devote himself more fully to holy service.
Grandfather’s Will — written in his own hand on 19 April 1926 in the “Plum River Garden” Senai. From the will I have extracted some precious points, testifying to God’s excellent grace in his life. I quote:
a) When I was 19 years old, the Holy Spirit led me to the grace of Jesus Christ. I gave up all my desire for the wealth of this world.
b) When I was 26 years old, I dedicated myself to preach the Gospel. I retired from my pastorate at 58. Thereafter I continued faithfully to preach the Gospel wherever I went, from China to Malaya and Singapore.
c) I received my call from the Lord, and I deeply believe that I must conquer the devil everyday, over and over again. I praise the Lord that He blesses me increasingly all the days of my life until I leave this world.
d) I have never tried to accumulate great wealth, but only pray that God will give me the wisdom to lead all you children to trust in the Lord so that you may receive the true blessing which is Faith in God.
e) On earth I have no hope. My hope is beyond earth, that one day we may all meet in heaven and sing the Song of Victory. As for now, keep good faith with Christ; make good use of what He has entrusted you by carrying out charitable works.
f) Put on the Armour of God so that you can withstand the wiles of the devil. Be diligent in prayer to receive the protection of God (Eph 6:10-20 ).
g) Our life in this world is like a day’s journey. End of the day the journey is done. If this is so, why then should we crave for many things? Never forget the days of the devastating Earthquake followed by the terrible Typhoon when hundreds of thousands lost their lives. But our God is always with us.
h) Keep the Commandments. Honour your parents. This is the most beautiful and precious opportunity not to be missed.
Memories of Grandfather, like the fragrance of the lily of the valley, linger on after many years. If you should ask me to cite an example of a godly man, Grandfather takes first place, without hesitation. Always calm, saintly, and smiling, I have never heard any “corrupt communication” come from his mouth. In my years with him, he never lost his temper on any of us grandchildren, nor on any other person.
My first encounter with Grandfather was soon after arrival in the “Church House. ”
“Grandson, pray for faith. Pray always, asking the Lord to give you strong faith. Faith is the key to blessing. Without faith you cannot please God. With faith everything is possible; you will do great things for God. ”
How true: without faith we are nothing and can do nothing for God. So I have not ceased to pray for faith these past seventy and more years. More stories from Grandfather:
“One day there was a great earthquake. This was a terrifying experience. I was in church (where I had my living quarters). Immediately, I knelt down just where I was, and cried to the Lord for mercy. When the shaking had ceased, and all was quiet again, I got up from my knees. The “Church House, ” made of wood, stood firm, praise the Lord.
“I went outside, and to my horror, the solid concrete houses on either side, had both collapsed. That was in 1918.
Then in 1922, the great August 2 typhoon struck. Enormous winds and tidal waves swept through the Swatow district, causing widespread damage and loss of live. In all, over 30, 000 persons lost their lives. Again we cried to God, and our family was spared. The Lord is great. ”
May the words of Psalm 46:1-3 exalt the name of our God:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah."
Whenever Grandfather spoke with women, he would look at the floor. I wondered, was he shy? I asked him the reason and his answer was plain and simple: “Be careful of the lust of the eyes. ” In later years I understood. In the Sermon on the Mount, these words came from our Lord’s own lips: "Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matt 5:28 ). Grandfather’s saintliness was not soon forgotten.
Grandfather was fully given to prayer and the word of God. Oftentimes his loud praying would wake us in the night watches. On occasions we would hear him cry out, “Lord, receive the soul of Thy unworthy servant! ” In the morning the grandchildren would ask him, “Grandfather, were you not well last night? ”
“No, grandchildren, I only long to be with the Lord Jesus. I wish He would call for me soon. This earth is just so worthless, like a cold overnight potato. ” Prayer with Grandfather morning and evening was our daily blessing. His motto for us was, “No prayer, no school. ”
If the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom, (Prov 1:7 ; Ps 111:10 ), then surely prayer before hurrying off to school makes good sense.
One morning, Second Brother and I were running late and were half-way up the steps to the bus stop when Grandfather spotted us from the house, “Grandsons, come back, we have not prayed! ” We were late, but the lesson was well learnt. From that day, we were never late again.
Family Worship at 8 o’clock was our nightly blessing when all the family gathered for Grandfather’s scripture lesson and prayer. He would pray for each of the grandchildren, seeking God’s blessings on each one, near and far.
To Grandfather, the Lord came first in everything. He loved the holy Sabbath Day. To him it was truly “... a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable, ” a day on which nothing of the world must intrude: no newspapers, no careless speech, no games or sport (Isa 58:13 ). From Grandfather we learnt to honour the Lord on His Day. Was Grandfather unduly strict? I say, no, it was merely an expression of his devotion for God and the things of God.
Grandfather lived each day as though he were treading the outskirts of heaven, in closest communion with the Lord. One day, coming home from market, he found a ten cent coin among the prawns. Losing no time, he walked all the way back to the market, a mile distant, to return the money. The fishmonger was amused and amazed.
“Sir, you could have returned the money on your next marketing day. ”
“Yes, I could, but you cannot be sure. A man of my age may not have another marketing day. ”
Grandfather was ever conscious of “Keeping straight accounts” with God.
Whenever our neighbour’s hens crossed over and laid their eggs in our garden, Grandfather would promptly return them to the rightful owners. The best durians were carried by Second Brother and me to the market and sold, and the proceeds returned to the Church.
“Render unto God what is God’s. ” Grandfather was a man of God-fearing principle.
“Never be idle, doing nothing! Time is precious: an inch of time is an inch of gold. Redeem the time; keep busy and useful always. ”
Grandfather never objected to our playing childish games, but he never condoned idleness. Grandfather was extremely frugal toward himself. His bath towel was the coarse cotton sack which the provision shop discarded after the flour was sold. This saved Grandfather thirty cents, which is money, then as now.
When he received news of a disastrous flood affecting the church in Swatow, he sent his entire month’s earning of $30 to help the flood victims.
He was strict on feminine modesty. Sleeves for girls and ladies were a must, at least half length if not full length sleeves for a respectable and God-honouring cover. Sleeveless women were not seen among his congregation. “Christians must avoid all appearance of evil, and not follow the fashion of the world. ”
Grandfather witnessed for the Lord Jesus at every available opportunity. On Sunday afternoon he would gather the grandsons, two or three of us, and together we went tracting in the countryside along Braddel Road (before the area was urbanised). His one consuming passion was to win souls for God’s Kingdom.
In the days of the Japanese occupation, Grandfather elected to stay with Father, his eldest son, in Batu Pahat. There he passed his days peacefully under the care of Mother, assisted by the grandchildren. Gradually his health declined, but, though his outward man perish, yet the inward man was renewed day by day ( 2 Cor 4:16 ). With daily expectancy, Grandfather awaited the heavenly call. One night, he summoned the family and with radiant look, he called, “Lord Jesus! ” This was a month before he finally passed into glory, absent form the body, present with the Lord ( 2 Cor 5:8 ).