When I was in a home Congregation
visiting time, I had a schedule to visit and spend time with my Sisters at the Mother-House.
It was only some months living far from California, but I felt as if I
lived far from home much longer. I even went around garden and all trails inside mother house area. I felt, maybe each old
olive trees still carry some story which I should know when I am learning about
the Dominicans and Mission of San Jose.
When I was staying there, a sister
asked me to read Christmas cards and letters for some of our sisters in a care
center. Thus, I read Christmas cards and letters for Sister X. There were many
Christmas cards and letters were sent to her for Christmas and the New
Year. She is an old sister, who is on a wheelchair.
She is very nice but talks very little. I had known her a long time,
but I only heard she say, “yes, I am fine, thank you” at any time I visited
sisters at care center. Thus, I thought that she is very old and that
she is losing her much memory so she speaks very little.
When I read letters and
Christmas cards for her, I stopped many times for her to share. We had much
smiles, surprises, sharing, comments and laughs in our conversation. She often
put her hands on her chest as she was hold some one when she expressed “oh how
sweet it is”, or “how nice she/he is”.
There were so many things she
shared with me. She brought me one surprise to another. She shared with
me about how she knew them, how long have they been in relationship,
how many beautiful and good things this person did, that person did. Where this
or that person wrote to her about what they did, what they saw when they
traveled etc. They kept that style of sharing with her for many years to
now.
After that day, I did not
remember much of what she told me, and I don’t need to remember. However,
I remember some things, her smile, her gentle voice, her excitement
at sharing, and the happiness on her face at that time. All those things
helped me to see her beauty within. I did not ask about or know her past, but
through these things, I can see herself in her past. She must have been a very
nice, simple and easy going person, because she left good memories and love in
her students’ heart. Today, her students have grown up, they have
gone to many places. They have already met many interesting persons, but
they still think of her and write to her about their interesting moments.
In our care
center, she is a nice and silent person. Seeing that, I believe she must be
very good in her prayer. I imagined that in the flower garden of God, she
is a small elegant
rose, which hides itself under other leaves, but when persons find it, they
will discover this flower is so beautiful. It produces much good scent around.
After meeting with her, I directly go
to the chapel to silence myself in front of God. I thank God for giving me
a chance to meet and know her more. Her life appears so beautiful to my
eyes and mind. I thought that she was a person who left a lot of flowers on
places where her foot steps passed by.
I often saw she was sleeping,
when I returned to see her on some other days. Thus, I did not finish reading
Christmas cards and letters for her when I was at mother house. However, it was
enough for me to see her past and her beautiful world inside of her. I stayed a
little time in her room to look at her, when she was sleeping. She was sleeping
in peace with gentle breaths. Her body is very slim, which gave me a feeling
that her life is very fragrant on this earth. However, this world is more
beautiful because of her presence. I thank God for her life. In silence of my
heart in her room, I thank her for what she did and how she lived. I thank her
for being my older sister who goes ahead of me. Now, I can see her story, not
by words, but by my feelings, my discovering through some pieces of story and
letter, which were sent to her last Christmas. I can hear an echo from
time to me through meeting and working with her. Dear Sister X and other old
Sisters, you are blessing for me. Thank you.
