1st Syawal and Unconditional Love

This is the 4th of Syawal and has been quite the Eidulfitri for us. I was raking my brain on how we shall celebrate the first day of Raya. It’s a big deal for me because I don’t want to mess it up. One must have a certain tradition to bring in to the new family and it has to be of significance. Living in with the in-laws can really pose you some hazards. First of all you do not want to disrupt their routine or any sense of normalcy. Secondly, you do not want to impose your idiosyncrasies in the household. So, coming back to the first day of Raya issue, there were the matters of

1. which mosque to go and perform the solat Eidulfitri
2. what do you do when you reach home
3. who are the family and relatives you visit on the first day
4. how much time are we spending with them
5. are there any special gestures or decorum I need to be aware of

It was simpler when you were a bachelor as you could ride on your parents’ coattails. Now all tanggung sendiri! [Me and wife’s responsibility]

The visit to my parent’s place at Woodlands made me treasure my siblings and their children even more. I love looking at the happy faces of my rakyat [nephews and nieces] I love their lovable banter and I love hugging my parents who raised and educated us into the adults that we are. The feeling was so fuzzy with so much kindness and unconditional love that for a split second I almost burst into tears at the thought of losing them.

What I saw and felt in my moments of seeking for their forgiveness, was something transcendent in their calling to raise their children. They’ve surrendered to the largeness of the task, and when that happened, it’s the ultimate sacrifice. I love you bapak, emak…