2022- Roller Coaster Ride

It's been a while since i posted anything on this page, and it is my resolution for the year 2023 to randomly post my thoughts here again. Its not that I had nothing going on, in fact, there was so much going on that i could not find time for myself, to post my thoughts. Which brings me to the reason why i made this blog. I am hoping that years later i would like to look back into these blogs and bring back smiles or beautiful memories about me and my thoughts couple of years before. And it has served its purpose. I look back at my old blogs and it did touch me. 

2022 was very very tough for me, emotionally. However, it brought me much closer to God and i am thankful to Him that I could again, personally experience His Power and Grace.My husband was admitted into the hospital in the month of March 2022 with severe stomachache and was diagnosed with 'pancreatistis' which was caused by gall stone. As he was put in the ICU my mind was blank. I feared the worst. I knew then that nothing could save us except the Lord. And the Lord took mercy on us. He was out within 8 days. However, we entered the hospital again 2 times after that. But the Lord was good to us and there was not much stress as compared to our first entry into the Hospital. Although the wandering thoughts gave me many sleepless nights. And these sleepless nights made me think a lot about the Love of God.

Personally, every passing day brought me closer to God. And I learnt to put my trust in Him and appreciate Him for who He is, not only for what He has done for me. I have to come to understand His Greatness and how He is the Alpha and the Omega. Everything starts and ends with him. With the rest of the year He alone encouraged and strengthened me to fulfill 5 out of the 8 resolutions I had made for the year. Which is a huge achievement for me. And I knew deep down that it is not I that managed to do it but God who did it for me. And i am so grateful.

Janet Lalmawipuii Ralte

Our new home! Thank you Lord

On the 23rd December 2016, we suddenly moved into our new home right next to where we were living earlier. This home had been our dream for a long time. And since we wanted to move into this new home before Christmas we were rushing with everything. Therefore we were tired and exhausted when we moved into our new home. On Christmas eve, we were busy arranging our clothes and all our other stuff.

There is so much to say about our new home and how we started it from scratch. It has been almost 3 years since we started with the earth work. And now it is almost complete. There is still a lot of furnishing to be done. But now we have been drained out of our money and energy as well. Hope we will be able to continue soon with the furnishing and painting of the outside of the house. People ask us which architect we hired, and we are happy to hear that, as we did not have extra money to hire one. We did it all on our own. And we are proud of ourselves for the same.

I am truly thankful to the Lord for giving us our dream home.  I am so so happy to have so much more space than we did before. We are a family of 3, me, my husband and his brother (a single pensioner). There is ample space to host dinners parties and etc. I had lived in quarters, hostels and rented houses all my life and when my parents built our home, i lived there only for amount a month or so as i got married soon after. So, i so much thankful to the Lord for having given me a dream home as i know deep down in my heart that this is possible only because of Him.

Thank you Lord.

Janet Lalmawipuii Ralte

Authenticity

It has been a while since i last posted. Much has happened in my life during this time and i truly wanted to put it down in writing. Although time and again i promised myself that i would post something new, i guess i was just too busy with our new house and everything. However, i believe i can have more time for myself now that we have settled into our new house and have got a maid who is just what i wanted, doing all the cleaning etc at home for me.

Last year in February my husband and i went to Guwahati to pick up some stuff for our building, as many people adviced us to. The trip was tiring and exhausting as we travelled by bus and roamed the streets on foot, going from shop to shop trying to find cheaper rates of electrical goods, flooring facilities, bathroom accesories and the like. But, we enjoyed ourselves. My husband's brother and his family were there too. His wife is working at Mizoram House where we stayed. We ate all our meals at their house. And it was so much better than eating at a restaurant or the House.

