Who's Helping Who?

My hubby was approached by a stranger when he passed by a mini market near our office. Speaking in cantonese, that old lady with 2 heavy grocery bags in hands asked for my hubby's help to drive her home. She said her legs were painful.

My hubby did not manage to offer his help as we need to rush to pack some food for our kids. He later told me he could recognize that poor lady as there're a few times he saw her walking along the roadside with grocery bags in hand. We later felt sorry for not helping her and decided to drive around to look for her.

It did not take us long to spot her walking slowly down the road. I wound down the car window to offer help. I could see she's in pain, yet she managed to squeeze a smile on her tired and wrinkled face (which looked more like crying) and telling us she had backache. Her long white hair was messy and she had only a few teeth left. Life must not be easy on her...

Inside the car, we asked for her address and I was surprised that she's staying in a quite an affluent area. She told us she's a teacher back in 1950s. She then started to speak in good mandarin. She said her eldest son had his own small business but not doing well, her daughter is married and staying in Singapore now and she also did talk about her youngest son.

I was curious and asked her why not she took a cab home?

"坐的士很贵，要十多快。我好过把那些钱省下来买食物给我的猫和狗。”

She said taking cab was expensive and she'd rather keep the money to buy food for her cats and dogs...

“那些路边别人不要的猫狗很可怜，我都把他们带回家养。”

She pitied those strayed dogs and cats, and brought them home.

When we reached her double-storey house, we saw her being welcomed by her dogs and cats. I wanted to take a photo of her going inside her house, but couldn't do so because she was standing in front of the gate and kept smiling and waving good bye to us.

"谢谢你们，你们真好人，上帝保佑你们！“

She thanked us and said we are good people and God will bless us.

I think God should bless her more. She gives unselfishly, and even as to sacrifice her own comfort for the sake of those strayed animals on the street.

Back to school...in the kampung

During our recent trip to Muar, my family dropped by my hubby's primary school and spent a great evening with his siblings, nieces & nephews.

The school bell is the sweetest sound to a child's ear, especially the one for "recess" & "going home".

A humble classroom that has nurtured many kampung kids with big dreams. My hubby and his youngest brother are two of them who'd graduated with engineering degrees from the National University of Singapore, and 2 of my sister-in-laws are teachers and one is a pharmacist!

The number of student is dwindling as many young families have moved out of the rural area. The whole school is left with less than 60 students now.

One of the problems faced by many rural schools is the lack of English speaking environment. My hubby told me he's without any English teacher for a whole year when he's in the secondary school. "So we just go and play basketball lah...," He said.

Brothers playing basketball together...

My hubby "proudly" told the kids that he used to climb over the fence to play basketball here.

Zi had fun playing with her new toy

My kids had a good time playing with their cousins

A relaxed and beautiful evening spent with the family members.

What a wonderful kampung life!

Aren't They Adorable?!

A christmas gift for my girls...from their Aunt Shea Yin.

The bear stripped bare! Be ready for a transformation by my girls...

A sweet little girl with a lovely hat...

A cool girl with an army hat & dark glasses

a mysterious spy

A sexy blonde in a bikini & sun glasses

A rock star?

Having a nap...zzzzzzz

A book lover (but it looks as if she's dozing off too!)

Kids can be really creative (My girls dressed up the bear and took the photos without my help at all). That's why they're as cute & lovely as the cuddly bear!

Merry Christmas!

My office deco...

Please, Please Don't Compare!

Mom tells the little girl, "Quick, finish your food! Even our neighbour Ah Hua is done with her meal."

Teenage girl tells her mom, "I sure wanna join. Even our neighbour Ah Hua has signed up for it!"

My cartoon above was published in Sin Chiew Jit Poh back in 1996. I still remember I was inspired by an article in Reader's Digest about "Not to compare your child with others".

I constantly remind myself of that. Of course, at times I'd forget especially when my kids are too complacent and didn't give their best. I would compare them with others and that would usually made them very unhappy.

I know it's unfair to make comparison. Everyone is unique and has different strengths and weaknesses. Most of the time, I would encourage them by saying, "Hey, with this new piece of knowledge/new vocab, you're better than yesterday!" And I'll be happy for them as long as there's some improvement in their grades.

..................................................................................

Comparison

the following are extracted from the internet:

"Comparison brings inferiority, superiority. When you don't compare, all inferiority, all superiority, disappears. Then you are, you are simply there. A small bush or a big high tree--it doesn't matter; you are yourself..."

Commentary:

Who ever told you that the bamboo is more beautiful than the oak, or the oak more valuable than the bamboo? Do you think the oak wishes it had a hollow trunk like this bamboo? Does the bamboo feel jealous of the oak because it is bigger and its leaves change color in the fall? The very idea of the two trees comparing themselves to each other seems ridiculous, but we humans seem to find this habit very hard to break. Let's face it, there is always going to be somebody who is more beautiful, more talented, stronger, more intelligent, or apparently happier than you are. And conversely, there will always be those who are less than you in all these ways. The way to find out who you are is not by comparing yourself with others, but by looking to see whether you are fulfilling your own potential in the best way you know how.

- Osho The Sun Rises in the Evening Chapter 4

A Meaningful Afternoon

Last saturday afternoon my family and my daughter's friend's family visited a childcare centre with kids of single parents who can't afford to take care of them. We brought along food, art & craft materials and gifts. (All the items were prepared by the mother of my daughter's friend who initiated the visit and invited us a few hours before going)

The lady in this picture is the mother of my daughter's friend. I'm grateful she invited my family along.

Kids love gifts...especially the gifts of love.

Pay It Forward

Last Sunday evening my family witnessed a motorcyclist falling off his motorbike and got injured. He had blood at the corner of his mouth, and seemed to be in pain.

We pulled over to check on him, while leaving our kids and maid inside the car. We knew the passers-by might think we knock him down. However, we did not have the heart to leave him lying helplessly by the road. We repeatedly asked him whether he wanted to go clinic but he said he wanted to go home. After a while, we realized he might be short of cash. We offered to pay for him and he then agreed to let us drive him to the clinic.

The clinic nurse cleaned his wounds and the doctor gave him a jab & some pills which cost RM98. When we reached his hostel, this young security guard from Sabah who was only 5 years older than my boy thanked us with a “terima kasih” . He did not offer to pay us back and I did not expect that either. Just a month ago, he was knocked down by a car but that driver just sped off! HOW I DESPISE SUCH IRRESPONSIBLE DRIVER!

Many years ago my girlfriend and I were helped by a kindhearted Pakcik when our motorbike broke down at night. He helped us to fix the spark plug and that enabled us to go back to our hostel safely. I was forever grateful to that unsung hero.

Being a young student at that time, the only thing I could do was kept thanking him for his help. Now, I'm glad that young motorcyclist gave me a chance to help him. I hope one day he'll also "pay it forward" by lending a helping hand to others in need.