A touching message sent to my email from a long time friend. Never have thought this message moved me close to tears.
I would love to share it here and hoping it will make us somehow realise the things that we took for granted all this while.
The Sunday Star
2nd March 2008
Have you watched them sleep?
I received a message on my Friendster account the other day. It was one of those forwarded messages, the type I would usually scan briefly before hitting "delete".
But this message, written in Bahasa Malaysia, started with a simple question that caught my attention. A rough translation of it goes like this:
"Have you ever watched your parents while they were asleep? Your father's body, once big and strong but now, the big is withered and the strong is weaker. Wisps of grey peek out from his hair, wrinkles now "scar" his forehead and face.
"This man works hard every day and would sacrifice anything to make sure his family is provided for and his children get the best education possible.
"Or how about your mother, whose soft hands once cuddled and held you when you were a baby? Now, those hand are dry and rough, bearing evidence of the challenges and she faced just for us.
"This woman takes care of our daily needs, constantly nagging and scolding us because of her love for us. But sadly, we often misconstrue her love as control and unfairness."
I have never thought of watching my parents while they slept. I've watched my cousins sleep when they were babies, all round and cuddly and sweet smelling. But watch my parents? No way!
But after reading this message, I realised that there was indeed much truth in it. Infact, my parents do not have to be asleep for me to realise that they have aged.
Just looking at my mother walk tells me that her legs are not as storng as they were before. Or hearing her ask me for help with that flowerpot in the garden, the one she used to be able to push and drag around the garden without help.
Or watching my dad lift a 10kg bag of rice. I can easily carry that bag now. I am young, but to him it is a struggle.
What do all these observations tell me? Yes, my parents have aged. They are ageing, just as I am ageing. But as I age towards my best years and become strongger, they in turn are becoming weaker. They were once the caregivers and I the receiver. In time, I know our roles will reverse. Like it or not, want it to or not, this is life.
I suppose I have always subconsciously thought that my parents would always be with me, never growing old. It took that message to make me realise that my parents are not immortal. That they too, will one day leave the world and me. Until then, I will make good use of our time together.
By the way, I'm forwarding that message to all my family and friends to remind them to appreciate what they have now. It will not last...
@}-----
Kepada sahabat ku Arman - Takziah sekali lagi dgn pemergian bondamu. Terkilan rasa diri ku ini kerana tidak dpt ketemu beliau sejak sekian lama. Hanya ramah mesranya yg masih ku ingati sehingga ke saat ini.
Kepada Suhaily - Takziah atas pemergian ayah mu. Sentiasa lah kenang jasa ayah ketika kita merinduinya. Semoga dirimu tabah mengharungi hari-hari yg mendatang.
Semoga roh-roh mereka sentiasa dicucuri rahmatNya. Al-Fateha.
ps: Dad, you have done so much for me and the only regret, I didn't have the chance to say - "I love you, abah." *cries* =(
Soul: You Light Up My Life (Debbie Boone)