The reason why i wanted to write this is because i want to record how we bought our electrical goods, which in a way taught me something. We wanted Havell's company and asked their prices here and there. But we could not get our expected price and we did not trust the dealers and we were so afraid of buying cheap and fake stuff. We wanted the original at a very cheap price, like everybody else. Finally we came to the real dealers of this company. But, they were proud and confident dealers and said they had 1 price, and no bargaining. The price was good, but then again my husband and had doubts about the quality. So i distracted them while my husband openened one box to check if it was real as they did not allow us to. And the quality was good. But then again more doubts, we could not check each and every box so what if they included some fake in between? Could we trust them? They introduced a man saying that he was the managing director. We talked to him and he assured us that the products they sell are genuine. I asked for his card and said that we would come again. At home i browsed his name to check if he was really the MD. Found out he was for real so the next day we went and bought from them.

Why did i want to record this experience? Buying genuine products mattered but it did not mean they would last a lifetime. But genuine things matter, they last longer and give us a sense of satisfaction. Even in people, we admire and like genuine people. We are in a world of fake things and fake people that we haveto always be on guard. And this makes it a tiring life. So i choose to stay around only genuine people. Fake people have no principles and care less about other people thoughts. They hurt us, harm us and destroy us. It is always best to go for authentic stuff always, period.

Janet Lalmawipuii Ralte

At Zofoods

You can smell winter in the air and somehow this season gives me joy. I cannot explain how and why but i do feel differently about everything as Christmas is approaching. Since i am in such a good mood i will give a brief review of my experience at Zofoods, a somewhat new restaurant in town. One reason this place is talked about is because of the mizo stuff used here, decorations which relate to mizoram and the hosts' and hostesses wearing mizo clothes and all that.

So on the 10th of September 2014 my husband and i visited this place as there was so much hype about it. We loved the paintings and the 'saumbur' which we kept on taking pictures with. And it being a new place there was something about it, cannot pinpoint what though. We enjoyed being here, the service was good and we loved eating on a leaf (as it is not something you do everyday), using cups and bowls made of bamboo and all that. And there was this request on the wall for us to eat with our hand. And the price was ok. Really! 

 However, despite the fact that it is a much talked about place, there are two things i did not like about this place. One was the fact that it was too small. They had a cabin which had a table like the long desks used by my students in class and a bench again like one used by my students in our school.lol

Another fact i disliked about the place is that although they tried to make everything very 'zo', there was nothing 'zo' about the food served. Yes, they did serve 'bai' which was very mizo but the way the chicken was made was very indian indian, if you know what i mean. And mind you i am not the only one saying this.

 Anyhow, I did have a lovely time. It was a night out with the one that i love so i enjoyed it anyway.  And would i go back there, yes i probably would.

CHANGE

Kan chief minister chuan 'change' a thupui ang chiahin change kan hmu leh dawn ta e. A tha zawk ang nge tha zawk lovang tih erawh hriat a har. Change chungchanga ka ngaih ve dan ka blog a ka ziah hi a pawi em em lo turah kan ngai ve tawp a. Kum tam tak liam hnuah ka la dam te anih ngai chuan keimah ngei pawhin heng hun laia ka ngaihdan te hi chhiar nuam ka la ti ngei turah ngaiin kan ziak ve tawp teh ang.

Newspaper, television, facebook, whattsap ah te kan hmu a, MLTP act chu hlih a lo ni ta a. Hemi chungchangah hian ngaihdan ziak an tam a, ngaihdan pawh a tam ngei. Kei chuan an hlip hi pawi ka ti hran lo, hlih loh pawhin zu a tam em em tho a, tul lovah mizoram pawisa state dangah zu lei nan zu hman thin a ni a. Man an lo nih hlauh phei chuan engmah lovah a chang a. Awmze nei lovin Mizoram pawisa state dangah kan zuk transfer mai mai ah ka ngai. Chu bakah mi thenkhat ten zu manah pawisa a let 2 dawn dawn hlepin an sumdawng reng tho a, Mizo mipui zu in duh an tam si, khangte kha rawkin an awm ka ti lo thei lo. Mizo an ni a, mizo an nih angin zu in duh mi pawh lo ni se, mizo an nihna a bo chuang lo. Chuvangin kan mizopuite rawka an awm ai chuan a man ngaia an lei mai kha a tha ka ti. Chutih rualin chhiatpui tur an awm ngei ang tih chu a rin theih. Chuvangin a chhiatpui turte venna tur chu sawrkarin theihtawp a chhuah turah in ngai teh ang.

