Me: By the way, we are giving $xxx each to my parents and bro for Chinese New Year. I’m sorry to tell you this… But cause you’re marrying a Chinese you have to know. It’s Chinese New Year.

Eli: (smiles) Of course! Give more!

Me: YOU’RE AMAZING! Well if we don’t have a wedding and a house to pay for this year, I wouldn’t mind giving more. But! We have the wedding etc… Next year we can give more.

Eli: You think $xxx is good?

Me: I don’t know. I kind of want to give more, but if you multiply… It is a lot?

Eli: Alright then. I am fine with it. We can give $xxx now, then $xxx later. This would be a raise.

Me: Oh honey!

—

Eli: I have a very strong feeling – and my gut feeling is usually always accurate – that we will be very comfortable financially in our marriage.

Me: Oh honey!

—

Here is the answer for those of you who talk like this: “Today or tomorrow, we are off to this town; we are going to spend a year there, trading, and make some money.” You never know what will happen tomorrow: you are no more than a mist that is here for a little while and then disappears. The most you should ever say is: “If it is the Lord’s will, we shall be alive to do this or that.” – James 4:13-15

My beloved groom has always said to me “if God wills…”, and I will always take it negatively, asking him if he is suggesting that his will is of otherwise, that perhaps he isn’t quite so keen on that particular thing we are talking about. Today, I have a better appreciation and understanding of what my good Catholic man has been trying to tell me. I have just fallen in love with him again for the nth number of time. I am indeed blessed.

We believe that the more we give, the more blessings we get in return. And we are truly thankful to God for the many blessings we have received. So this Lunar New Year, on top of paying our parents due respect with a token of our love in a more tangible form of money in auspicious red packets, we are also passing on the blessings we have been showered with.

Eli has been a very good influence on me in this aspect. More than supporting me in giving, he has led by example with his generosity. And I’ve surprised myself by not jumping down his throat for giving away his entire pay packet to a family in need, when we presently need all the money we can have to pay for the party of our lifetime and for our marital home.