My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.
~Clarence Budington Kelland
Being single still at the age of 34 years old, staying on my own here in the city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I am my father’s biggest worry. I am first born from four siblings of all girls. Two of my sister which is younger to me already got married last year. One of them will due to give birth this June which will make my father – a grandfather. He can’t stop smiling upon learning that my sister is expecting. First grandchild for my family.
My father’s great inheritance to us is our opportunity to get good education. He said, life always has to be better than what we are before. My grandfather works hard to mend ends need. My father’s life was better than my grandfather. We, his daughters have to be much better than our father, which we did. And my father adds on further; our children’s life has to be better than what we are. The generation has to exhale.
To him education is very important as he shall not inherit us with wealth. He thought us on value of life. Always look at things beyond your two naked eyes. What you see is not always what is seems.
He was a very strict father ; still is today but not as much as like younger days. More mild and gentle in his own way. His rule those days is that..entertainment is merely and entertainment. Don't indulge in it too much of what life of celebrities that you need to keep abreast about. Thanks to that we never got our self carried away with it.
I remember during our childhood, we are simple family. Our household items are simple too. At times I do envy my friends which their parents keep update with the trend of time. I asked my father one day, why can't we change to larger tv set ? He said, i can equip this house with all sort of what in-trend but my dear daughter, 10 years from now it will be the same thing only more sophisticated. Its the same thing still. Instead of me buying all these things I would rather keep the money for your education. Which in later years I understand what he meant. Its true. Trends, fashion and flow of life will definitely move as times goes by.
My father retired in 2009. Nowadays he spend time fishing with friends. He reminded me again to always make sure that retirement fund is good. Cause at the end of our journey, being a burden to others means that we are killing our self softly.
If death come upon me, don't remember how i die ; remember how i live.
I learned to be a charitable person from him. At times sitting around in KL having meals..beggars are always around. I never fail to give even a dollar to them. A friend of mine one day told me of that i should not encourage it.
I said yes you are right ; but to me I won't go poor by giving a dollar. If this beggar is a scam; let him deal with his creator himself. My part its merely sincere donation. That I learn from my father.
This father’s day I have a message for him. No matter what his worries over me, faith of me is not in his hand. He has walked with me over this year; still walk with me. The path is mine to take. What’s good in me is from him, the other side is my own. I am just a little different than the rest of your daughters. It may not be a bed of roses of us always but we have a good life because he is a wonderful father. What we are today is because of him.