Change dang leh Mizorama kan hmuh tur ni a lang chu school tan hma a ni. Hemi chungchang pawh ngaihdan a tam e. A mimal takin tan hma ka duh lo, a chhan pawh menrei ching ka nih vang mai a ni a. Mahsela mithiamte rawna rawtna hi siam anih avangin kan thatpui tur anih chuan kan zawm ve mai tur a ni tih hi ka ngaihdan a ni. Tin, mithiamten a that dan tur kawng hrang hrang an sawi te kha a dik ngei pawhin ka ring. Chuvang chuan huphurh tak tho siin hman ka chak tawh hle mai.

Change pawm harsa ti tak mi ka ni a. In adjust zung zung ka harsat thin. Amaherawhchu awm ngai renga awm hian hmasawnna a thlen lo tih ka chiang ve tlat. Chuvangin Mizoram mipuite pawh hian sorkarin change a siam te hi thlawp thiam hram hram tum ila ka ti thin. Sawiselte chu a thiang a, kan ngaihdan kan sawi ve a ni mai a. Mahsela a do zawnga a engamah hmaa lo beih chiam hi sim a tha ka ti khawp mai. Keimahni thlan tlin ngei kan sawisel thin hian kan intimualpho mai mai em le ka ti thin. Kan thlan tlin annih avangin explanation tha tak nen thil thar an introduce hi chu Mizote hian thlawp hram hram zel ang u. A lo tha ta lo anih leh a chhan tha tak nen kan duhlohna kan auchhuahpui leh mai zawk ang a. Citizen tha kan nih theihnan kan thlan tlin sawkar apiang thlawp hi i in zir thar teh ang u.

Janet Lalmawipuii Ralte

 IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY MOTHER-IN-LAW

This blog is dedicated to my mother-in-law who left us to be with her maker on October 1, 2012. It gives me comfort to know that she is happy where she is right now, with the Lord who is surrounded by her husband, her brothers and friends who she missed terribly. And it is comforting to know that she died in the very way that she had wished for, in her sleep. However, we are hurting each day to know that she is not here with us anymore.

I want to talk about what she meant to me, and how deep in sorrow Robert and I are without her. I would like to start with the way she welcomed me into her home as her youngest son's wife. I know that she welcomed me with all her heart the moment i stepped into the house. Everyone could see that she was happy the day i got married to Robert which is more than what any woman could hope for on her wedding day, being accepted whole heartedly. She was afraid that i would be uncomfortable living with her at her home, now my home. It is hurting to think of how hard she tried, from her end, to make me happy. She always thought of buying the kind of food i wanted and gave me company when my husband had to go out. Robert and I had to stay at Hnahthial because of my work which is around 7 hours drive away from home. She hardly ever complaint about the fact that her son was not with her. I think that all that she cared about was that her son and his wife were truly happily married. And i believe that she did everything she could to make our life blissful. And it is due to The Lord's grace and her constant prayers and endeavors that we were a very happy family.

She was the kind of person that got along with everyone. She was a friend to me. I could tell her everything about even my past and she would tell me about her past too, and we would chat along like two young girls. She would tell me stories of her childhood and sleep with me on our bed when my husband was away on camps and etc. Even my girlfriends and sisters-in-law enjoyed her presence when they came to visit. In fact, she got along with everyone. She had a group of tight friends who were very close to her and our whole family. The last time I saw them really happy together was at the celebration of my mother-in-law's 82nd birthday on April 15, 2012 (as the picture shows below). The 2nd one from right died in August 2012 after which my mother was never her real self anymore.

She was a mother who loved all her children, her daughters-in-law, her grandchildren, her nieces, her nephews and all related to her. One thing i noticed was that all her children, grandchildren and nieces and nephews all felt that they were her favourite. Wonder how she did that! She loved her husband very much and even after 20 years of his death, i think she almost mentioned him everyday. I knew she treasured and missed him a lot. She remembered many things and advices my father-in-law had told her and kept it in her heart. She never visited his grave without shedding a tear even after many years had gone by. She would see him in her dreams and tell us the next day about it.

