My relationship with my mum was terrible. The thought of seeking refuge from those conflicts at home after becoming a Christian was proven wrong. Conflicts with my mum soon arose. She was already against Christianity, what more me becoming a Christian! Thus, she would find fault in every area of my life. For example, she would say that I was not studying enough for my ‘O’s when I actually was. She claimed that the time spent in Church could be used for studying instead. However, my ‘O’ level grades had improved tremendously as compared to my Mid-Year and Preliminary exams. If you honour Him, He will honour you too. In the difficult and trying times, I tried to seek shelter but could not find one except under the shadow of the Almighty. That was where I obtained my strength, hope, grace, Friend, my everything.

My family was filled with violence ever since I as young. Everything was so chaotic. My dad used violence to get his way in everything, smashing things whenever and wherever he like. So hatred for him filled my heart, seeing how he had treated my mum. My parents divorced when I was young, depriving me of experiencing what love was. So in most cases like this the mum may be closer to the children. For me it’s only true to some extent. We go out together but I had never shared anything personal with her. I just found it hard and strange to share things with her. We couldn’t relate and understand each other. So when she tried talking to me about her problems I would shut her up, and vice versa. I always asked God why He had given me such a family. However, after becoming a Christian, I have realized that there is a reason for what God does, to mould us into what He wants us to be.
I carried my burdensome past wherever I went, building high walls around myself, afraid that people might discover them. I was set free from those bondages during encounter camp, and experienced God’s tangible love. I was transformed from one who didn’t know where she was heading in life to one who is full of a sense of purpose in existence. My relationship with my mum has improved ever since she saw the changes in me. I am not so hot tempered and violent as I used to be. The way I convey things to her has changed for the better – more well mannered, caring, appreciative of her being in my life.