The Amazing Love Story of Lee Kuan Yew and His Wife Kwa Geok Choo

We all entered marriage at the peak of our lives looking the most dashing and gorgeous like Prince Charming and Cinderella (before balding heads and growing beer belly set in for the men and stretch marks etc. set in for the women :-P). 

But would our marriage last as solid and meaningful as when we got married? How could you nurture your marriage? How would your love-story end?

Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, the former State Minister's marriage is inspiringly and truly out-of-the-ordinary. Theirs is a true fairy-tale marriage. 

To the western world, the former State Minister Mr. Lee Kuan Yew is viewed perhaps at best as Singapore’s benevolent dictator who ruled Singapore with an iron grip. 

But for those of us who are grew up in Singapore, we saw first hand with our own eyes the solid marriage lived out between Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and his wife and their frugal life. That left a remarkable mark impression since I was a teenager. 

How many world leaders does one see that are so devoted and faithful to their wife? 

Whatever your political view is, Lee Kuan Yew’s marriage is one I aspire to emulate.

1. Put your marriage at the center of your family and life

One thing I learned is that even as a busy statesman, Lee Kuan Yew and his wife put their marriage at the center of their life and always make time for each other.

“Spending time as a couple was an important aspect in nurturing their relationship. Ever the busy statesman, Mr Lee still set aside time to walk around the Istana gardens, arm in arm with his wife in the evenings.”

“When given some peaches in hospital, she asked the maid to take one home for my lunch. I was at the centre of her life.” - A nurse at the hospital

It is not easy to put our marriage first. We tend to put our children at the center of our lives.

2. Live frugally as best as you could in order to put your marriage first in this material world that is full of temptations

“I’m not interested in changing either my suit or my car or whatever with every change in fashion.” Of course, I don’t approve of people who are sloppy and unnecessarily shabby or disheveled… But I’m not impressed by a $5000 or $10000 Armani suit (either).” – Lee Kuan Yew on material pursuit in life in the book “The Wit & Wisdom of Lee Kuan Yew”

Recently talk around the dinner table kept resolving around money and wealth. That shows we have much work to be done in the area of steering the character development. Boy, parenting is challenging and challenging a soon-to-be-teenager is getting tougher! 

Over dinner, our Little FECS asked why don’t we have a bigger house so that he can have the whole floor to himself just like his cousin? 

Money is not the only concern, time is. And time and stress go together. Time required to move house, time required to shape the house to our liking – it took us 15 years to slowly bring our current home up to the level that suit our daily routine and lifestyle, even though it is a relatively new building! And finally, that spells time away from each other. Already life is super busy enough with two kids, which will only get worse when they become teenagers! 

If mommy and daddy are going to have carefree time for each other, we cannot have a big house. Sorry Little FECS, in life, sometimes you don’t get what you want. But mommy and daddy will do our best to give you what you need😊A mommy and daddy that love each other and have time for each other - that is the best way we can show our love for you. 

Because we love you, we would not indulge you in material things to the degree that is not good for you. It may be painful, and you may not like it, but this is our loving way of molding your heart.

What is your marriage goal this year as a couple? I hope you would read these two articles and be inspired.

https://mustsharenews.com/lee-kuan-yew-kwa-geok-choo-2/

https://www.todayonline.com/rememberinglky/love-his-life-0

The greatest privilege is to grow old and still having your spouse loving you in return until the day you die, and even after you die. Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and Ms. Kwa Geok Choo's marriage is an amazing love-story that endures even after death. Theirs is a truly fairytale marriage that comes alive!

May God help us to put our marriage above our kids. May God help us to grow old gracefully and lovingly. And may God bless your marriage too. Theirs is a truly fairy-tale marriage comes alive!

“Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.”- Proverbs 23:4

New Year's Eve 2021