She was kind and wanted to help those that were in need, if she was in a position to do so. She felt sorry for anyone that told her their sad stories. She really sympathized with a woman who came regularly to our home selling vegetables. She felt sorry for her because her husband who was a constant drinker would beat her and take away from her all her hard-earned money. My mother-in-law would everyday give her tea and chat with her, listening to her story and giving her advice.

She was someone who loved to work and could not remain lazy throughout the day doing nothing, even at the age of 82. She loved her kitchen garden near the house and their she had all kinds of vegetables like mustard leaves, pumpkin, chillies, bean, long beans, cucumber and etc. She loved flowers and enjoyed watching her lilies in her small garden. However, she did not appreciate plants that did not have flowers. She would sometimes sit on the ground near her plants and work on them or water them in the evenings. Her tiny kitchen garden which gave us food, gave her much joy. She was someone who took up any work that could help her help her husband in providing food for a family of 5 children.

She was an outgoing and adventurous lady who enjoyed hanging out and visiting friends and relatives. She wanted to visit all new places in Aizawl but did not pressurize us for it. However, if we mentioned any new place and suggest we visit it, it was always a 'yes' from her. So sometimes we dined out at a restaurant, sometimes we visited new stadiums and even watched a mizo movie 'Khawnglungrun' at a local 3D theatre. In fact, she may have been the oldest that visited that theatre to see a movie. And wherever we took her, she always seemed to appreciate everything we did. And it was always worth taking her out. Here are pictures of her enjoying her visit to Rajiv Gandhi Stadium at Mualpui and a dinner at Curry Pot, Khatla.

She was very sportive and active towards activities of groups where she was a member. She never hesitated to take part in any of the programs held in church or the MHIP (mizo women's group). Even after 80 years, if she was asked to play football she did just that. She is remembered at the church where she was a member, College Veng Presbyterian Church as someone who did anything that she could, for the church. She even dressed up as Undertaker the wrestler or a Sardar for shows raising funds for building the present church. She acted every part very sportingly. In fact, one of her sons was embarrassed when she dressed up as Undertaker and pulling a coffin behind her.

In the last week of October 2012, she started having problems with her gastritis and so she starting eating less of green chillies which she loved. On October 26, 2012 after dinner she said that she was feeling pain in her chest and her back was burning. She took off her clothes, so i fanned her back for sometime after which she said it was ok. Then later she asked to be fanned again, so i did. I was a bit worried so i called Robert home and asked him to take us to the hospital. She refused going to the hospital. We gave her some medicines and she slept. She was afraid of going to the hospital because a month back her friend who went through a regular check up was found to have cancer and operated upon. She died after the operation. So my mother-in-law became angry every time we mentioned the hospital. The next day as i had to go to school, my husband stayed with her the whole day. In the evening in order to cheer her up we took her to her daughter's (U Mami) place but after half an hour she wanted to go home. After reaching home she was in deep pain, pain in the chest moving to her arms and back. We called her daughter who came with her husband, U Vana and we convinced her to go to the hospital. We took her there where we were met by Robert's brother U Masiama. At the hospital she was given some medicines for her gastritis and a shot of pain killer. Her pain went away so we went back home. Around 2am she got the same pain again. U Mami stayed and slept with her for the night as requested by my mother-in-law, and we were up till 4am. From then on, she was in pain now and then, but as directed by the doctors we gave her pain killers and she was then ok for a few hours. On the eve of her death she was given a shot of painkiller around 8:30pm after which she asked us to sleep early, so we did as her daughter was sleeping with her. In the morning around 7:20am she was found dead. Just like that she was no more, gone far far away from us, never to return in flesh and blood. It all happened so quickly that my husband and I were in a shock for a minutes after her death.

