Like father, like son

Facebook
X
WhatsApp
Telegram
Email

LET’S READ SUARA SARAWAK/ NEW SARAWAK TRIBUNE E-PAPER FOR FREE AS ​​EARLY AS 2 AM EVERY DAY. CLICK LINK

KUCHING: A father’s influence on a child’s life is profound and multifaceted.

This is attested by Reverend Ivor Lim, an Anglican priest at St Faith’s Church here.

Interviewed by Sarawak Tribune in conjunction with Father’s Day, Lim said his late dad was a significant influence  in his commitment to serve God as a priest.

“With such a role model, I inherit part of my father’s character and followed his footsteps.

“However, my career took me from being an educator-teacher, State Education Department administrator, to a school-to-school principal-transformer. I thought it would end like that.

“However, God had other plans for me. He  called me to be a priest as early as 2013. When I retired early in 2016, I was ready.

“I want to thank Assistant Bishop Nelson Ugas and Bishop Danald Jute for their advice, guidance and prayers for making it possible for me to be ordained as a priest at St Faith’s,” he said.

However, Lim’s father, Reverend Michael Lim, passed away one year before the ordination service.

“I was sad Dad was not able to witness my ordination.  Dad was the founder of St Faith. Sometimes after I preached on Sunday, church members would point out that I spoke with a voice just like my dad’s.

“Even though  we were two different individuals, it seems the father-son heritage of ministry for the Lord is sealed by God,” he said.

Lim said he was always concerned about the physical and mental health of fathers.

For him, health is one of his priorities. Hence, he and his wife, Rosy, go for daily morning walks together,

“I also watch my weight carefully. We take fruits and vegetables with one sizeable meal (usually lunch) and two light meals (breakfast and dinner).

“I eat less carbohydrates and red meat and reduce my salt and sugar intake. I go for health checks twice a year.

“As for my mental health, presently I regularly read the Bible and commentaries, prepare sermons and discipleship lessons, think through specific Christian themes and related issues written by well-known authors.

“I have my own personal library of hundreds of books on shelves or in boxes and have also given away many.

“Finally, I stay abreast with local and regional happenings, especially those that affect our community’s welfare and our young people in whom I have a special place in my heart,” said Lim.

Lim (seated left) in an old family photo with his father, the late Reverend Michael Lim (seated third right), his siblings and their families.

In his Father’s Day interview with Sarawak Tribune, Telemachus Lo, a professional trainer, coach and speaker, admitted being the head of the family in today’s BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, Incomprehensible) world could be quite a daunting and challenging task.

“As a father, I want to instil good values in my kids, but this can be very challenging as they are exposed to various kinds of information, some of which can be detrimental to their personal values, mental and emotional well-being.

“Other than this, providing a comfortable and supportive environment for them to grow and to maintain respectful and loving relationships with them and my wife add up to my responsibilities as a father.

“To achieve all these, my wife and I try to set good examples to our kids, educate them regularly about good values, give them responsibilities to do, and provide positive feedback if they show good behaviours.

“To maintain my mental wellness, I take several short- and long-term measures.

“Short-term measures include ensuring I have enough rest and sleep, minimum 6-7 hours daily, eating healthy balanced food following the Ministry of Health’s recommendations of ‘suku-suku separuh’ slogan, going for regular brisk walks four to five times per week, going out with family and friends, and others,” he said.

On his long-term measures to ensure his mental well-being, Lo said he prays, reads his Bible daily, and goes to church.

“I’m grateful, I do not compare my life to others and try to manage my online time.

“Managing daily stress is also important as unmanaged stress in the long run will affect one’s mental health.

“I take a break if I feel tired, share problems with my family and friends, and even see a doctor if it is necessary,” he added.  

Meanwhile, Learning & Development lead trainer, Caleb Nedu, said that mental health is one area of increasing significance as more and more men battle with internal battles of mental fatigue.

“I think one key area of struggle is keenly identified as high functioning depression, where a person functions as he should, carries responsibility as he should, but internally struggles to compute emotions and subsequently struggles with constantly feeling down.

“It’s chronic, and dangerous and prevalent amongst men. The age-old adage proves true, ‘No man is an island’.

“I believe that part of the key to dealing with mental health struggles amongst men is to encourage community bonding, where strength is found and formed, and bonds are built to ensure that no one struggles alone or drowns in the sorrows of their struggles,” he said.

“This Father’s Day, let’s not only honour fathers for their contributions but also recognise the significance of their mental health.

“By promoting open conversations and providing resources, we can ensure that fathers receive the support they need to thrive emotionally and mentally.”

Related News

Most Viewed Last 2 Days