When I saw
the little boy playing with his mom, I remembered. The news from Singapore
had sent shockwaves across the family - bringing a break in the daily
routine. A relative had passed away. This is not uncommon in a big family, so
what’s so shocking about this? She was only 29 years old. She had died of a
fever caused by a rare virus which had contracted her heart, giving the
doctors no time. It took away her life in minutes leaving a 6 year old girl
and her 12 months old baby sister, motherless.
Yes, motherless.
‘Lord it’s not fair.’ I argued silently as I watched the boy and his mom
play. The boy was insisting that water be poured into his hand from his
sipper. When his mother did that, he laughed, rubbed and clapped his hands in
glee, spreading water all around him. When it was over, he held out his baby
hands, all five fingers apart and with an impatient ‘mm’, he told her what to
do. His mother was very patient with him. She poured a few more drops into
his hands. This went on about 5-6 times. Then he pushed his orange truck
towards his mom. ‘Mm’ ’mm’ he conveyed pointing at it and nodded insistently.
As I watched
this, I was rather amused at first. Then my eyes filled with sudden tears
when I remembered the 1 year old who had lost her mother. She needs her mama
just as much as this little boy. ‘Lord, why? Why a mother? That too, of a
baby and her 6 year old sister! I had to shut my eyes as tears filled them.
Ours was a big, loving family. Besides, for all we knew, their father might
remarry. But it won’t give them their mother back. Who except a loving mother
would be patient enough to pour drops of water on your hands-6, 7, 8
times-for just this reason that it makes you happy?
During all
this questioning, a still small voice seemed to be saying something. It
always becomes clear when I begin to listen to it but if I don’t, it just
fades away. ‘You haven’t seen the whole picture.’ It struck
me at once. Who are we to question God? We haven’t seen the whole picture.
Maybe the plan that God has for this world is like one
big drawing. In a drawing of such great magnitude, just looking at a curved
line and asking why it isn't straight is senseless. Maybe if people
understood this, they wouldn't always want to know why.
I still don’t
know why all this had to happen. I know one thing - till I see the whole
picture, my job is to pray for them, do my best to help and stop asking why.
‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways’,
says the Lord.
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so are My ways higher than
your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
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