Eid Mubarak Raya Story Four

On the first day of Eid, we went to visit a family that is financially challenged. We have never missed visiting them and Alhamdulillah this year is no different.

And every time I visit them, I will end up in tears. They are always smiling and cheerful despite whatever situation they are in. And the way they memuliakan tetamu (honor the guests) can put many of us to shame.

So after some time, it was time for us to make a move. One of the Aunties told us to wait and rushed to the kitchen.

I immediately knew her intent. So after a few minutes, I went to their kitchen and saw her wrapping one stick of lemang*.

Tak payah susah2 Chik (don't trouble yourself), I said to her

Takpe, tak susah.. Nie Chik nak bagi satu lemang nie untuk bawak balik. Tadi dapat 2 batang. Orang bagi. Bina ambik satu batang bawak balik ye..

(Don't worry, no trouble at all... I want to give you one stick of lemang to bring back. Just now I received 2 sticks of lemang. Someone gave me. You take one stick and bring home okay...)

I choked. And no words could come out from my mouth..

Ya Allah, ya Allah... I almost cry immediately.. What is this that Allah wants me to see? What is this that Allah wants me to witness?

A pure heart of an old woman who doesn't have much. Yet the two sticks of lemang she received in the morning, she insisted of giving one to me..

Ya Allah my Lord, Most Merciful Most Kind, I thank you and am truly grateful to You for giving me this beautiful lesson of life. For showing me the true meaning of giving and trusting You. For allowing me to witness the existence of a beautiful soul in this time when material rules..

On my way back, I kept looking at the nicely wrapped stick of lemang, with tears running down my cheeks...

*Lemang is a traditional food made of glutinous rice, coconut milk and salt, cooked in a hollowed bamboo stick lined with banana leaves in order to prevent the rice from sticking to the bamboo.