Regret…

At the beginning of this year, i became friends with a young boy, *Jared. He’s 13 years old. We went to to a seminar together with him and his father.

Three months ago, his father was diagnosed with cancer. We made attempts to visit him in the hospital but everytime we plan to go, someone told us that was better and was at home. We even saw him a couple of times in church.

So everytime i see the young boy, i would ask him how was his father. He’d say that his father was fine and was resting at home.

Two weeks ago, we heard that his father fell sick again. The cancer has spread to his collar bone. He was in and out of the hospital that week. At the end of the week, i asked Jared again about his father. Jared said that his father was at home resting.

And then he said one thing that i will never ever forget:

“I’ve ask you guys to come and visit us so many times but you didn’t come.”

At that point, i could only keep quiet. I didn’t know what to say.

So I made plans with Greg to visit the boy and his father that week. But somehow, all our discussions didnt work out.

Last Friday, we received a call from a friend saying that Jared’s father was in the hospital again. And this time, it was pretty serious. They even ask if we could inform a priest to give him the last rites. We were shocked that it has come to this. So we made plans to visit him the next day.

On sat morning, a friend called us and said that Jared’s father was in the special care unit and we can’t just simply visit him. So our friend told us that we can only visit him at 2pm on Sunday.

But on Sat night, we receive the call. Jared’s father has passed away.

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I went to his funeral today. Looking at the poor boy and his mother crying brought tears to my eyes. As i sat and listen to the homily, my mind went back to when i first met them and the many attempts that i made ‘trying’ to visit him when he was sick. I realise that i took for granted that i could always visit him the next day if i cant make it today. I took for granted that there will always be another day. I failed to realise how fragile life is.

This will be one regret that i will carry with me for the rest of my life.

This is a lesson that i’ve learnt.

Never take life for granted. Never say that there will be another day.

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In memory of Jared’s father.

May he rest in peace with our Lord for eternity.

Amen.

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“And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 6:40