Last Friday was my Grandmother’s birthday.. I congratulate her via telephone and talking with her for a few minute.. Her birthday inspire me to write this blog as a recognition for all the deeds that she’s done in her life and how me, as her grandson, really admire her strength, her faith, her compassion, her courage and her genuine love that she possess..
My Grandmother born in 1927 in Malang and her parents named her Tan Swan Nio.. Both of my great grandparents are devoted Christian so no wonder my Grandmother also raise in Christian faith.. She studied in a Chinese School called Ling Hua.. In that school, she later found her future husband, my Grandfather, who at that time work as an English teacher.. His name is Chou Chin Shien.. After she’s graduated, my Grandfather who already in love, went my her house and met my great grandparents asking if he can teach her English in private.. Later during one of the session of English session, my Grandfather propose her and they got married.. They later have 4 children.. My mother is the youngest one.. Sadly my Grandfather died of a heart attack when my mother was just 2 years old.. and from that moment begin the hard day for my Grandmother who have to raise 4 children on her own..
I personally can’t imagine how a woman, alone in the year sixties, without bachelor degree or even high school degree, without work experience, with only a small amount of money left had to figured it out a way to support the continuance life of herself and her children.. but my Grandmother did it.. Not only that, all of their children completed their education.. My mother choose to study in a secretarial school in WM and graduated.. Her eldest sister finished her education as a Sarjana Muda theologia (dunno how to translate this in English).. What even more stunning, my Grandmother even managed to send 2 of her son to study in German and also my Grandmother managed to nurture many person, her younger sister and brother, her nephew, and many other person who later considered her as their mother too.. I once asked her what’s makes her able to accomplish so much and defeat so many obstacle.. there is no hesitation when she said that when she look back all that ever happened she also wondering how can she manage to do all of that, so there is only one answer because of God.. God able her to do things beyond her own imagination..
During those turbulence times, she opened a small shop in a traditional market near her house.. One time afterward, someone deceive her and cause her unable to continue her shop anymore (the detail is to complex to explained).. But she received it with a great humbleness, saying God had other way.. And so He did.. Later on, a friend of her teach her how to sew and from that day forward she’s become a tailor for daster(again dunno in English)..
She also had twice grave accidents that almost cause her life.. One of it, I still remember the story, is happened when she want to go to sby and she went by travel.. The travel pick her and she sat in the front seat, in the left side of the driver.. After pick up the other passenger, one of them wants to sit in her place.. I guess not many people were willingly to give up their seat for they have sat on it first but my Grandmother gave up her seat and move to the back, behind the driver.. In the way to sby, the car crashed.. the person who took my Grandmother seat died in that accident.. My Grandmother wounded but survive.. She has to be hospitalized though.. there is a real lesson of endurance that i can learned from my Grandmother
If people ask me what is the one that makes her so special among many other quality, I have to say her faith.. She has the biggest faith in God that I ever seen in one person.. She woke up every morning in 4 am to pray and every night she go down on her knees to pray again.. She never start a day and ended a day without talking to God.. What even more astounding, person who see her pray can fall back to sleep because she’s praying very long.. I think her faith can be seen in her character.. She just have the biggest heart and hugging her is felt so secure.. Other things believe it or not but I never see her angry at anyone..
Her biggest influence on me is probably my faith to God.. Not many people know but during my youth time I choose to become agnostic.. I didn’t really said it out loud but my attitude has already proven it.. I refuse to go to church.. I guess my mother tell this to my grandmother and at one point when I’m visiting her in Malang she talk to me.. She didn’t say that I must go back to church or bla bla bla.. No, she tell me about her experience and how God been good on her and never disappointed her.. When she speak you can truly feel her genuine faith and kindness.. And at the end of our conversation, as usual actually, she said that she will pray for me and for all the steps that I took, and may it not be far from God.. Until today I can still remember how she talked and honestly it brought tears in my eyes.. People who ever hear her talking definitely understand my feeling.. Of course I’m not immediately change.. it would take some more process and times.. Even until today I still have some question unanswered.. But no matter what happen, I don’t think I can ever go back to become agnostic or atheis again because I already seen a living proof how God do exist and He influence everyday of our life and I see that in my Grandmother..
