Life Tapestry.

Life Tapestries | Intentional Living, Faith, & Creative Reflection

Tag: faithful

  • POPPY the best of all!

    Favorite animal? I don’t have a specific favorite, but if I were to choose, it would be dogs. I remember we had a dog named POPPY when we were young. POPPY was a faithful companion who seemed to understand our language and had a great affection for us. It would even hunt down small animals that posed a threat to our crops and accompany my dad on hunting trips. Unfortunately, POPPY passed away around the age of 10 or 11.

    After that, my parents couldn’t bring themselves to adopt another dog. Some dogs we had later either got lost at a young age or were unfortunately hit by vehicles, especially since we live near the National highway. I miss having such loyal friends around. I recall how, when POPPY was with us, I could confidently stay with my younger siblings in my parents’ absence at night. We knew that POPPY wouldn’t allow anyone to harm us. It used to sleep right outside our bedroom instead of its kennel when our parents were away, guarding us throughout the night without taking a nap. I wish I could meet a dog like POPPY again.

  • Why AGE is just a number?

    Recently, I came across a perseverant man in his early 60s who decided to step into my classroom to polish his skills in English. He had experienced life from a heavy blow to the highest point of satisfaction. His love for films and movies can never be extinguished. After fulfilling the duties of being a father to his two children (they are well settled with life now), he is now ready to fly off with his wings wide open. He says life is all about doing what we love because we don’t know when, but one day we should be ready to go as death is inevitable. A faithful and eager learner, he makes sure to be present every single day, despite the fact that on most normal days, he will have to say goodbye to his friends, relatives, and loved ones. As these goodbyes might be the last journeys for them, yet with agility, he will smile and attend my class after sending them off.

    At first, I thought he was giving me lame excuses, as there couldn’t be a day where he had to send off his loved ones every alternate day. However, when I recount his age and theirs, I apologize to myself for my short-sightedness. Life truly is moving at a very fast pace. We would often ask him about his childhood and be amazed by how fast the world has changed within six decades.

    Despite the fact that he is a grandpa to most of my other students, he is always the one who makes them feel that learning is all about courage and effort. He never stops himself from answering the questions being asked or the assignments being given. Instead, he would laugh it off and say he’s a kindergartener, being lenient with himself when his answers were wrong. Honestly speaking, I feel undeserving to be teaching him. At first, I thought it would be a big challenge for me because I had never had a student of his age. I was definitely reluctant to accept him into the class, yet I gave myself a chance to accept individuals as they are and never judge them for who they are. I’d say I really used the principle of social workers—the principle of non-judgmental attitude.

    I am glad I did not turn him away, and I am grateful that my other students did not despise or ridicule him. Instead, they are accepting him and learning together with him as a classmate. They laugh, learn, and share experiences together, giving me the energy to get up every morning and be ready for class. I am indeed grateful to have them in my classroom.