The world of Tzu Chi June 2021 (Vol.135)

2021 • 06 26 eature Amiracle and a child’s dream “As I turned on the gas stove, there was a flash of fire and the gas exploded! The flames were coming at us! I knew I should run for my life! Quickly, I picked up my child, broke the kitchen window, and jumped down.” – Dal En Lam W hen we talk about childhood, we think of innocence. Perhaps, idyllic innocence. Simple pleasures. Or possibly, a charmed existence. How does a five-year-old toddler spend her day? A typical day consists of waking up in the morning, grabbing a quick breakfast and heading for pre-school. As soon as the bell rings, it is time to head back home and be greeted by a wholesome lunch. Five-year-old Lian Khaw Thang could have lived such a life, but his fate was less than kind. Like most children, Thang is active and playful. But his is a minimalistic existence. There is only some simple furniture in his house, with several icons of Jesus decorating the wall in the living room. The large living room is a playground for his sister and him. When we visited his home, Thang was thrilled and eager to show the best of himself. He would ride his bicycle in circles, spread Translated by Ng Yu Xin