JUne 22nd, 2020: Father's Day
I wrote this on Father's Day. I am at the age now most of our
parents have passed on. I am thankful that my father is still with us
after trying six months with health-related issues. The latest was
tested positive for Covid-19 and made it through. We don't have easy
access to him yet. My sister has been able to see him twice a week for
about one hour each time. We have also been able to speak to him twice a
week. These encounters are precious because we should not take anything
for granted at this point. Thinking about my father is a good lesson to
have.
Learning and living are going together.
My father went to university after having a big family. He and mom took
tremendous sacrifices for him to be away a few years. He is living proof
that it is never too late for someone to pursue higher education.
Moving
forward without regret is part of learning to be better. My father and
my mother came here as boat people. They both lost their privileges and
identities. They lost almost everything materialistically and started a
restaurant business together. He never told me that he has regret
because he made his choice to leave everything behind for the good of
his family.
Making the best out of life
circumstances is the key to contentment. He and mom worked very hard
with the restaurant, and that was all they saw for a few years. When
they finally sold it and retired, they took a trip to Europe and
disappeared from the kids for almost a whole summer. The pictures I was
able to see told me that it was a "romantic one."
Knowing
what important is a part of living life with purpose. He has a clear
understanding of himself, and yet he is not loud and aggressive. When he
went through his quarantine because of Covid-19, there was not one
complaint from him about people. He overcame Covid-19 without any
physical struggle. He is 99, and I don't think he likes the idea of
leaving this world without any of kids around.
Psalm 32:7-8: "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."