Her face was very peaceful and so i believe she must have crossed over without any pain or fight, which is comforting. Her funeral was scheduled for the same day 1pm so we had very little time with her after her death. Everything happened so quickly that even today when i think back at everything that happened it is almost hard to believe. Its a very strange feeling to talk to someone one evening and find that the next day they are unable to answer you. My life with her kept flashing back and forth before the funeral, it was hard to accept that she was there no more.

I am proud to have been associated with her and treated like a daughter by her even though it was only for around 3 years and a half. She made me feel very special, wanted, appreciated and most of all loved. She was a woman who was strong, loving, encouraging, kind hearted, brave, wise and very modest. She will always have a very special place in my heart and all her advices will remain with me and guide me as we continue to live this life without her.We were a family of 3 but now only 2 of us remain at home. We miss her terribly. We miss her smile, her laughter, her words of comfort, her prayers for us but most of all her company.

Ka nu, kan ngai em em a che

I mi hmangaihna leh duhsakna zawng zawng te kan ngaihtuahin

Kan ngaih che a bang dawn lo

He khawvel hrehawm tak kalsana 

Lalpa kiangah hlim takin i leng tawh a ni tih hi kan thlamuanna awm chhun a ni

I nui hmel leh hlim thawm te

I mi hmangaihna anka zawng zawng te

leh i mi fuihna tha tak tak te

kan thinlungah a cham reng ang.

Janet Lalmawipuii Ralte

I Decide

This is a song (kind of) that i had written about 4 years ago, on the request of a friend with Drugs as the topic. Perhaps it didn't make it to wherever it was expected to....lol. Just for keepsake i'm posting it here.

I DECIDE

Temptations come my way
Once every single day
From someone who is near
Who's a friend or a peer
They say it'll make me cool
In college and in school
They think that i would choose
Their way, my life to loose

But...
I know what's best for me
And what i want to be
No one decides for me
Am as sure as can be
My heart can see the way
To a much brighter day
And therefore i decide
Don't need drugs by my side

Oh its a fact you see
Just one try can make me
Loose those i hold dearly
Grasping me completely
Leading my life blindly
I will not think clearly
And give in willingly
to this drug completely

See...
I know what's best for me
And what i want to be
No one decides for me
Am as sure as can be
My heart can see the way
To a much brighter day
And therefore i decide
Don't need drugs by my side

There are many choices
To run from these voices
Can you choose to stand strong
And keep from going wrong
Can you look inside you
And say that you can do
Without this drug that thrills
Which in the end but kills

Janet Lalmawipuii Ralte

Dieting - All in our minds

I have been adviced time and again to take control of my life and loose weight. It's true i do need it, i know. I have been needing to do it since i don't know when. And i have done a few things too with regard to my weight. It's not that i have just been sitting and doing nothing. I have tried often, sometimes i've been successful but not for long. I have tried medicines, dieting, taking food supplements, various exercise programs like yoga, going to the gym and what not. However, here i am still at the same place. None of the diet programs and plans that have done wonders for others have done anything whatsoever for me.

Just this week, i started with something new at the suggestion of my dear mother. I have started drinking green tea. I try to drink 2 cups a day, and i have also started eating raw aloevera, which i will, if i can go according to plan, eat every 2nd day, just before going to bed. And instead of drinking proper tea with milk and sugar, i have started drinking tea without milk and sugar. I used to drink at least 4 cups of proper tea everyday. So i do believe that this change will make a difference for me. My new plan for my health may not be much. It may not even make too much of a difference but i sincerely believe it will make some difference.

Why am i writing about all this? This might not be of interest to others, especially the men. Well, what i really want to point out is that dieting and all these are all in our minds. These things work when we really really really need it. We need to have the drive, the inspiration and its only then do we actually get down to it. So i don't think that we should just advice or tell anyone to go on a diet or take exercise, just because they need it so. If we truly feel that they should, we should try and create an environment for them to truly want to do it. The great need to loose weight has to be embedded in our minds accompanied by the desire to do so. And we also need to know again and again and again, the benefits of loosing weight like looking more beautiful (which is always most important for women), better health etc ( although all fat people have known these since a long time).  All these will result to dieting, as dieting is all in our minds, as is everything else.

