“Stuff” of life

I have always taken it as great pride and joy when Chris (my 10-year-old boy) waves goodbye to me after I drop him off at the school gate every morning. He waves goodbye when he closes the car door, and turns to wave goodbye after a few steps, and turn back again ….

Chris is an early bird, and very punctual. We have a great time in the car though it is just a 5-minute drive from home to school. Because we are early, we are always at leisure in the morning. I have heard “horror stories” from friends that their children take breakfast in the car, or wear socks and shoes in the car while the mother/father said, “Oh dear, Oh dear, I’m late, I’m late” like the rabbit in Alice in the Wonderland.

Yesterday morning, Rachel (my teenage daughter) woke up early. She suggested to have breakfast with me outside though it’s a Tuesday. Our usual breakfast date is Thursday when she goes to one morning tuition lesson. She joined me to drop Chris off first. As usual, Chris waved “goodbye” a number of time.

“I never know that Chris is so insecure.” Rachel remarked.

“What makes you think waving goodbye to mother is insecure?” I was much surprised by the remark.

“Oh, he seems like he is not going to see you anymore. I know I’m going to see you again after school.” Rachel answered. She has always been independent. Christopher always says his “jie-jie” is very brave. Like most teenagers, she is vocal. She knows her “rights”.

For which, I told this story over the RM1 noodle that she had for breakfast –

There was a very special teacher whose husband unexpectedly died suddenly of a heart attack. About a week after his death, she shared some of her insight with a classroom of students.

As the late afternoon sunlight came streaming in through the classroom windows and the class was nearly over, she moved a few things aside on the edge of her desk and sat down there. With a gentle look of reflection on her face, she paused and said, “Before class is over, I would like to share with all of you a thought that is unrelated to class, but which I feel is very important.

Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves… and none of us knows when this fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at any moment. Perhaps this is God’s way of telling us that we must make the most out of every single day.”

Her eyes beginning to water, she went on, “So I would like you all to make me a promise… from now on, on your way to school, or on your way home, find something beautiful to notice. It doesn’t have to be something you see – it could be a scent – perhaps of freshly baked bread wafting out of someone’s house, or it could be the sound of the breeze slightly rustling the leaves in the trees.

Please, look for these things, and cherish them. For, although it may sound trite to some, these things are the “stuff” of life. The little things we are put here on earth to enjoy. The things we often take for granted. We must make it important to notice them, for at any time… it can all be taken away.”

It is not the things we did that we often regret, but the things we didn’t do.

Waving goodbye may seem “insecure”, but it’s appreciating life and loving life. One never knows what will happen next.