this is for you...

This period must surely merit a post though for the past two days, I just can't find the words to express my happiness. And when I finally manage to scrounge up some words, the tears get in the way. I guess when I entered medical school five years ago, I knew this day would come eventually. But no one ever said that it would feel this good.

Knowing we passed our portfolio exams doesn't just mean medical school is over, that we can call ourselves doctors, that we can go on to take our foundation jobs, that we'll be getting our first salary in August; for me, it's more than that. It means that I'm one step closer to the mission field. I know the world thinks me crazy for being impatient to sit my postgraduate exams, but now that undergraduate exams are over, it's something to look forward to. This chapter of my life has finally finished and it's time to start writing a longer one and it can only get better.

But the tears I cry aren't really tears of happiness... they're tears of gratitude... Gratitude to the mercy that has flowed from the throne of God into me, but also to each person who has been a part of my life and helped shape who I am. Five years ago, I remember sitting on my mum's bed and said that perhaps I shouldn't pursue medicine because it would cost an awful lot. But my mum told me that if this was what I wanted, they would support me.

To Mummy and Daddy - thanks for the genes, the prayers and the love.

To Ming che and Jo - for the online chats when I was bored.

To Remy - for pampering me when I came home.

To my Ee-Ees - for the daily emails and for lending me your shirt at the interview.

To my grandparents - for being more proud of me than anyone ever could be.

To those who inspired me - Ate Ding, Prof Chew, Dr Sum, Dr Ben, Ate Julie, V

To my prayer warriors and soulmates- Ate Babes, Ate Jenn, Ate Joy, Ate Gen, Zelda

To my fellow Dundonians - Tara and Charl - or rather, Dr Morley and Dr Soulsby

To those who made me smile - Philip, Di, Nat, Man Yun

To those who believed in me - Auntie Connie, Auntie Jen, Uncle Yew Meng and Auntie Hannah.

And to little Simone - I hope that when you said you wanted to be like Che Che Deborah, you meant you wanted to become a doctor, not the big bad wolf.

"Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." Exodus 14:13,14

Lord, all this is for you.