Posted by Abbey Thangiah • Jan 24, 2023
New Years will never be the same for me. After not seeing my dad much during the pandemic since 2020, I managed to spend some time in 2022 with dad. Little did I know that it was his last year on earth. He passed away peacefully on his bed two days later while mum was preparing dinner. The sermon points this weekend indeed reflected my dad’s life.
My father lived a life full of confidence in God. It was in God that my dad put his confidence. After doing well in HSE (STPM /A Level), he felt God’s calling and answered the call. He loved his family second only to God. I cannot live up on how he provided for my grandparents. I also could see how just as God sacrificed for us, he gave us the best. We never lacked anything.
My father was full of courage. When he was convicted of God’s calling, no one could stop him. He was called to build halls and churches wherever he served. During his tenure as a pastor, he served 7 churches. He felt convicted that the church must not waste God’s resources on rent and loans. I witnessed how God provided miraculously and fulfilled His will using a simple person like my father.
Finally, my father was content despite the conditions we were in. I remember when we were in Mentakab, Pahang, we stayed in the church so that the cost that was used to go to the rental of the parsonage would go directly to the church building. Our main vacation during holidays were trips to my grandfather’s house and the Tamil Annual Conference Meetings in Methodist Centre, Port Dickson. We did not live a luxurious life but a contented one, not lacking anything.
I pray that during this New Year season, that you love and keep your families close. Pastor Daniel’s message on forgiveness will always ring in my mind. Forge your family or at least; tolerate them for a few days a year until you can. Eventually, I pray that God will grant you the grace to forgive. I never imagined that I would be living this New Year with one less person in the family. No words can describe the emptiness inside but I know my dad is in heaven with my heavenly Father.
