Saturday, June 16, 2007

40th Day

The wake was beautiful. Before the service, I called my mother. They were just finished with the little Mass at home. Ours started at around 10 AM. Deacon B was the celebrant, my brother on the piano, me on the First Reading and the second eulogy, my sister on the eulogy. Towards the last couple paragraphs of delivering her part of the eulogy, she cried. Everyone started to cry, during my turn to deliver my part, I cried too. Deacon B came over to hold me and then I started reading again. I can hear my brother sobbed on his spot by the piano. Oh Papa, I thought we are stronger.

My eulogy...

My sister brought a lot of wonderful memories of our father. I would like to add to the memories another dimension that made his life complete in our eyes, and hopefully in the eyes of the Lord, and how it touches us so perfectly.

My father was a person who acted on things instead of just talking about them. He never preached of how one should lead his or her life, but instead he showed it by examples. This included the practice of Christianity throughout his life.

He never proclaimed that he is a spiritual person but by looking at the way he lived his life, one can understand how faithful he was. He was not the type of person who goes to church every single possible time, but then goes about in the daily life to not practicing every single norm accepted by faith. He did quite the opposite. He wanted to show us how we should practice that one verse in Matthew, “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them.” He practiced without saying it.

If he was cheated or hurt by a person, he would not act in retaliation but instead showed even more compassion towards the person. He truly gave a real life example of how one should turn the other cheek.

One specific recitation before communion, “Bapa, saya tidak pantas, Tuhan datang pada saya, tapi bersabdalah saja maka saya akan sembuh” or as we say it in English “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.” is the oldest and most vivid memory I had of him. One time when I was a little girl, I sat right next to my father in Mass and witnessed how he recited that particular statement with all his heart.

My father suffered a lot in his life even right to the end. He never complained or lost his faith. He was always full of hope of a better future and worked even harder to pass over the hardships. He accepted that everyone has his or her own cross in life, just as Jesus carrying His for our salvation.

I thank him for his examples. This worldly separation was so sudden and almost beyond our wildest expectation. But with the memories of him and the things he’d done for us and by the faith in God, I know we are going to be okay.

Our family would like to extend of gratitude to everyone. Your presence, words of comfort and prayers have helped us to go through this difficult time.



Not pictured: Deacon B, Kimi and the Chemistry bunch.


At the little reception, a little table with pictures of him.

1 comment:

nadia said...

kinda hon.. im glad it went well... im sorry ya kak... that i wasnt able to make it. :( ur eulogy was very touching and ur dad seemed like a wondeful person, its a shame i never did get to meet him. i'll see u sometime this week? love u kak1