Neichü Dz. Angami
Rangoon | Burma
Just as in life she would always say ‘do not get carried away with the cares of the world’- ‘always stay tuned to God’s guidance and be led by His spirit’, I chose not to be defeated by my inconsolable grief of losing her in that most tragic car accident which left our family shattered. In my moment of deep anguish and pain, I am engulfed by the awareness of her most amazing quality - ‘long-suffering’. The eldest in the family, my aunt was the only child who was grown-up enough to bear the brunt of the brutal killing of her father. She knew her dad intensely while her siblings were too young to even remember how he looked like. Much as she grieved the loss of her father at that tender age, she had to pick up the pieces of life left after his killing to support her widowed mother and behave ‘grown-up’ - do all the household chores, go to the fields, socialize, keep family traditions of looking after the aged grandparent, and most importantly sacrifice her right to education so that her siblings can have the opportunity. She was more a ‘mother’ than a sister to the family and to this role, she stayed true till the very end.
Life was never easy, yet it was always full of outrageous adventure. She and her husband of 45 years, believed that God gave good health and sound mind for us to be productive and creative like Him. They constantly led a busy life of planting - new houses, fields, gardens - ‘whatever it takes, it must be done by our sweat and hard-work’, they would gently educate us.
Her long-suffering quality bestowed upon her the testimony of staying faithful to the Lord no matter what life brings along. She lost two of her sons in their youth, for which she grieved everyday and yet never questioned the authority of God, the giver of life. She would often say, ‘I cannot forget the boys, I think of them everyday and I cry-myself to sleep but I can never bring myself to question why God allowed it to happen’. Despite the pain of losing her younger boys at their most prolific age, she was constantly rejoicing over the life of her older two boys, her daughter, her children-in-laws and the grandchildren who brought much freshness and insights into her life.
When we think of this aunt, we think of her as the one who never get angry or upset about anything, we think of the aunt who would always crack a silly joke and make everyone break-free with laughter, an aunt who would always remind us of the need to stay connected and rooted to family ties, an aunt who would always lead the family to prayer no matter what agenda is at hand, an aunt who would always enjoy our stories and would relate to us as if we mattered the most, someone who we can call and talk about anything and everything. This aunt kept our family together - when there is death or marriage of a distant relation, she would call everyone and remind us of the importance to reach out. On the day she died, she was rushing to mourn the death of her first cousin, another aunt that we all loved dearly. Our family has been struck by tragedy - we must bear in mind the Godly quality she taught us through her life - long suffering! May her divine being increase through us henceforth!
“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22
