life is like a window pane..
I was reminded how fragile life is when my student shared the news that her classmates had succumbed to cancer. She became emotional and cried as she told me about the passing which although somewhat expected, still came too suddenly. It was just yesterday that her classmates and her visited the girl, and I was the last teacher she met. And I can remember the happy faces of the children; it was a class outing to the hospital. A gathering to give company to a friend who is lonely in the hospital.
Never did they expect that thursday afternoon was the last time they saw their friend. Death came and took her away. Thursday night greeted them with the tragic news and the floodgates open. They must have struggled to come to school since armed with the knowledge that the class pictures will now be even more precious and class reunions will always have one less friend around.
The struggle must have been more difficult, as during their time to mourn over the loss, the class next to them were happily singing the tunes of happy birthday to their class teacher who turns 26 today. It was a mini-birthday celebration.
So as we celebrate another birthday, what are we actually celebrating?
I realised that birthday celebrations are actually more meaningful than I thought. It celebrates the sanctity of life. We rejoice to the knowledge that life is fragile and it is an achievement that we can age another year; a lengthen period to continue to be in the company of friends and loved ones.
My heart goes out to the children. To know that your friend will no longer be reached and to know that she is cremated on the very next day, just typing this sentence..... nearly make me emotional. I pray that God will have mercy on these children and give them the strength to recover, for their friend has truly left for a better place.
Never did they expect that thursday afternoon was the last time they saw their friend. Death came and took her away. Thursday night greeted them with the tragic news and the floodgates open. They must have struggled to come to school since armed with the knowledge that the class pictures will now be even more precious and class reunions will always have one less friend around.
The struggle must have been more difficult, as during their time to mourn over the loss, the class next to them were happily singing the tunes of happy birthday to their class teacher who turns 26 today. It was a mini-birthday celebration.
So as we celebrate another birthday, what are we actually celebrating?
I realised that birthday celebrations are actually more meaningful than I thought. It celebrates the sanctity of life. We rejoice to the knowledge that life is fragile and it is an achievement that we can age another year; a lengthen period to continue to be in the company of friends and loved ones.
My heart goes out to the children. To know that your friend will no longer be reached and to know that she is cremated on the very next day, just typing this sentence..... nearly make me emotional. I pray that God will have mercy on these children and give them the strength to recover, for their friend has truly left for a better place.