Eulogy
My eulogy to T.Jenni read out at the memorial services on Thursday 25 May & Friday 26 May 2006 -
To my friends who didn’t know Auntie Jenni personally, I usually told them how much they’d love my wonderful auntie if they met her. She made everyone she came into contact with feel special. She also had this ability to make you pour out your heart to her. At least that was how I felt. And this was probably because she made people feel accepted no matter what. She always thought the best of people. No matter how many times you went back on your word or broke her trust, she would still give you another chance and another chance and another chance.
She was a wise, resourceful and capable woman, always full of ideas. If you ever had a problem, you could be sure Auntie Jenni would have some great, workable suggestions for you. To me, if Auntie Jenni was on the team, everything would turn out well and successful.
Besides my dad, Auntie Jenni is the next person who had the biggest speaking right in my life. I don’t think there was any major life issue that I did not talk to Auntie Jenni about. Eventhough she’s been away for the last 2 years, she always made time to meet me each time she came back to renew her visa.
She was one cool, radical auntie and youth pastor who told some of us girls that if there were any non-christian guys who were interested in us, we should use our charm and the opportunity to bring him to church and get him converted regardless of whether we liked him or not. I remember responding to that with a horrified look!
She helped me get a $50 allowance increment when I was 15 and always helped me see things from my parents’ point of view.
Whenever the self-expectation got too much for me as a pastor’s kid, she always reminded me how blessed I am for my spiritual heritage.
With Auntie Jenni, I could always be me. I knew that no matter what I did or how badly I’d behaved, it wouldn’t make her love me any less. My time with her always left me encouraged and inspired to love and serve the Lord more.
The last time we had mentoring on Mar 22nd, I was so glad to know that she was coming back for good at the end of this year. When she left Singapore for Indonesia, our temporary lost was to the gain of the people there. So I thought that when she’d come back this time, their lost would now be our gain. However, now that she’s gone to be with the Lord, our lost is finally to Auntie Jenni’s gain. I am comforted to know that she’s in a better place with Jesus. She’s worked hard and she’s always given her best.
As I sat down and bawled my eyes out thinking of what to share at the memorial service, I was very upset with myself that I could not recall as many things that Auntie Jenni had spoken to me as I felt I should. But it brought me great comfort when cousin Cynthia sms-ed me to say “It’s not that we don’t remember, but we are already living all the things that she said to us.”
I love you, Auntie Jenni. Thank you for loving me and believing in me even when I couldn’t believe myself. It’s been my greatest honour, privilege and blessing to be your niece and to have you as my mentor. I pray that I will be able to continue to live my life in a way that would make you proud of me.
To my friends who didn’t know Auntie Jenni personally, I usually told them how much they’d love my wonderful auntie if they met her. She made everyone she came into contact with feel special. She also had this ability to make you pour out your heart to her. At least that was how I felt. And this was probably because she made people feel accepted no matter what. She always thought the best of people. No matter how many times you went back on your word or broke her trust, she would still give you another chance and another chance and another chance.
She was a wise, resourceful and capable woman, always full of ideas. If you ever had a problem, you could be sure Auntie Jenni would have some great, workable suggestions for you. To me, if Auntie Jenni was on the team, everything would turn out well and successful.
Besides my dad, Auntie Jenni is the next person who had the biggest speaking right in my life. I don’t think there was any major life issue that I did not talk to Auntie Jenni about. Eventhough she’s been away for the last 2 years, she always made time to meet me each time she came back to renew her visa.
She was one cool, radical auntie and youth pastor who told some of us girls that if there were any non-christian guys who were interested in us, we should use our charm and the opportunity to bring him to church and get him converted regardless of whether we liked him or not. I remember responding to that with a horrified look!
She helped me get a $50 allowance increment when I was 15 and always helped me see things from my parents’ point of view.
Whenever the self-expectation got too much for me as a pastor’s kid, she always reminded me how blessed I am for my spiritual heritage.
With Auntie Jenni, I could always be me. I knew that no matter what I did or how badly I’d behaved, it wouldn’t make her love me any less. My time with her always left me encouraged and inspired to love and serve the Lord more.
The last time we had mentoring on Mar 22nd, I was so glad to know that she was coming back for good at the end of this year. When she left Singapore for Indonesia, our temporary lost was to the gain of the people there. So I thought that when she’d come back this time, their lost would now be our gain. However, now that she’s gone to be with the Lord, our lost is finally to Auntie Jenni’s gain. I am comforted to know that she’s in a better place with Jesus. She’s worked hard and she’s always given her best.
As I sat down and bawled my eyes out thinking of what to share at the memorial service, I was very upset with myself that I could not recall as many things that Auntie Jenni had spoken to me as I felt I should. But it brought me great comfort when cousin Cynthia sms-ed me to say “It’s not that we don’t remember, but we are already living all the things that she said to us.”
I love you, Auntie Jenni. Thank you for loving me and believing in me even when I couldn’t believe myself. It’s been my greatest honour, privilege and blessing to be your niece and to have you as my mentor. I pray that I will be able to continue to live my life in a way that would make you proud of me.
posted by Sue at
3:54 PM
1 Comments:
Cynthia is right - Aunty Jenni's influence cannot be measured just by the words she said. It's the look of understanding & compassion when you tell her things that you know other ppl will judge you for that's priceless and which I think is the biggest gift she gave to the people around her. And if it helps, I've always felt comfortable telling you about my rubbish & stupid stuff because I don't feel like you'd try to guilt-trip me. =) I think the same applies to anyone who confides in Cynthia.
Net emailed me after reading our blogs.... "At tt time when the youth leaders were all telling me to end the relationship with rek, she was the only one who didn’t judge and just encouraged me to be patient with him but not let my faith sway. It was her advice that helped me through all the struggles and guilt I had about the issue."
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bochup, at 4:30 PM
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