GREAT lesson learnt from noodles?
Friday, Jul. 04, 2003 - 10:17 a.m.
Dear Confidant,
Let me first start with a short update since I have not been updating my diary for 24 days. I was really busy despite them being my holidays. I was working part time, serving God in my various ministries, leading in Alpha, going for a blessed Women Encounter Weekend, enjoying a fun and insightful cluster bonding camp, participating in Freshmen Orientation Camp Organising Committee, meeting up with friends etc. Wow! I must thank God for a GREAT though busy holiday. I must thank God because without His strength and guidance, I might not make it thru' this holiday. ALL GLORY TO MY LORD JESUS!
My holidays are coming to an end soon. My new semester is starting on Monday! I'll be studying the tourism management option as my specialisation for my Business Administration diploma. I'm rather excited for the new semester. Okie, that should be all for updates...
Back to the main focus of this entry. I want to share this email that a church friend had emailed me. Please read it:
Noodle From a Stranger
That night, Sue had a quarrel with her mum and without bringing anything with her, she ran out of the house. While she was walking on the street, she discovered that she did not have any money on her, not even a cent to make a phone call. As she was walking along the street, she spotted a noodle stall, it smells so nice, how she longs for a bowl. But, she has no money.
After awhile, the boss seeing Sue standing in front of his stall for quite a long time, asked: 'Hey Miss, do you want a bowl of noodle?'
'But...but...I didn't bring any money with me...' she answered shyly.
'It's alright, I'll give you a treat.' The boss said, 'Come have a seat, I'll cook you a bowl of noodle.'
Not long after, the owner served Sue with a bowl of noodle and a plate of vegetables. Sue ate a few mouthfuls and she started to tear. 'What happened, Miss?' the owner asked.
'Nothing, I'm just touched!' Sue said while drying her tears. 'Even a stranger I met on the street would offer to cook a bowl of noodle and treat me! But... my own mother, after a quarrel chased me out of the house and asked me not to go back again. You as a complete stranger could show me care and concern while my own mother...she's so cruel.' She said to the owner.
The boss after hearing what Sue had said, replied with a sigh: 'Miss, how can you think that way? Ponder over this, I just cooked a bowl of noodle for you and you are so touched. Your mother had been cooking noodles and rice for you since you are young till now, why aren't you grateful to her? And you even quarrel with her?'
Sue was stunned upon hearing that. 'Why didn't I think of that? A bowl of noodle from a stranger and I'm so grateful but yet my own mother had been cooking for me for so many years and I'm not even showing the least concern about her. And because of a trivial matter, I quarreled with her.' She finishes her noodle swiftly and braces herself up and march towards the direction of home.
As she was walking home, she thought to herself what she wants to tell her mum right now... 'Mum, I'm sorry, I know I'm at fault, please forgive me.'
Once she reached the doorstep, she saw her tired and anxious mother, searching everywhere for her. When she spotted Sue, the first sentence which came out of her mouth is: 'Sue, come into the house quickly, I've the dinner ready and it'll be cold if you are not eating it now.' Right at that moment, Sue was unable to hold her tears anymore and she started weeping in front of her mum.
The story ended here... The email ended with this paragraph:
At times, we may be very grateful to other people around us for a little gesture they showed us, but to our close ones, especially our parents, it's a lifetime of gratefulness we have to remember. We should never forget what our parents had done for us but often we treat that as a natural process for them to sacrifice for us. However, parent's love and care are the most valuable gift given to us since we were born. They don't expect any repayment from us for raising us but think about it... Did we treasure the unconditional sacrifice from our parents?
I was so touched by this email that I was in tears when I was reading it! I can be very grateful to others who did something small to encourage me... but I kind of take my parents and my siblings (who are always there for me) for granted? How could I do that?! How could I treat that it that it is a natural process for my family to sacrifice? I felt very bad. So I went to told my mummy this story and my gratitude to her.
After reading this email, I have a prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for this GREAT lesson learn. I give thanks to your for my great family! I want to be a blessing to them. Lord, please help me to show more and more of my gratitude to my family and treasure my family more. Please help me to love them as deeply as You love them. Lord, I also want to pray for the reader who is reading this now that he/she will learn this great lesson too. Thank You for hearing my prayers! All these I pray in Jesus' name. Amen!"
-Shu Ling-
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