The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.109)

2019 • 04 18 eature Peow’s wife was very cooperative, enabling the spring cleaning session to proceed smoothly. Fui Cheaw revealed that ever since their first encounter, whenever the volunteers came to visit, Kim Peow’s wife would offer a smile and greet them with a polite nod to acknowledge them. “To us, her smile is the most beautiful of all smiles,” offered Fui Cheaw. The volunteers’ efforts had finally bore fruit, as they gained the acceptance of Kim Peow’s family. On the day of the New Year gathering, volunteers invited Kim Peow’s mother to partake in the celebratory dinner. The relationship between Kim Peow and his mother grew increasingly distant as there is minimal interaction between mother and son. Kim Peow’s mother, who relies on a walking stick for support, had been confined to the upper floor of their house. On the other hand, Kim Peow lives on the lower floor to allow easier accessibility as his mobility is limited by his wheelchair. Therefore, the volunteers arranged to bring Kim Peow and his mother closer together, and even prepared a flower for Kim Peow to present to his mother, along with his heartfelt message: “Mother, I love you.” As a Jing Si Aphorism goes, “Never hesitate to fulfil kind and filial deeds.” Kim Peow has compensated for his past neglect of his loved ones by repenting with an expression of love to his mother and showing gratitude to those around him. The smile spreading across his mother’s face as she happily accepted the flower said it all. Besides their exemplary actions and speech, the volunteers’ patient guidance had inculcated seeds of kindness inKimPeow, allowing thekarmic wheels to take its course. Kim Peow has also learnt not to take himself too seriously, reminiscing on his past at his own expense, “I was not a hardcore rogue, yet I confess I wasn’t any good either. To put it bluntly, karma caught up with me by confining me to a wheelchair. I admit that I was wrong. I promise to turn over a new leaf.” As an afterthought, he added, “I cannot take my fortune to the grave, no matter how much I have earned. But the blessings and merits I have cultivated last beyond this lifetime. Hence, I aim to commit myself to Tzu Chi after I have recovered to pursue a greater sense of purpose in life.” Yoh Kim Peow (left) conveyed his affection for his mother with a tender “I love you”, before teasing her, saying, “You are the first woman I gave flowers to.” [Photograph by Tee Kim Wooi]