 

Janet Lalmawipuii Ralte

DILEMMA OVER MY TRANSFER

On January 18, 2012 unexpectedly, something that i had long hoped for and dreamed about became a reality. I received my transfer order which was to enable me to live in my home town. Apart from the fact that i longed to be in my home town to be close to my relatives, it in fact was a necessity for me and my husband, as my mother-in-law is 82 years old and we, the only ones taking care of her were stationed outside of our home town. We were always worried about her as she isn't in her best of health and was too old to take care of herself. You can imagine the happiness i felt when i received my transfer order.

However, my joy soon turned into something very disturbing. My order clearly stated that a new recruit was to take my place, but my superior refused to acknowledge that, as my partner in my subject had just been released to be transferred to another place without any replacement. Its possible that my replacement wasn't actually a replacement for me and was actually a replacement for my partner, but i could not help but rely on my transfer order which clearly stated that the new recruit was my replacement. I approached my superior and although she tried to be very polite and happy for me, she denied me a release order because according to her, i had no replacement. And it seems she had informed the MLA about the situation and as is expected of an MLA, he ordered that my release be stayed until the elections were over. My order stated that i was to join my new place of posting within a month. And a month was to expire before the elections!

How troubled i was i cannot explain! I felt my hopes taking a dive into the sea of hopelessness. I was powerless and helpless to do anything. I spoke with many of my friends and relatives who gave me very encouraging and logical suggestions to get released and join into my new place of posting. And i will ever be grateful to all of them for being a support during that painful period of our time. We were deeply hurt but we knew that the Lord did not allow us to hate anyone or go against anyone in the process and that all these trials were for us to be sure that He alone could do wonders for us. My husband and I prayed endlessly to the Lord. I would have given up if it weren't for the hope that I had in the Lord who could do anything. And finally one morning I got a call from my superior who said that she was to give me a release order 5 days before the order period was over. I thank the Lord for that very moment of excitement and mixed emotions. And here I am today in my new place of posting happy that I am close to my loved ones.

I have to make a special mention to a special relative ( I am not sure if he would like his name mentioned here so i am going to keep it a secret for now) who has made this all possible for us. If it weren't for him i know i would not be here in my home town. May the Lord bless him and his family abundantly, both physically and spiritually. I will forever be grateful to him for all the time and energy that he spent for my transfer to be possible.

I had mixed opinions about posting this short period of my dilemma regarding my transfer. I hesitated for a long time fearing that my posting this might mean that i was on a rampage to hurt others who hurt me. However, i have convinced myself that i need to post it and keep it, as this blog is all about me, my experiences and emotions and what not. And with the kind of memory that i have, one never knows i might forget I am indebted to the Lord and a few very good people, esp. that special relative for making a hope and dream a reality for me.

Keep your trust in the Lord for He alone can do anything for you!


Janet Lalmawipuii Ralte

Is my way wrong?

Is my way wrong?
(Henry Lalmawizuala)

I have never gone the other way
I've never strayed away
I have never ever felt that i am wrong
But through all my complicated life
I've never been this lonely
Lord i need to know is my way wrong?

For i am now in pain
and my tears are on my cheek
there's a storm up in my head
and the light i see is dim
is my wrong? Lord
cause' i cannot see my way
i have struggled in this way
and i've always thought its right
if my way is wrong, Lord
then put me on the right path
if my way is wrong, Lord need you now
Is my wrong?

Many times i've tried to be the one
the one to die for you
but no matter how i try i never win
so release my mind of all my sins
and tell me that i'm yours
for i need to know
Is my way wrong?

