Shattered Windscreen

I never knew it could be that bad. But that Saturday when my van had a broken windscreen, my heart also shattered.

We were on our way back from my in-law's house. It was late afternoon and was raining heavily. We were on a muddy and stony road, and I was driving slowly. A pick-up truck sped through. Dust and stones flew into the air. Before we realized what happened, we saw our van windscreen cracked slowly before our eyes.

We couldn’t see our way. So my wife and I had to remove the shattered windscreen. In the process of removing the glasses, we had quite a few cuts.

The rain water poured in and we were all soaking wet. The children were pale with fear and shuddered in cold. But none of them cried. I was very proud of them.

The rain was getting heavier. Lightning flashed once in a while and the thunders remained loud and deafening. I looked at my wife. We had a common understanding that we were to pray.

I drove the van slowly for an hour or so. There were few vehicles along the way. The winds were strong and blowing from all directions. I believed we got a few more cuts, hopefully not on the children. The whole van was soaking wet and we were all shivering uncontrollably.

We were smiling with joy and thankfulness when we reached our home by 5 pm. I told the children to take a quick bath and reminded my wife to make them a hot drink. Then I drove alone to the workshop.

I met the owner and requested to have a new windscreen fixed by the next day. For on Monday, I had to send the children to school and I myself had to go to work. The owner was a good friend of my family and was always ready with a reassuring smile. His immediately telephoned the supplier. It was a great favor from him since Sunday was his day of rest.

I met him the next morning. He was alone and his workshop was closed. But the new windscreen was lying there smiling at me. My friend carefully and slowly helped me to fix the new windscreen. I remembered he was in his late 50s, but still had good eyesight. It was perfectly done in no time and I was very happy about it. I thanked him for his willingness to help me on his rest day. And he just told me what were friends for... He refused to accept more from me and insisted that I paid him the minimal amount. I looked at him with gratitude and patted him on a shoulder before I left.

As I left the workshop, I realized the value of a true friend. Now I understood that real friends always stood by you, to accompany and to help in times of needs.

Oh yeah, that day I may have a shattered windscreen, but then the incident brings closer my family and my friend...

Everytime we saw or talked about broken windscreens, we would all shiver and tremble, but always with smile and laughter. We had a truly unforgettable experience.

Walking Around Town

I remembered a few years ago when I started walking around town, it took me more than an hour and a half to complete my round. I had to stop often and each stop took me longer and longer time to recover. I panted a lot, sweating profusely and smelled awful. I could often hear my deep and heavy breaths and my face must have turned super red. My shoulder ached most of the time and my limbs just refused to obey me. My hip was extraordinary heavy and painful. I wondered each time when I stopped, whether my legs muscles could bear my weight any longer... Oh! how awful I would be if I collapse on the roadside.

I had always thought that walking was easy, but then I realized just how heavy I was. My wife spurred me on by slowly walking beside me and gave me encouraging words.

We had practiced for days and the pains became more bearable. We slowly learned that we had to walk straight to reduce the pains and our heel must hit the ground first. We had to swing our arms as we walked briskly and breathing naturally fast.

After our walking session, we slept like a log and we often needed some days to recover. But after some months, walking had become a daily routine and we really enjoyed it and looked forward to it. And after a year or so later, we were able to complete our round in 40 minutes non-stop.

These days, we still continue walking. But we limit it to our surrounding housing estates. We no longer enjoy walking around town because we just can't bear the heavy traffic, the hot weather, and the many greeting hands along the way.

God Does Miracles

I believed in miracles. I still do.

I was in my high school when I was infected with sore eyes. In fact a few of us in the same class were infected by it at the same time. The beauty of the time was that we were allowed to use sunglasses to attend class. But mind you, a crying man was neither attractive nor glamorous; the pain was really intense that you wouldn't feel like smiling and talking, and you always cry... in public.

The infection came at the wrong time; we had only a few days before the mock exam. I for one was very depressed because I never like to face any battle by mere chance; I want to see the fruits of my labor after these many months of hard work.

Sitting in a dark corner of my dormitory, I began to pray. "God, I don't know who you are, but I believe in You. Be merciful to me and heal me of my sore eyes so that I can sit for my exam. God, lead me to You that I may understand you more." I had a sound sleep after that.

I woke up early the next day. The pain was gone. And there was no more discharge from the eyes. I thanked God earnestly that day for answering my prayer.

I was able to study well for the exam while my friends were struggling with the dark glasses. And I scored my exam.

A few days later, a good friend of mine passed me a chinese Bible.

I can't explain. God just answered my prayers.

And He still does... every day, without me realizing it.

Mom, I Will Buy For You

"Son, I have not drink Cola for so long. Can we have some?" my late mother asked.

"Son, I want to eat ice-cream today. Can you buy for me?" My late mother begged.

"Son, I miss Rojak (a fruit and vegetable salad dish commonly found in Malaysia). Come, we go to buy together." My late mother gave me a phone call.

I was moved to tears as I recalled what my late mother had spoken...

..........

"Yes mom. I will buy for you." What type of son am I, to deny my dear mother the pleasure of enjoying some of these goodies?

..........

"They say ice-cream is too cold for me and I will cough a lot." Said my old mother.

"They say Cola has a lot of gas and is not good for me." Said my sad mother.

"They say rojak is dirty. It 's not hygienic." Said my longing mother.

I was trembling with sadness as I recalled her longing face, and my heart broke into a million pieces.

...........

"Mom, I will buy for you. " I said softly, finding it even harder to swallow my saliva. I sighed deeply. What kind of child am I to deny my age old mother the pleasure of having some of these goodies?

...........

Mom, now that you are gone, I am eating my ice-cream, cola, and rojak alone.

But I still enjoy thinking of your hearty smiles and your satisfying look.

Mom, you are so beautiful in your smile.

Love Triangle

As I walked to you in the hospital and saw your broken leg, my eyes swelled with tears. I never saw you on a sick bed and you looked pale. Much had been spoken lately and we had reasoned through. We both knew that we did not belong to one another.

We held our hands together. We stared without words but we were trembling. I didn't know how you could involve in the motorbike accident. I just knew that I had hurt your heart badly.

We were in a love triangle and I had decided to opt out. I cared very much for you but he was my best friend and I had never said no to his every request... He begged me to let go...

Yeah. We could be together, be good friends or brother and sister. But my deep feelings for you would never go. And the more we were together, it would finally show.

I had come to say goodbye. I knew it was the wrong time. But I didn't want the intangible love triangle any longer.

I wished you well and departed. I remembered you called me brother... but I never turned back. But I wished you well, sister...

Many years later, we met again. I didn't expect to see all your hair turned white. You had married my good friend and you seemed very happy. And I was happy for you. My family loved you two and we had happy meals together.

We held our hands together and we talked about old times...

Nothing happens by chance. God knows and He always help us along. But it's a matter of time before we truly understand.