Tattered

As we drown ourselves in the technological splendors of our communication devices, the cold hearted conveniences of our mobile phones seem to have overtaken the warmth of a real human conversation. An irony it is, as i reflect upon such matters. Though we could have the convenience to converse with people across the globe with a push of a button, we seem to have lost the ability to converse to people directly around us. 

What people? you ask, I'm talking about the person next to you while in a bus ride, the person next to you while you wait for the next train, the person sitting alone on the table beside you as you have your morning cup of coffee.

I too am guilty of such actions, where has our love for people wandered to? why is our society drowned with a sad disability to talk to real people in front of us? Why the timidness and fear? Aren't we called to be like Jesus? 

And there she was, sitting just right opposite me on the same table. Dressed in an outfit which seemed to have aged beyond its years, her face covered with wrinkles as if each of them telling a story of hardship and disappointment, her smile which seems to reflect the sadness of a broken heart.

She broke the silence, " Son, do you want a drink? "

 

I declined with respect, still fiddling with a game on my blackberry.

Then it hit me, what am I doing? Would Jesus do something like this? Would Jesus choose to ignore someone while playing with a device which brings no benefits?

Immediately i introduced myself, " Hi, my name is Wilson " and I asked for hers. I seem to be suffering from a short term memory loss as I had already forgotten hers. 

As the conversation progressed, I began to know more of her. 

She was a lady from India and had 3 kids, a son and two daughters. Her son and daughter died of an unknown cause whilst her remaining daughter was nowhere to be seen. She used to own 6 eateries, but everything was squandered off by her son in law. As she began recounting the sad memories of her life, I felt gutted to know that people could just leave their mothers selfishly and go on with their lives. I felt the betrayal she felt as she recounted how she sold her eateries just to support her son in law in whatever business he was doing. I felt the broken heart of a mother who had lost her son and daughter on the same day.

My heart ached so badly yet I could not say anything other than, " I'm so sorry to hear " 

As the worker came to pass me the waffle which was done, I wanted to stay to hear her out but my heart couldn't handle the anguish. 

" I'm sorry aunty, i have to go now ", I said.

It was at that time, I felt a prompting to pray for her and so willingly did she accept the offer as if receiving a priceless gift.

 

She bowed her head and clutched her hands together and we prayed. As i stood up, she told me she attended a catholic church in PJ and had someone to come to pick her up to church regularly. I was relieved to hear that. I wished her a heartfelt goodbye.

Then i remembered of the bouquet of flowers which i had bought for my mum which was sitting in the car, immediately i took it and surprised her with the flowers saying,

" Hey aunty, Happy Mother's day "

She smiled back with such a beautiful smile.

I thank God, that I am blessed to be a blessing to others. 

I thank God for that fateful encounter with that old nameless lady. 

I thank God for my mother who has worked so hard to take care of my family.

So heed my advice, take care of your parent's in their old ages. 

Love them as you love yourself because that's exactly what Jesus would do.

To all the mothers out there, Happy Mother's Day :)