This Chinese New Year week has been rather paradoxical.
On one hand we were in celebrative mood getting ready for the New Year; stocked the house with special food, cookies, and making final touches to the decorations so that they look good and proper for the festivities. On the other hand, we were saddened by the demise of loved ones of three of our good friends. We attended 3 wakes this week.
The first wake was at a Catholic church - one of my friend’s father passed away from colon cancer. It was hard for him because they only discovered it 4 months ago and it was already stage 4. There was little the doctors are prepared to do in treatment as the man was already 74 years old and rather weak. At the wake, my friend’s eyes were all red, most likely from all the weeping as he recounted what happened to his father and shared about the pain he had to go through. The second wake was for another friend’s father aged 82 years who died from blood cancer. Also, there was little the doctors could do. The third wake was another friend’s brother who died from lymphoma cancer. He was only 64 years; left behind his wife and children. Rather sad too but such is life, at times it is unpredictable and seems unreasonable. Indeed no one is sure when that hour may come and death start knocking at the door of our lives. So how then should we live while we are able?
I came away from these wakes with a strong feeling that family time is important, friends are important, relationships are important. For me it is about treasuring every moment of it; lest one day life be taken away rather unexpectedly. Indeed, no one knows the hour. So, take time to smell the roses, pat someone on the back, stroke the dog, enjoy the beauty of nature, move around, stretch your body, run 2 km, say hello, soak in the fresh air and be a blessing to those around you.
GOT PURPOSE !
Photo from here
I absolutely agree with your summation of the week, your 'take' on living life. As someone who has also lost loved ones suddenly, and not so suddenly, it is a reminder to us to appreciate each day as it comes, to let the past stay in the past and not to worry about tomorrow. This is the only day we have, right here, right now. What we do with it is our choice. God has blessed us in many ways. We can choose to see the blessings or we can choose to see the trials. For me, I'd rather focus on the blessings. Remember, what you focus on, you get more of!
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you!