Make things right (2008)

In solitude
i let my mind briefly tread
the life that i way back led

and sometimes wonder at 
all the things that i had done
things i had done for fun

Much joy it gave me then
my mind like a bird did soar
but it don't do that no more

becoz i have now seen
all its uselessness for me
results, i was meant to see

i blame myself alone
for all the useless things done
which can never be undone

i then wish there were things
i could do to make things right
to drop the burden that'd make the heart light

but see, this is the truth
there is nothing i can do
nothing one can do for you

for this is how life is
we do right and we do wrong
from birth to death all along

Herein lies the lesson
and herein lies the beauty
of our life on earth you see

the mistakes that i'd done
were there just to let me know
the right way for me to go

if it weren't for the mistakes
i had made along the way
i'd not have learnt to say

thank you lord for everything
that had come along my way
all the mistakes and regrets
will now lead me the right way


Janet Lalmawipuii Ralte

Beauty of Life!

Looking from my window
at the street beneath my door
i see people happy and gay
the others i cannot say

Some seem confused with themselves
others searching to find their selves
some seem worried with their life
and others show weight in their stride

Some think of all things possible
to get what they want in plentiful
some try to think of a way
to get enough to eat for a day

While there are others who don't seem to care
whats in store for them out there
revelling in the moment of their joy
which they really seem to enjoy

And I cannot help but wonder
who will be stronger when put under
a test to endure the misery
that life stores in our destiny

Is it those that worry to find solutions
or those that worry not to come to conclusions
all that i can do is question
and maybe at times give a suggestion

And this is the beauty of life
not knowing what its gonna be like
for if we were to know before
surprises we wouldn't adore
And this is the beauty of life
not knowing what its gonna be like

Janet Lalmawipuii Ralte

2012 - another opportunity!

It's something very natural for us to welcome 2012 but its an amazing experience for my 84 year old mother-in-law. Each new year after the millenium has been a wonder for her. This morning she told me how the pastor and elders in her church used to preach that the world would end in the year 2000. And so she, her friends and many people in her church were scared of the approaching millenium.

Anyhow what i really want to emphasize is our fortune in being given another opportunity to serve the Lord in every way we can. We have been lucky to have been given another year to be thankful to the Lord and to praise Him. There is a lady from Myanmar who claims to have died when she was 13 years old. She had gone to Heaven, seen it and was also made to see Hell. And there in hell she had seen a few people she knew and one was in fact a pastor in a church in her town. It was really difficult for her to remember the pain they were suffering in hell and she has time and again told her experience but with tears in her eyes. She remembers how the people burning in hell were asking Jesus for just another minute for them to accept Him and change their ways, but it was futile.

Aren't we lucky we have been given another whole year to serve the Lord. My dear friend, if you are by any chance reading this and have still not accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you need to take time to think about your life. Jesus Christ is the only one who makes us acceptable in the eyes of the Lord. For our sins are too many that nothing we do or say can make us pure in the Lord's eyes. You may be helping the poor and doing wonderful work in your society and maybe everyone in your locality is singing your praises. However, because of the mistake of Adam and Eve we can never be worthy to enter Heaven, it is only the blood of Christ that has cleansed our sins and made us God's Children.
Praise be to God who has given us Jesus Christ His only son to die for us! And Praise Him for He has given us another year 2012 to serve Him.

Janet Lalmawipuii Ralte

How great thou art!

I have often heard people talk about how great and wonderful the Lord is, and honestly, that fact is something that no one argues. 'We all know' used to be my silent response to such people. I have been born in Christ and been saved of all my sins, i feel blessed to be called the daughter of such a Great God. However, i never truly understood why people kept going on and on about it. I thought that talking and being anxious about Jesus and God was more of an adult thing. After i became an adult i loved talking about the wonderful things that God did for me, and I was grateful for them, but i still felt something missing in my life that I chose to keep to myself.

Years pass and here i am going on and on about how Great our God is! When the spirit of the Living God touches your heart, you cannot help but ponder over and exclaim the wonders of His love. It is a feeling that goes beyond all things. You see the world in a different way, and you feel untouchable almost. Hurting words about you don't mean anything anymore, you know you are in His hands and He would make it all right for you. You know He is on your side as long as you obey His command. Things that used to bother and burden you are left far behind, because you see His face before you and you know that's where your heart should be. You know you are safe because He watches your every step and would be there to hold you, if ever, you falter. You know that He will look to your every need and never ever leave your side.

