【Tears of my heart】Tears of Remembrance of loved ones
Raymond Eng
“Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.” (Proverb 23:25)
My mother passed away when I was in my 30s. She was 67 years old when she died of liver disease. For the longest time, I couldn’t understand how a mother can be so cruel, to leave a 7-year-old in Hong Kong when she herself headed to America to take care of my ailing father. It was not until when I came to the U.S. at the age of 15, then did I understand. Her life had been quite difficult. She had to hold down two jobs to make ends meet. If I were to come with her earlier, she would have no ability to take care of me. She waited till her life was more stable before she took me in to be with her.
My mother really loved me. She saw how hard I worked. She wanted me to rest in order to take care of my health. She made sure I was warm and well fed; this was a mother’s love. Indeed, ‘the child who has a great mother is a precious thing in her sight’. When my mother was alive, I was the apple of her eye. I reminisced those days that I shared with her as the happiest days of my life. I miss her! After I got married, she came to live with us, and we took care of her by providing for her until she passed away.
My mother was a devoted Christian. She taught me to love God and others and to be a good Christian. She told me, “God is love, in him is blessing, no cursing. Therefore, always proclaim and praise him, do not complain against God in your heart.” Her words originated from the Bible, in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”, and in Lamentation 3:31-33, “For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love, for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men.”
After I grew up, these words became my mottos. Though I had experienced business failure and bankruptcy, I had never complained against God. I trust this was influenced by my mother’s teaching. I know that “The Lord gives, the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord. God wanted me to learn lessons in order to train me to be a person after His own heart.
When my mom was about to depart from earth, she said, “When you have time, put some flowers in front of the tomb to show filial piety.” I followed my mother’s words, a few times each year I will bring fresh flowers to her tomb to reminisce the days we spent together. I think of her often. I know someday we shall see one another again in heaven! Thank God in Christ we have this hope!
The Bible teaches us to “Honor your father and mother, (this is the first commandment with a promise) that it may go well with you.” Ephesians 6:2. So let me encourage you, as children, honor our parents when they are still alive, serve them for this is pleasing to God, and God will bless those efforts! Family love is more precious than any gold or silver.
(The author came to Christ for 56 years, Tent Maker, he has established over 15+ chain food stores in NYC)
Credit: Eng, Raymond. Edited by Angelyn Loh. Translated by Abraham Koo, Raymond Eng, 2020.
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