What are Grace Projects? These are projects that we take on to make the world a better place. We imagine our world, specifically Singapore, like an ocean. Every act of grace is like a wave, and its energy can be transferred over distance without the water moving. We want to start our little wave of grace, whereby our grace projects can impact another person who in turn spread the joy.
And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
Bible – Romans 11:6, NIV
How the Christmas Coaster project started… My daughter Marcie and I came back home late one evening and was surprised that the aunties (in Singapore, we address the elderly as auntie and uncle) tending a food store at the MRT train station were still working. A conversation started while waiting for our food order and they shared how stressed and tired they were as the working hours were long, and one auntie had poor sleep as she was worried about not waking up on time to open the store early.
We decided to do something nice for all the aunties and uncles who work at the food outlets that we frequent, including those at Kopitiam (meaning coffee shop) and MRT snack & bakery outlets.
We wanted the gift to be encouraging, and decided on FAITH, HOPE & JOY. As a family, we wanted a bible verse to comfort these (somewhat) elderly service staff whose jobs were physically tiring and often unappreciated.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Bible – 1 Peter 5:7, NIV
In Singapore, we believe that the family is an important building block of our society. And I was surprised that although it started out as a project to bless others, I ended up feeling blessed that I had such supportive spouse and daughter! My husband put in hours of work to painstakingly cut the printed paper, arrange the cut paper, laminate, cut the laminated sheets, glue onto the beer mats and trim off the corners. Marcie did all the paper bags and I had the easy job of designing and packing! Through it, it was as though we had also built our family foundation a little.
Estimate: It took us 90 minutes for a bag of 3 Christmas coasters