Can't believe that it's been almost 4 years since my mum went home to the Lord, 17 July 2002.. I was just flipping through my old journals looking for something and..i found this - a direct translation from chinese (therefore may not be super accurate) that I made for Dad for his speech at her wake. It's also timely that Mothers' Day is coming up this Sunday.. and I just wanted to write it down here in remembrance of her:
"Dearly beloved Mary,
In this moment of eternal departure, I can't find the words to express how I feel. We've walked 32 years of trials and tribulations, sweet and bitter moments. You did everything without complaint for this family. In difficult times, you always gave me a hand/ carried me to help me walk through the difficult journey.
You are my good wife, great mum to our children, good daughter to your parents, a great sister to your siblings.
Your simple lifestyle is a great example to your children: being thrifty and working hard to take care of the home. You gave me a son and daughter, took care of them into adulthood, seeing them through to great educational achievements. This is all credited to you, your many years of hard work and efforts. I thank you from the depths of my heart for giving me these 2 obedient children. Though you've left to be with the Lord, 你对我的恩惠我会永远在我心中记住。 (this is hard to translate, something like: I will forever remember in my heart the kindness and love you've shown me).
My thoughts of you, and missing you will be forever. Till we meet again in heaven.
Loving you forever,
Cheng Chwa"
Thank you mummy, for the love you've shown.. for working so hard that we may have the best educational opportunities, for trying to get us into the best schools, giving us the best tutors, and buying everything that would help us in our studies. For not allowing us to worry about finances in the pursuit of our studies, working hard to provide for everything. For remembering what we love to eat, and buying it.. even though you remind us that eating it too much is not good. For the passion you lived life even in the last few years, the fighting spirit and love for life. For loving the simple things in life, not forgetting the important things. For chasing us around the living room, getting us to memorise the times table. For peeling the shells off the prawns for me and blowing fish balls till they were cool before giving it to me. For trying to coax me to eat a dish, convincing me that the chili was purely decorative and not spicy. For getting up early every morning, so that we would have breakfast ready. For being so patient to knock on our rooms so many times before we'd get out of bed for school. For going through the emotional pain of disciplining us, and never giving up. For saying that my hair cut was nice, no matter how short or ugly it was. For loving us, even when we were unloveable. For taking care of me when i was sick.. getting up to change the towel on my forehead in the middle of the night. For your generous heart, that we never knew till we heard from your siblings how you helped them secretly. For your filial heart, loving and remembering your mother and father not just on special occasions. For your strong work ethic, you taught us the value of diligence. For your laughter, that i will always miss.
I know God has been with me from the beginning because He gave me you.
I am thankful to God for the 22.5 years I had with my mother! His love is magnified through a mother's love.
" Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!" - 1 John 3:1a
No comments:
Post a Comment