My BaBa…
- Jun 16
- 10 min read
By Floriane Wu
BaBa, What I Learned
In Chinese, the word for Daddy is 爸爸 which is pronounced BaBa. This is a less formal and child like endearing title. This started as a letter I wrote to my Father, as he was lying in my medical training hospital, dying from terminal cancer in 1990. He had asked me why I was doing so much to help him. You ask me why I love my BaBa so much?
My Father was indeed one of the giant shoulders that I have had the privilege of standing on; to reach new heights.
Even at birth, He gave me something special, my own French name since Pairs, France was my birth place. It is in a photo engraved on a villa in Switzerland. He was the career man; working at the Taiwanese Embassy, a professor at the University and helping at a Newspaper company. Up until age 7; I only recall him teaching me how to tell the hours of a clock on a tambourine. Then giving him an awkward hug at the airport as he headed off to be an Ambassador to Africa in 1970. Mom and the rest of us four kids immigrated to America. A year later, my Father contracted malaria from the mosquitoes and had to choose whether to resume his Embassy career in Taiwan; or to start from scratch in America. He chose to pursue his dream of living in the land of Freedom.
This is when our Father - daughter relationship really flourished...
I still remember seeing him for the first time, mostly bones covered with yellow colored skin. He had to take medications injected into the buttocks. I had just learned English a year earlier, as a first grader.
Finally, there was someone who knew all the English words and you spent hours and hours, correcting me as I read aloud about a boy who lived in a tree. You made me memorize the multiplication table one summer, and I was number one in math from then on. You had me memorize and recite the classic poems from China. Then you had me skip third grade, because I thought they had put me back a year. You continued to assist with my school work and practice English with me. Then we received a green card and you moved the family to a larger apartment in Manhattan, closer to Columbia University where my brothers were attending college. My designated Junior high school was full of drugs and violence. So you convinced Mr. Joseph Litwin, a total stranger; to become my legal guardian, so that I could legally attend Junior high school 141 in Riverdale instead. I appreciate the countless times you drove me to school – just because I was cramming for an exam, giving me that extra moral support and time to study. You wanted me to be in the two-year SP class to skip eighth grade. This made Social studies and English extremely difficult classes for me now. You just came alongside me and spent hours helping me write essays and correcting all of my book reports. Then in 9th grade, I finally wrote my very own book report from start to finish solo, and got an A. The teacher displayed it on the bulletin board, probably because she knew this book report contained all of my own words. I finally discovered how to express myself in writing. All the hours teaching me gave me the foundation which then became part of me and now I was free to grow even more. John F. Kennedy high school – we decided I could excel easier there. During my senior year, you happened to visit my school. You commented on how you were so proud of my leadership qualities, and marveled at how everyone was following my directions. You loved having your daughter on the school newspaper – the Eternal Flame, and that became our symbol. Your lifelong dream was always to publish a newspaper filled with only good news that would encourage others to better the world.
I remember all the times you sat with me while I had a fever and talked to me until I would fall asleep; to keep me company, not to be alone or afraid when I was ill. This is something I have always appreciated and have carried it into my medical practices. When I was trying to get into medical school, you encouraged me to not give up but to keep trying. You patiently listened to all of my plans and strategies. You also supported the army scholarship idea, thinking the discipline and structure would benefit me. Studying for the boards in medical school was laborious, so you told me not to be nervous and to just keep reading the material over and over again. Then you met Paul, and you accepted him and gave a wonderful international blessing at the wedding. Our bed was your wedding gift. I needed a car, so you took out a loan and bought a brand new one for me. In your own lifetime, you have only driven the least expensive used cars that would require a few gallons of water in the trunk in case the car broke down. Now you have seen both Paul and me graduate and become Medical doctors. You are also encouraging Paul to pursue academics. I know you believe in me and Paul and trust that someday we will better mankind. That support gives us more courage and confidence.
Even your mistakes in life have become my lessons. I admire your novel ideas about the Store and learned we needed more funds and real business experience. As an entrepreneur, you have purchased four different businesses. The last one was self-sustaining, but the neighborhood became too dangerous. There are other personal mistakes I will try to avoid repeating in my own life. I want to imitate the good, and discard the bad.
You have always taught me to appreciate the many facets of life. On wintry days, you would come home and say, “We are so fortunate to have a roof over our heads and warm heat to protect us from the cold.“
When there was injustice and oppression in the world, you would comment, “It is good that we Americans can discuss politics freely.” Even while driving, you would say, “This beautiful four-lane highway is such a pleasure to drive. They did not have these in Europe or Taiwan. Education is free here. I had to walk hundreds of miles to go to school back in China. Only the rich get educated in most countries. Food is so available and varied here; with all types of meats, vegetables and seafood. The provinces in China were limited geographically and now politically with food rations. The freedom to say what you think, to dress as you wish, and to believe as you choose; all this is just wonderful. There are endless opportunities in America, just be diligent.” All this my father would often comment.
You have modeled to me imagination, courage, compassion, gratitude, confidence and tolerance of others.
