I come early to school everyday. The cleaners clock in at 7:00am. What catches my attention is a half-full plastic bag of rice. Sometimes just plain white rice. Sometimes I can see slivers of fish in it. The stray cats (the problem when housing estates start mushrooming near schools) which are all over the school will come running to greet both of them, husband and wife. They will go to the back part of the school and make little pools of the rice for each cat. She has been consistently doing this since one of the staff retired in April. That staff would usually buy a big bag of cat food for her to feed all these stray cats. I do not condone nor agree with her actions but there is little I can do. This attracts more cats to come and dirty the school. Yet, I salute her and respect her. Simple and giving. She who has so little can give so much. I am very much humbled.
Case 2 - Fazliana's mother or Makcik as I called her. Fazliana was one of the new examiners (MUET Speaking) who was under me to be trained as one. During one of the sessions together while waiting for the next session, we talked about personal things. She asked me what I did during weekends. So, I told her of my Tafaqquh-Din class at Kolej Universiti Insaniah. She got the details about the class and turned up with her mother.
Makcik had to use a three-legged walking cane to support her but she was determined to come and enrolled in this class. She taught the Quran. I greeted them and got them into the running of the class - the schedule, books and so forth. Thus, began a friendship. Later when Fazliana was transferred to Kuantan, her mother persevered and practically seldom missed classes. She could drive. Her son sent her when he was around for the semester breaks. Otherwise, when she arrived at almost the same time as I did, I would wait for her and carry her bags for her. She would walk slowly and used my hand to balance herself when climbing up the uneven floors. What was so humbling was when even the ustaz would stop teaching and let her sit before continuing. She, who had physical problems persevered in the quest to get close to Allah. It has been three years now. And I ... who am only having physical aches and pains, should have no right to complain. I am very much humbled.
Case 3 - Most times I will go to the grocery store near my housing estate to get my bread and eggs. One day, I was in my car starting the engine when this cat caught my eye.
It kept rubbing itself against this young lady who was busy fishing for her keys in her bag to open the door. She stayed at the top floor of one of the shoplots. She kept pushing the cat away with her legs with a tired and irritated face. Thus, I just sat in the car and watched what she would do. Once the grill was opened, she did not go up the stairs to her room. Instead, she took a small box near the stairs and took a container. The cat stayed near the grill but did not enter it. The young lady took out a bowl and put cat food inside it for the cat. No wonder it was waiting for her. It was waiting for its food. Then, she walked towards the parking lot near my car and threw out birds' feed. Suddenly, a group of pigeons which had been hovering and lining up the electric cables swooped down and began feeding.
She was tired but it was like a ritual for her to feed these creatures before she went up to her lodgings. She took the trouble to feed the cat and birds. I supposed she would have to make sure she always had her stock of food ready. The young lady - made it her commitment to feed them before she went up for the night. She was just a simple, ordinary girl with not much I guess but with compassion for God's creatures. I am very much humbled.
Compassion for God's creatures. Perseverance in the quest for knowledge. Giving when she is the one who should be receiving. Little lessons in life. Huge remunerations in the after life. I am very much humbled.
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