What’s something you’ve done that you never thought you could?
I’ve done many things I never thought I would rather than could. Since childhood, I’ve held firmly to the proverb: “Where there is a will, there is a way.” And my way is to follow the Way of the Lord Jesus Christ.
On the other hand, I’ve done many things others never thought I could. To name one: acquiring two complex law degrees at 40 would seem, in others’ eyes, extremely difficult—if not impossible. When I received the honours on the graduation stage, the Dean gave me an approving smile. I smiled back with gratitude—to him, but all the more to God, for helping me overcome what in the eyes of the flesh could not be done.
Yet some I knew from these courses either dropped out halfway or took ten years to acquire a Bachelor of Laws in their 40s or 50s—not from low intelligence, but from limited memory capacity.
So there is a question: Is it a could—but would not matter? Or a would—but could not? Ability and willingness interweave with each other—who can help you make the right decision? As for me, I bear witness that people’s ability and willingness are not by birth but by cultivation—through doing, and through experiencing the joy of doing.
Yesterday, during my round of volunteer teaching at the school, my two new Form 2 students—whose English standards are far below Form 2 level—thought they could not do well in English. I responded with the proverb and promised them that if they wanted to raise their English standards and worked hard, they could succeed.
Truly, words of encouragement are powerful and dependable. My promise uplifts the students—as the Lord’s promise uplifts me. By grace, I will do what I can to guide these young souls to find the true way—the everlasting Way in life.
