Around the world, Chinese families are gathering together to sit down to their reunion dinners. This year like every other year, my family and my in-laws are gathered together for a meal. The only difference is that Darrell my partner and their only son has passed on and it is always significant times like this where his presence is most missed.
Fond memories of him flashed back as I sit down with the family to have a meal together. A friend told me that when someone dies in a family, usually there is a lesson for the people around him. The lesson for me is really about gratitude. Being grateful that I still have time on earth today to sit down and eat with the family, being grateful for having beautiful in laws. We all try to bravely face yet another festivity and working on moving on with the fact of a loss of loved one. The only thing that really helped me today was the sense of gratitude that I have about all that I still have in my life.
I am grateful for our nephew and niece who are growing up to be sensible young adults, trying to find their own personality no doubt, but still lovely to be around. I am grateful for parents and parents in law who are still in good health, sisters and brother in law who are supportive and kind. Joy who lives up to her name in every ways.
Darrell will be very proud of this family and I am sure he is like me grateful that we have a lovely family.
I realised that when I have a sense of gratitude in my life, I have to focus on good things and that in turn takes away the opportunity to have self pity, anger and other low energy emotions. I have immense peace and comfort when I am grateful for people and things in my life.
Everytime when you start to go on a low energy cycle, I urge you to think of something you are grateful for.
Wishing you an abundant Tiger year ahead full of people and things that you are grateful for.
Felicia
Hi Felicia, happy to read your sharing. I reckon that to live simply is to be able to be grateful for the blessings that pass our way. Often times, we wish for something better etc, but these things are only temporal. Thanks for your sharing. It has reminded me to count my blessings, be thankful and grateful! Look forward to reading your sharings and for the insight it has given me!
All the best! Do send my regards to Darrell’s family for me.
Warmest regards,
Kim Gek.
By: Tan Kim Gek on February 20, 2010
at 3:06 am
Dearest Kim Gek,
Thanks for the encouragement and acknowledgment. I am indeed happy to see that my sharing is able to shed a little light in your way. Happy lunar new year, wishing you a year of peace and happiness.
Felicia
By: Felicia Lauw on February 20, 2010
at 1:51 pm
I love you very much, Sis. You’ve been a great pillar of strength not just to Darrell when he was around but to my family who continues to cope daily after the loss of a beloved brother and a son to my parents.
I’m truly blessed that you are part of my family and you’ll always be my sis-in-law for life.
With true gratitude
Ping
By: Lum Chwee Ping on March 25, 2010
at 10:43 am
And I am blessed to have in laws like yourself.
Love,
Ben
By: Felicia Lauw on March 25, 2010
at 2:13 pm