I have to say that I felt really blessed that in my life I have the chance not only to know her but become her grandson.. I believe there is no coincidence in this world so I’m grateful God put me as her grandson.. Happy b’day gramz.. so sorry I can’t be in Trawas to celebrate with you..
My Grandmother born in 1927 in Malang and her parents named her Tan Swan Nio.. Both of my great grandparents are devoted Christian so no wonder my Grandmother also raise in Christian faith.. She studied in a Chinese School called Ling Hua.. In that school, she later found her future husband, my Grandfather, who at that time work as an English teacher.. His name is Chou Chin Shien.. After she’s graduated, my Grandfather who already in love, went my her house and met my great grandparents asking if he can teach her English in private.. Later during one of the session of English session, my Grandfather propose her and they got married.. They later have 4 children.. My mother is the youngest one.. Sadly my Grandfather died of a heart attack when my mother was just 2 years old.. and from that moment begin the hard day for my Grandmother who have to raise 4 children on her own..
I personally can’t imagine how a woman, alone in the year sixties, without bachelor degree or even high school degree, without work experience, with only a small amount of money left had to figured it out a way to support the continuance life of herself and her children.. but my Grandmother did it.. Not only that, all of their children completed their education.. My mother choose to study in a secretarial school in WM and graduated.. Her eldest sister finished her education as a Sarjana Muda theologia (dunno how to translate this in English).. What even more stunning, my Grandmother even managed to send 2 of her son to study in German and also my Grandmother managed to nurture many person, her younger sister and brother, her nephew, and many other person who later considered her as their mother too.. I once asked her what’s makes her able to accomplish so much and defeat so many obstacle.. there is no hesitation when she said that when she look back all that ever happened she also wondering how can she manage to do all of that, so there is only one answer because of God.. God able her to do things beyond her own imagination..
During those turbulence times, she opened a small shop in a traditional market near her house.. One time afterward, someone deceive her and cause her unable to continue her shop anymore (the detail is to complex to explained).. But she received it with a great humbleness, saying God had other way.. And so He did.. Later on, a friend of her teach her how to sew and from that day forward she’s become a tailor for daster(again dunno in English)..
She also had twice grave accidents that almost cause her life.. One of it, I still remember the story, is happened when she want to go to sby and she went by travel.. The travel pick her and she sat in the front seat, in the left side of the driver.. After pick up the other passenger, one of them wants to sit in her place.. I guess not many people were willingly to give up their seat for they have sat on it first but my Grandmother gave up her seat and move to the back, behind the driver.. In the way to sby, the car crashed.. the person who took my Grandmother seat died in that accident.. My Grandmother wounded but survive.. She has to be hospitalized though.. there is a real lesson of endurance that i can learned from my Grandmother
If people ask me what is the one that makes her so special among many other quality, I have to say her faith.. She has the biggest faith in God that I ever seen in one person.. She woke up every morning in 4 am to pray and every night she go down on her knees to pray again.. She never start a day and ended a day without talking to God.. What even more astounding, person who see her pray can fall back to sleep because she’s praying very long.. I think her faith can be seen in her character.. She just have the biggest heart and hugging her is felt so secure.. Other things believe it or not but I never see her angry at anyone..
Her biggest influence on me is probably my faith to God.. Not many people know but during my youth time I choose to become agnostic.. I didn’t really said it out loud but my attitude has already proven it.. I refuse to go to church.. I guess my mother tell this to my grandmother and at one point when I’m visiting her in Malang she talk to me.. She didn’t say that I must go back to church or bla bla bla.. No, she tell me about her experience and how God been good on her and never disappointed her.. When she speak you can truly feel her genuine faith and kindness.. And at the end of our conversation, as usual actually, she said that she will pray for me and for all the steps that I took, and may it not be far from God.. Until today I can still remember how she talked and honestly it brought tears in my eyes.. People who ever hear her talking definitely understand my feeling.. Of course I’m not immediately change.. it would take some more process and times.. Even until today I still have some question unanswered.. But no matter what happen, I don’t think I can ever go back to become agnostic or atheis again because I already seen a living proof how God do exist and He influence everyday of our life and I see that in my Grandmother..
I have to say that I felt really blessed that in my life I have the chance not only to know her but become her grandson.. I believe there is no coincidence in this world so I’m grateful God put me as her grandson.. Happy b’day gramz.. so sorry I can’t be in Trawas to celebrate with you..
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