If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go, where prayer has not already been

The moment the doctor declared that Mak's gone, I knew I was left all alone in this world. I have lost the blessing of a mother who has been there with me all of my lives.

I have lost not only a mother, but I have lost a confidante, and a protector.

Protector in the sense that she is someone who had always doa (pray) for me; and her doas had always opened many doors for me throughout my life, and I am sure, protected me from harm.

Protecter in the sense that she has always been there for me. Physically, in spirit and morally. All the time, every time.

Mak and her grandchildren in cold and wintry Oklahoma City
during Christmas 1998. I was working in Houston then, and took
Mak for a 1 1/2 month holiday in TX that included New Mexico
and Oklahoma. Did I mention Louisiana? That too :) I was still a student when
I took her to Australia in 1986. For these kind of memories, I have no regrets.

I once read in a friend's FB, a poster that says that the once you lost your mom, your lost her blessing and her prayers. I could not agree more. I have always looked up to Mak for every challenges that came my way in the past. Big and small.

"Mak, tolong doa untuk Aman," I would ask her. Or when the challenges become bigger, "Mak tolong sembahyang hajat bila-bila Mak senang. Ada problem sikit."

She had never said no to my request. It did not matter what's the problem - from the simplest of things to the most difficult challenges that I have experienced. It didn't matter even if she was not in the most perfect of health. She would do it without any hesitation - most likely for three straight nights (worth of prayers).

A mother is one to whom you hurry when you are troubled. [Emily Dickinson]

She had always been the pillars of my strength. From when I was young, to even now when most of what-ever remaining of my hairs had turn white. For nearly fifty years, I was totally dependent on her, and her doa.

If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go, where a prayer has not already been. Robert Brault can't be wrong at all.

In a saying attributed to Abraham Lincoln, he said, "I remember all my mother's payers, and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my lives."

Indeed Mak's prayers have clung to me all my lives.

Now how do you expect me to start living without her at this time and age?

I have to, I guess. I want to be an anak soleh for Mak. And bapak.

Ya Allah, jadikanlah kami semua anak-anak yang soleh yang dapat berbakti kepada kedua ibu dan bapa kami.

EPILOGUE

I am reminded of this posting from an unknown author. Although it is too late for many of us who have lost our mother/s, but it should serve as a reminded to continue to do good deeds on her behalf.

(I have posted this in this blog many years ago.)

Orang kata aku lahir dari perut mak..

Bila dahaga, yang susukan aku.....mak

Bila lapar, yang suapkan aku....mak

Bila keseorangan, yang sentiasa di sampingku.. ...mak

Kata mak, perkataan pertama yang aku sebut....Mak

Bila bangun tidur, aku cari....mak

Bila nangis, orang pertama yang datang ....mak

Bila nak bermanja, aku dekati....mak

Bila nak bergesel, aku duduk sebelah....mak

Bila sedih, yang boleh memujukku hanya....mak

Bila nakal, yang memarahi aku....mak

Bila merajuk, yang memujukku cuma....mak

Bila melakukan kesalahan, yang paling cepat marah....mak

Bila takut, yang tenangkan aku.....mak

Bila nak peluk, yang aku suka peluk....mak

Aku selalu teringatkan ....mak

Bila sedih, aku mesti talipon....mak

Bila seronok, orang pertama aku nak beritahu.... .mak

Bila bengang.. aku suka luah pada..mak

Bila takut, aku selalu panggil... "mmaaakkkk! "

Bila sakit, orang paling risau adalah....mak

Bila nak exam, orang paling sibuk juga.....mak

Bila buat hal, yang marah aku dulu....mak

Bila ada masalah, yang paling risau.... mak

Yang masih peluk dan cium aku sampai hari ni.. mak

Yang selalu masak makanan kegemaranku. ...mak

kalau balik ke kampung, yang selalu bekalkan ulam & lauk pauk.....mak

Yang selalu simpan dan kemaskan barang-barang aku....mak

Yang selalu berleter kat aku...mak

Yang selalu puji aku....mak Yang selalu nasihat aku....mak

Bila nak kahwin..Orang pertama aku tunjuk dan rujuk.....mak

Aku ada pasangan hidup sendiri....

Bila seronok, aku cari.......pasangan ku

Bila sedih, aku cari......mak

Bila berjaya, aku ceritakan pada....pasanganku

Bila gagal, aku ceritakan pada....mak

Bila bahagia, aku peluk erat....pasanganku

Bila berduka, aku peluk erat....emakku

Bila nak bercuti, aku bawa....pasanganku

Bila sibuk, aku hantar anak ke rumah.....mak

Selalu.. aku ingat pasanganku

Selalu.. mak ingat kat aku

Bila-bila... aku akan talipon pasanganku

Entah bila... aku nak talipon mak

Selalu....aku belikan hadiah untuk pasanganku

Entah bila... aku nak belikan hadiah untuk emak

Renungkan: "Kalau kau sudah habis belajar dan berkerja... bolehkah kau kirim wang untuk mak? mak bukan nak banyak... lima puluh ringgit sebulan pun cukuplah"...

Berderai air mata jika kita mendengarnya. ....... 

Tapi kalau mak sudah tiada....... .... MAKKKKK...RINDU MAK..... RINDU SANGAT....

Berapa ramai yang sanggup menyuapkan ibunya....

berapa ramai yang sanggup mencuci muntah ibunya.....

berapa ramai yang sanggup mengantikan lampin ibunya......

berapa ramai yang sanggup membersihkan najis ibunya...... .

berapa ramai yang sanggup membuang ulat dan membersihkan luka kudis ibunya....

berapa ramai yang sanggup berhenti kerja untuk menjaga ibunya.....

dan akhir sekali berapa ramai yangsembahyang JENAZAH ibunya......

Seorang anak mendapatkan ibunya yang sedang sibuk menyediakan makan malam di dapur lalu menghulurkan sekeping kertas yang bertulis sesuatu. Si ibu segera mengesatkan tangan di apron menyambut kertas yang dihulurkan oleh si anak lalu membacanya.Kos upah membantu ibu:

1) Tolong pergi kedai : RM4.00

2) Tolong jaga adik : RM4..00

3) Tolong buang sampah : RM1.00

4) Tolong kemas bilik : RM2.00

5) Tolong siram bunga : RM3.00

6) Tolong sapu sampah : RM3.00

Jumlah : RM17.00

Selesai membaca, si ibu tersenyum memandang si anak sambil sesuatu berlegar-legar si mindanya. Si ibu mencapai sebatang pen dan menulis sesuatu di belakang kertas yang sama..

1) Kos mengandungkanmu selama 9 bulan - PERCUMA

2) Kos berjaga malam kerana menjagamu - PERCUMA

3) Kos air mata yang menitis keranamu - PERCUMA

4) Kos kerunsingan kerana bimbangkanmu - PERCUMA

5) Kos menyediakan makan minum, pakaian, dan keperluanmu -PERCUMA

Jumlah Keseluruhan Nilai Kasihku - PERCUMA

Air mata si anak berlinang setelah membaca apa yang dituliskan oleh siibu. Si anak menatap wajah ibu,memeluknya dan berkata,"Saya Sayangkan Ibu".Kemudian si anak mengambil pen dan menulis "Telah Dibayar" pada mukasurat yang sama ditulisnya.