Mum had gone thru so much to take care of both me & my brother. She was a great teacher, so she continued in her teaching profession to provide for both me & my bro. But she always made sure she cooked, washed and cleaned the house for all of us - so we'd be well-fed, well nourished, well-taken care of and living comfortably in our home. I think that was harder than staying home to take care of us. She had much to juggle, but she did both her calling as a teacher and as a mother excellently.
Our faith in Christ has been passed on by mum - from the early days of our childhood, when she would sit with both of us, with a little red handwritten book of songs, and a bible, and a hymn book, and later, the SOP & SOK (*for those who know what that is, and how it looks like). She'd tell us stories, she'd sing us songs, she'd pray for us. And my personal favourite, while she cooks, she'd always be singing her favourite songs - What a friend i have in Jesus and Amazing Grace. I used to tease mum that those were her cooking songs. =) But now, having left home for so many years, i miss listening to mum sing while she cooks. Nowadays, when she cooks whilst i'm around, we're talking endlessly. =)
Even when dad had left, mum continued to hold the fort and encourage us and love us endlessly. The days were tough. And coming back to small town BP was a huge adjustment. I still remember our saturday nasi lemak and lontong breakfasts and lunches, and loving car rides because i just didn't feel like driving on the saturdays to work. And later, when i moved to KL, mum would tapau our favourite food and take the 4 hour long taxi rides to KL to be with us every single weekend. Often we'd get the chance to savour frozen durians wrapped in 3 layers of newspaper in airtight boxes. =)
Now as she soon enters a new phase of life, as a grandmother, i am so blessed because I know Euan will be greatly loved and blessed by her love and faith. =)
Thanks, mum, for all you've done.
Thanks, mum, for all the sacrifices made.
A million "Thanks" can never suffice.
A billion "I Love yous" will never be enough.
But nevertheless,
for all the ceaseless prayers uttered,
for the beautiful songs sung,
for the bedtime stories told,
for the faith inspiring emails (esp when i was studying)
for the delicious food cooked,
for the uniforms ironed, the clothes washed,
for the legacy of faith you've shared and passed on to us,
for believing in us,
for encouraging us and spurring us on
for correcting us when we were wrong or rude
for teaching us and nurturing us the right things to do
for lovingly forgiving us when we were so wrong, and never holding any grudges or any remembrance of the things we've done,
for patiently watching the Sound of Music over and over and over and over again with me,
for the many Barbie dolls, the Carebear toys, and the swimming lessons,
for the pretty frocks and nice shiny shoes,
THANK YOU and I LOVE YOU from the bottom of my heart.
In more ways than you will ever know, you've shown me grace and reflected Christ.
Thanks, mum, for your love, and
for everything and more.
