Once, a woman travelled a long distance from her village to meet Gandhi,
bringing her son along with her.

"Mr Gandhi!" the woman said. "Could you please tell my son to stop eating
so much sugar? It's ruining his teeth!"

Gandhi replied, "Ma'am, why don't you tell him yourself?"

The woman responded, "I tried, but he wouldn't listen! But I'm sure he'll
listen to you!"

Gandhi was silent for a moment. Then he said, "Come back with your son in
one week's time, then I'll do as you say."

The woman hesitated, then bowed and left, while inwardly resenting the long
journey she'd have to make back to her village, and back to where Gandhi was one
week later.

But she obeyed, and one week later she was back with her son, in front of
Gandhi.

Gandhi bent down, patted the boy on the head, and said, "Son, stop eating
so much sugar, it's bad for you. Ok?"

The mother, seeing this, smiled widely. "Thank you Mr Gandhi! I'm sure
he'll listen, finally. There's just one thing I was wondering - why did you have
to wait a week to tell my son this?"

Gandhi replied, "Because up till a week ago, I myself was still eating
sugar."

This story stuck with me - an illustration of what it means to, literally, walk the talk.

And I believe that that's exactly what's happening to me now. Why I'm in this circumstance, at this point in my life. I truly believe that God's allowing me to go through this, so that I may be molded, taught, and fully experience, before in turn sharing with others about this journey I've taken.

It was only today that I suddenly realised that God is right now answering the very prayer I have been praying for the past few years - that I may "know Him and the power of His resurrection". How may I know Him and that power, if I don't experience it? And how may I experience it, if I don't go through something that will require me to cling to Him, and rely solely on His power to resurrect what is dead in me, whether physically, emotionally or spiritually?

No wonder James, in the Bible, says to "consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds." There's joy, because the outcome of these trials is always something to look forward to! Of course the process is difficult, uncomfortable, painful. I won't deny that so many times, thoughts about quitting enter my mind. Why not sink into depression? Why not allow myself to throw a party with pity? I have reason to, don't I?

But that would mean succumbing! The mind is the battlefield - that is where the battle is won or lost! Once I allow myself to sink into these negative thoughts, the battle goes downhill!

Instead, oh Holy Spirit, help me to always "fix my eyes on what is unseen". To think of only "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable"...to "if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things." And only these things Lord! Guard my heart and my mind O Lord! In You I have the victory, and I am more than a conqueror through You who loves me!