A friend had once said to me that a small ant was climbing up her arm and she looked and it and felt so powerful against that ant. She knew that she could just smash it with just a tiny effort on her fingers. This made her realise the powerfulness of the Lord and how to Him we were even so much more smaller than the ant was to a human being. She exclaimed at how lucky she felt to belong to a God that was so Mighty. She further added that she could not help but praise Him with all her being. This is so true, it is only when we realise how filthy we are and what a wonder it is that such a Mighty God would die to atone our sins, do we know that we must give Him praise and honour.

It's such a wonderful feeling that I wish everyone would feel it too. And if you are by any chance going through this blog and have never experienced this feeling, May the Lord bless you so that you can share the joys that I feel. Put your heart and your whole being into His hands and you will be surprised to see the wonders of His Love.

Janet Lalmawipuii Ralte

Jesus, my friend

I had once written an article in 'The war cry' - india, where i wrote how i used to talk to Jesus while doing something and how good a friend He was because he listened. One day while in conversation with my mother the same topic was brought up. My mother then told me that being a friend did not mean that i keep saying what i wanted and expect the other to listen. She said that even i had to listen to my friend as well. I realised then that being a friend meant that i had to listen to His words too and obey His will and also that i should not be the only one expressing my feelings. Now i have learnt to listen too and try as best as i can to obey.
Janet Lalmawipuii Ralte

So blessed

i do not wake up to maids serving me tea and breakfast
i do not move around in limousines and private yatchs
i do not have a purse full of cards and cash
everyone may not acknowledge me when i pass
but today i woke up and felt so blessed
so blessed to have a family that loves me so much
so blessed to have a husband who loves me this much
so blessed to have a job i enjoy so much
so glad to have someone up there who has blessed me this much

Janet Lalmawipuii Ralte

what 'they' think of us

how important is others' opinion about us? well, we usually try and dismiss it by saying "who cares"?. i was of the idea that what other people thought of me was not significant enough to ponder on. when we get a good review we are happy and we are enraged when the review is the opposite. Criticism is a huge let down and for some it can be an instrument of a downfall.

i admire the people who take criticism and strive to change their lives based on that criticism instead of brooding and cursing the people who said those things about us. it is a natural instinct to react offensively against people who criticize us, i know. But we are humans trying to change ourselves and the world to make this world a better place so why not try to change ourselves in the manner in which we receive criticism. We cannot always welcome criticism with open arms and it is also a difficult task to change how people feel about us in an instant. So the best we can do is taking the good as well as the bad opinion about us and using it to improve ourselves which can result to growth. if someone says i talk too much i try to change myself and remember those words when i am amongst others, and try to talk less.

It is clear that criticism can make us better human beings so all we must do is embrace it and utilise it as an instrument to change ourselves to become better. What better way to grow!
Janet Lalmawipuii Ralte

tanpuitu lal isua

manganga ka rum changin
beidawnna in min hnehin
hma hun reng sawi thei lova
ka rum changin

lalpan beisei tur min pe
chakna huaisenna min pe
harsatna engpoh thleng se
ka tan a rinawm e

ka van vannei tak em!
lungngaih ber lai pawhin
ka thlaphan chang pawhin
pui tu ka nei asin

a hnen ka pan chuan
tawngtaia ka belh cuan
min lo ngaithla in
min rawn thlmuan thin

ka sualna a en ngai lo
min hnar reng a rel lo
a ta ka ni tih hriain
min lo pawm tlat thin

the 1st step

here i take the 1st step again. who would have thought 3 days after creating my blog, the e-mail i used would be de-activated. just my luck i guess. hope this time it stays.

i am definitely excited about this blog, i don't know if it would get any visitors but i sure am gonna visit often. LOL

i intend to post anything i wish to, and it is this liberty that has got me so excited. this diary will reflect my life, my experiences but mostly my thoughts. i intend to post stuff i'd written in the past as w