In the divine order of nature, both life and death, joy and sorrow, serve beneficent ends. In the fullness of time, we shall know why we are tried and why our love brings us sorrow as well as happiness. — Bloch
During the Thanksgiving season, James and I attended a symphonic chorus concert at Stanford, where the choir performed Sacred Service by Ernest Bloch. The chorus sang in Hebrew, and I was able to grasp a few lines through the translation in the program. The above verses were among them. That morning, our beloved friend passed away. Although I can still hear the joy of her laughter and catch the warmth of her smile, they now live only in my memory. At our age, life and death seem so clear. We may not comprehend all of God’s actions, but it is surely the divine order of nature. This may be the wisest lesson we need to learn—to value what we have. One candle passes its light to another, generation after generation.
The year 2013 brought us many blessings and comforts. Our younger daughter, Chi, announced her engagement to Mike. We are overwhelmed with joy and tears, as we have prayed for her better half for so long. As Mark Twain once said, “A marriage makes of two fractional lives a whole.” It certainly took James and me many years of work to live in harmony and accept each other. I cannot say that marriage is the answer to everything, but indeed, marriage doubles our strength to face life’s challenges and offers us new, mysterious experiences. We will continue praying for our children. The wedding is scheduled for next May.
Our two granddaughters are the highlights of our life. Wei is 5, and Ro is 3. We babysit them quite often. My childhood was far from perfect and filled with many worries. With six children and limited resources, our parents did a great job raising us. I remember my mom’s handmade stuffed animals and my dad’s prized chocolate bars during Chinese New Year. The excitement and curiosity of growing up with my sisters were always present. As I played with Wei and Ro, it brought back so many memories, filling me with great satisfaction. Thank God for granting me the opportunity to be a child again.
I treasure the friendships that have supported me through tough times in my life. One of my friends was once late for our date, and I was really upset. I remember her apology: “Please don’t let a small dispute defeat our friendship; it is too valuable.” What a great friend I have! For the past couple of years, we have joined the “Honey Nest” troupe, enjoying various activities—French cuisine, park BBQs, mountain hiking, music concerts, choir singing, crab festivals, and remarkable potluck feasts. We’ve also learned a great deal from each other—gardening, cooking, home decorating, health tips, relationship advice, and spiritual growth. We are grateful for the friendship and bonding among us. Our friends truly light up our golden years. They are worth more than rubies.
“You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world.” — Matthew 5:13-16
This year, I’ve added “do one nice thing” to my daily to-do list, something my mom taught me when I was a little girl. She said, “You feel good after you do it.” I’ve started thinking less of myself and focusing more on those around me. I’ve realized that I can make the world a little nicer by spreading kindness. I’m slowly learning to live out the message of the Bible verse above, and the joy in my heart is indescribable.
Last but not least, I want to thank God for giving us good health and spirits this year. We could not ask for more. We continue seeking His guidance in our lives. Though I still have many stories to share, I imagine you may be tired of reading my long letter by now. How are you, my dear friends? I may not see you often, but you are always in my heart. We miss you!!!
May God Shine the light upon you and grant you peace.