Family Matters
August 12, 2004 by Melody Laila
Filed under Columnists, Melody Laila
It’s criminal to only realize the value of people when they’re not around anymore.
A couple of years ago I got a ‘call’ from the Lord to serve Him full time at a retreat center. It was not a lifetime calling; maybe a year or two tops. Though not far away from my home, it meant staying away from my family and not getting to see or speak to them regularly (there was almost always a huge line for the solitary pay phone & more often than not the phone did not work). This went on sometimes for as long as two or three weeks in a row.
Initially enjoyed my new found freedom, but I learnt fast the immense value of my family. Though I made amazing friends at the center, I knew that no one could ever replace the intimate friendships that are born out of staying with people over a period of many years. I missed my mum’s cooking. I missed my dad’s jokes. Heck, I even missed my sister - probably the one person who I’ve fought with all my life. I missed talking to them all. I missed finding out what was happening, knowing the ‘boring’, ‘mundane’ and ’silly’ things that took place in their daily lives.
