14th February - Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Time for people to share and express themselves to their closest loved ones. I remember back then in Taylor's when chocolates and flowers used to the trend. Guess they still are today. Yet, I can't help but wonder, behind the bouquet of roses and heart-shaped cards, what does the word 'love' actually mean to the people who give and receive them.. Does it just mean sharing your joys and blessings with people close to you, treating them well, while ignoring others who do not know you or still harbouring grudge against those who have wronged you. As mentioned before a lot of times, today the word 'love' has been used way too loosely.
On a separate note, one thing bothered me when I returned the other day from KL after helping out with the pre-departure briefing.
An old lady came up to me while I was waiting for my mum to pick me up from Kuantan bus station.
Old lady: Dik, baru balik ke? (Hi there young fellow, just came back?)
Me: Ya, baru sampai dari Kuala Lumpur. Tengah tunggu mak datang ambik. (Yup, just arrived back from KL. Waiting for my mum to pick me up)
Old lady: Oh, macam tu.. duduk mana? (Oh, I see.. where are you staying?)
Me: Kuantan Garden.
Old lady: Dik, mak cik datang jauh dari Pekan. Boleh tak kasi sedikit duit, lebih kurang lima ringgit.. mak cik nak beli beras.. (I came from a town which is quite far away. Can you give me some money, around RM5 to buy some rice?)
Me: *stared at her with a blank look* Err.. makcik, takde duit kecik lar.. (Err.. I got no small change lar..)
Old lady: Sepuluh ringgit tak ada ke? Semua duit besar? (What about RM10? All big denominations ar?)
Me: Maaf ya, makcik.. (I'm very sorry)
Old lady: *looks disappointed* Makcik tak kisah kaum apa.. makcik cuma tanya saja.. (It's ok then.. I don't judge people by their own race.. Just asking..) *walks away*
Digged into my pocket and found 6 RM1 notes.. To be honest, yes.. that old lady might have been trying to con people of money (you do see plenty of these in urban areas).. Sometimes it is essential for wisdom to come into play. Occasionally I do give a small sum to beggars (although I would prefer to give it as an offering and hope for works to be done in their lives) However, in this case, if I had taken out money, I might be conned or robbed (who knows if she has an apprentice). Although she is an old lady, looks can be deceiving though.. But she could also be in real need, and probably have been turned down by numerous individuals who didn't really care (and my paranoia probably didn't do her much good). A grandma; one who is to be loved and cared for..
Looking back at that scenario, sometimes I just can't help but think, apart from prayer, is there any other way in which one could have acted to make things better turn out better for both in such situations without putting ourselves in potential harm's way, or people thinking that we are selfish (ie a win-win situation).. Maybe I think too much..
Anyway, as we celebrate this coming season when love is supposedly in the air, let's not forget that there are others in the world today, from all walks of life, who have yet to come to know and experience what true love means.
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