As I was passing......

It's already October. Time really flies and three-quarters of 2007 is over. We had the moon cake celebration and I am looking forward to the Hari Raya break. Our moon cake celebration was really low keyed this year as hubby's away on a course and Ruth had a monthly test the following day. We just had the customary moon cakes, that's all.

Just recently, I attended the memorial service of a church friend. He was striken with cancer in 2001 and for six long years, he battled against this deadly disease. There were chemo treatments, remissions and relapses. But his family rallied and supported him. His wife accompanied him for treatment in Hong Kong no less than fifty times. It must have been both painful and heart-wrenching to see a loved one wasting away to the ravages of the disease and finally succumbed. Early in his diagnosis, the doctor told him that he had only about one year to live. He reorganise his life and began to serve in many areas of the church ministry. He was even a Sunday School teacher. He was given a "gift" of another five years and I must say that my life was touched by his commitment to serve and witness.

The church was fairly crowded with family members, friends and business associates. The pastor spoke words of comfort, a sister-in-christ sang a beautiful and touching hymn, his sister-in-law gave the eulogy and his only son gave the acknowledgement. It was a very moving and solemn occasion and by the end of the service, I could not hold back my tears any longer.

As I walked round his casket and to pay my last respects, I just could not find the right words to comfort his son and widow. I could only hold her. Somehow, it struck me real hard, as this brother was only a year older than me. Indeed, this life is only temporary, we are just passing through.