My Dad was Called to Eternal Rest

The day that I had been apprehensive about finally came on 25 January 2006. My father was finally called to eternal rest. I was apprehensive because I wasn't sure how I would have responded to it and how other people would have responded to it. But it turned out all right.

My Dad had no major illness but had been frail for the final two years of his life. He had movement difficulty and therefore required practically 24-hour nursing care.

I love the way Christians describe the closing of a chapter of a person's life on earth. Physical death is a transition from the toil and suffering in this world to eternal rest in the loving arm of God. I am very glad to know that my father is now resting in the arm of God, free from all struggles, disappointments, unfulfilled wishes......

As I reflect on his life, I want to think of all the good and pleasant moments that was spent with him. My dad was a simple man. His greatest strength: Unwavering commitment to the raising of his family (he spent practically every cent he earned for the care and the well-being of his immediate family); no bad habits like drinking and gambling; faithfulness to his wife. You can almost say that he was a perfect father and husband.

Though he was not a very expressive man as far as showing love to his loved ones is concerned, you could feel that he loved his children all the same.

I remember when we were kids, he would always buy a little pack of goody when he finished works and gave them to his children to share. Every evening at around 7pm, the kids looked forward to this moment of receiving the goody and sharing it. He did this faithfully without fail. This simple gesture would be always treasured in my heart.

Thank God

I was looking at the annual year end card given to me at the closing of 2005 by a school mate who is also a church friend for more than 37 years.

He has been faithfully serving as the our church's Boys Brigade's captain for the last 31 years. This in itself is an achievement that I have not found an equal, at least in Sabah. What he wrote in the card though may seem plain and rhetorical to many, but to people who know him, it is statements that come from the bottom of his heart.

"......I asked that you think about what you are thankful for. Sometimes in life, it seems that we are always looking for something; hoping to gain or profit in some way. Rarely, however do we think about how we can give to other".

Saying "thank you" to those who have blessed us in some large or small ways is a beautiful gift from the heart, which does not cost us anything, and yet is tremendously precious.

Most importantly, let us not forget to thank God for creating the world and allowing us to live upon it.

Let us thank Him for the gift of being a father, mother, grandpa, grandma, siblings, friends and loving spouse.

Thank Him for the food on the table, the roof over our heads. Let us give thanks that we have clothes to wear and are reasonably healthy. Thank Him for our jobs and our modern conveniences, because in some places of the world, there are people who have none of these."

THANK GOD.

Trip to See Proboscis Monkey

In the past, we used to go to Sukau at Kinabatangan River to see the proboscis monkey. This time (15 Jan 2006), we had a change. We tried this new place at Klias River near Beaufort to see this monkey and the fire flies.

We did see some of the monkey but not as near and as many compared to the trips we had to Sukau. Probably it's because of the noisy boat engine used by the operator of this Lodge. They all went into hiding each time the boat tried to get near.

Fire flies were nice. They hid among the trees along the river bank and when they blinked, the effect is like the blinking mini light bulbs of the Christmas tree.

Accommodation wise, the standard was in no way comparable to that in Sukau. Mattresses were just laid out on the elevated bamboo floor. The operator's intention probably is to let the visitors have a feel of staying in a long house like the one at the photo's background. Still, the price they charge does not match the kind of service offered. It is very unlikely that we would recommend anyone to go back to this particular one!

With regards to the lovely girl next to my wife, she came all the way from Singapore to see Sam. In return, we offered her a chance to see our rare monkey which was one of the the visit's highlights! Hope she has enjoyed the visit..