My sense of justice, love of freedom and liberty; deep appreciation of history, cultures and family roots were influenced by you. I admire your energy and drive, your novel approaches to problems, your sincere interest in people, your perseverance and your visionary spirit.
The things I have missed doing with you, BaBa:
Visiting the Swiss villa with my name on it.
Visiting the land of your birth, China to trace your steps there, as a youth, during the various Wars.
Discussing my lofty dreams and goals and listening to your newest ideas.
Having you ask my sons all about their lives; and sharing your life stories with them.
Imparting your sense of honorable aspirations and achievements to aim for; to encourage the future generations, to make the world better.
You departed this earth before I developed my intimate relationship with the perfect Father, Abba Daddy God. Oh, how I would have loved sharing Jesus with you, my dearest BaBa.
But you have also left me with quite a lot. I thank you for supporting me, which gives me confidence;
for being proud of me, which gives me self-esteem; for being a dreamer which gives me the freedom to try; showing moderation, which teaches me self-control; your calmness which teaches me patience; your genuine interest in people which teaches me humility; and your love for education which makes me teachable. As you always would say, “Each generation must surpass the former generation.”
So I will carry our “Eternal Flame” torch and keep it lit in my own life. I have endeavored to pass these positive lessons to the next generation. This includes my sons and my nephews and nieces. May the noble qualities be passed down to future generations, to bring more uplifting light into the world.
GOD’S WORDS:
Jesus said to him, “...Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”
John 14:9 NIV
“Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”
John 5:19 NIV
“And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”
John 17:5 NIV
“No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.”
John 1:18 NIV
“Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.””
John 8:19 NIV
“But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”
Psalm 86:15 NIV
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”
1 John 3:1-2 ESV
“All who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to bring you back again into fear; on the contrary, you received the Spirit, who makes us sons and by whose power we cry out, “ Abba! ” (that is, “Dear Father!”). The Spirit himself bears witness with our own spirits that we are children of God; and if we are children, then we are also heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with the Messiah — provided we are suffering with him in order also to be glorified with him.”
Romans (Rom) 8:14-17 CJB
“Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “ Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”
Galatians 4:6-7 NIV
““This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
Matthew 6:9-12 NIV
“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.”
Psalm 68:5 NIV
“And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.””
2 Corinthians 6:18 NIV
PRAYER:
Adoration:
Praise You for being our perfect Father, Abba, Pater, BaBa.
Praise You Abba God for wanting a personal Father Daughter/Son relationship with each one of us.
Praise You for designing all of us to be co-heirs in Your heavenly Kingdom; Your Princes and Princesses.
Confession:
Sorry for projecting defective human father figures over Your perfect Father character.
Sorry for not remembering the cost Your Son, Jesus paid on the cross, to rescue me back as a royal Princess in Your eternal Kingdom.
Thanksgiving:
Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus as a perfect human representation of who You really are.
Thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit who comes alongside us and lives within us; to guide and comfort us every moment.
Thank You for establishing families.
Thank You for being a Father to the fatherless.
Supplication:
Please keep training me to live from the knowledge that I am a daughter of the Most High God and a royal handmaiden of Zion.
Show me how to live more like Lord Jesus; only doing what I see You doing in Your Holy Book, Father God.
Yield:
Not my will, but Your glorious will be done, Abba Daddy!
WORSHIP:
Reckless Love
The good good Father
APPLICATION:
Did you know your biological Father?
What kind of Father was he? Did you feel safe, beloved and prized by him?
Has there been other Father figures in your life?
Did he encourage and equip you to know that “You do have what it takes”?
Did any Father figures provide a noble vision or mission that ignited your life passions?
At this moment, can you acknowledge that your earthly Father was just a man with both strengths and weaknesses?
Will you forgive him for his shortcomings and sins against you or your family?
Have you ever been able to accept God’s forgiveness for your own sins?
How did you piece together the definition of being a man? A woman?
Will you open your heart and allow the perfect and good good Father to Father you now?
He created you and has ordained your good destiny.
You are fully known and fully loved!
His motives are for your best, to fulfill your calling and to demonstrate His love and majesty.
What character criteria do you search for before you can trust a person?
Someone who does not lie, and is consistently faithful, responsible for his/her own actions, resourceful, kind and gentle.
Lord Jesus demonstrated the perfect person; worthy of trust.
Can you believe as John Eldredge states, “You are the son/daughter of a kind, strong, and engaged Father, a Father wise enough to guide you in the Way, generous enough to provide for your journey.”
He is your Father in heaven, the Lord God Almighty.
Will you allow Abba Daddy to raise your orphaned boy or girl heart?
Will you allow Abba Daddy to heal and restore your soul as His beloved and valued son/daughter?
Will you give your allegiance to your mighty warrior noble King and fight for a true and worthy and eternal kingdom cause?
ACTION POINT:
I will acknowledge my earthly father as a human being with flaws; and instead allow my heavenly good good Father to be my ever present, adoring and empowering forever Abba, Daddy, BaBa from this moment forward.
(9/24/2019)
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