He has always been feisty, eager to learn and fiercely independent. I would always remember how he faithfully read the Bible and the newspaper everyday until recently when it became too tiring for him to read much. He did not have formal education but had taught himself to read and write. He used to copy out passages in neat handwriting.
My grandpa came to Singapore from Wenzhou, China when he was fairly young, probably as a teenager. I do not know much about those early years. Neither did I know much about his hometown Wenzhou until more recent years when the economic development of Wenzhou became frequent features in the news. Only my grandpa and grandma spoke the Wenzhou dialect, with an aunt and my father speaking just a little of it.
To me, he was a man of few words and had no vices. He does not gamble at all, nor smoke and I do not remember him drinking much either. In the part of his life which I am most familiar with, he worked as an artisan restoring idols with goldleaves and paint. Yet, he was not a religious man.
Later in life, he heard the good news of Jesus and became a Christian. During the wake, it was such an encouragement to hear from his pastors how he evidently took delight in reading the Bible and being regular and punctual in church on Sundays. In fact, he last attended church just this past Sunday. Our helper has told the pastor that grandpa was feeling very happy to have been able to worship and to have the holy communion.
Six months ago, my grandpa had a hip fracture which affected his mobility. Before that, he would take care of himself and would attempt simple repairs and even sewing. He adapted well to being taken care of and I think he tried to be as little of a trouble as he possibly could. He did however seem to have rapidly lost his memory and was generally not able to recognise most of us. Being away most of the time, when I was back during my breaks, I would try to catch up with him and so it was sad that he could not tell who I was. Last Sunday, I think I heard him call out my name and that really made me most happy.
My grandpa's name is Say Meow Seng 谢茂盛 which means to flourish like lush greenery. I am reminded of Psalm 1 that indeed like a tree planted by streams of water, is he who delights in the law of the Lord. While he has peacefully, quietly and rather unexpectedly gone to be with the Lord, he has left a legacy that stands as a testament of God's love not only for him but indeed for all of us.
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