Family and Values

My Dearest Olivia,

I know it will be some years before you could read and understand these letters. Yet I choose to start writing them now because these are words that I'd like to share not only with you, but also your parents, uncles and aunts, so that they'll know and understand more about our family history as well as the principles and values upheld by us and our ancestors. Olivia you are the first member of the 26th generation of our Lam Family, and I wish to dedicate these letters to you, my beloved first granddaughter. I do hope you would treasure them by the time you are old enough to understand, and appreciate your grand parents' love and affection for all of you.

Let us begin with the family dinner on June 5. You were eaxctly one month old and it was also your Uncle Al's birthday. The dinner celebration meant a lot to all of us. You can see and feel the joy of family reunion from the photograph above, which was actually the first family picture taken since last year, 2007.


Olivia you were born into a family of strong ties between its members. Though grandma and I are living in Hong Kong, far away from your parents and uncles, the ties between us never weaken. No distance nor anything could separate us because of the bond of love. Our love for you began at the moment your Daddy told us on the phone that your Mom was pragnant. We were delighted by the news of your birth. Regretfully we were not in Toronto when your were born, but our hearts were filled with thanksgiving and warm memories of the births of your Daddy, Uncles Al and Rob when we were looking at your lovely baby pictures online. We were pleasantly surprised by the thoughtfulness of your parents in bringing you to greet us at the airport on May 31st. Grandma and I were both overwhelmed with joy at the first sight of our first granddaughter. You were so tiny and cute!

We spent the following two weeks in joy and laughter, admiring the beauty of God's creation of man as we watched every little movement of yours. You were absolutely surrounded by the love of your parents, uncles and aunts. It is a true blessing of God for one to grow up in a family of love. In our family, love for one another comes first and foremost.

With love comes sacrifice. No matter how reluctant I was to leave you, I had to return to Hong Kong to fulfill my duties and obligations as a son to my mom, your Great Grandma. She took good care of me when I was a baby, in exactly the same loving manner grandma took care of your Dad and your parents of you. Olivia, in our family love is passed down from one generation to the next. It keeps us closely bonded together.

Next time I'll tell you more about me when I was a baby like you.

Love always,
Grandpa

Old and New

My Dearest Olivia,

On this first day after the first month since your birth, I decide to write my first letter to you, my first granddaughter.

As the Bible says, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." You were born at the time when I was about to retire from my over three decades of working in higher education. Though there is an age difference of 64 years between us, we have this in common - we are both starting a new life in the year 2008. For every baby coming into this world, the new life is God given. So is the post-retirement new life of a God's child. You see, as you experience new things everyday and gradually grow up under the loving care of your parents, I am also enjoying new grace and blessings coming into my life everyday from our Heavenly Father. Irrespective of our age, old or young, God bestow upon us new blessings as long as we abandon our old ways and renew our lives in Him.

So my beloved Olivia, may I give you my blessings herewith. May God give you faith, hope and love so that you will be walking a life in His path that pleases Him. Seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Be grateful and give thanks when your path is straight and smooth, and courageously face the future with determined faith and hope when the road is winding and bumpy. Always enjoy the abundant love from your family and God above, and share it with people around you. May God also give you wisdom and knowledge so that you can make discerning judgment about good and evil. Lead a God-fearing life because the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through God your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.

Love always,

Grandpa