Christmas for Father

 Shoonyin's Diary 

Christmas has always been inseparable from Christmas trees, decorations, and gifts. I remember that year, my father told me he wanted to become a Christian and asked me to contact my brother to arrange for a pastor to mentor him.

The year after his baptism, I arranged for him to spend his first Christmas at home with all his grandchildren in Miri. The house was decorated with a large Christmas tree, ornaments, and gifts.

That was also the first and last time I planned Christmas for him and his grandchildren. Later that year, my mother had a stroke, and I was busy with daily chores and had no time for anything else. Moreover, I was very poor at the time and had to work overtime every day just to barely earn some money.

I was not a devout Christian, but the Buddha's teachings had always resonated with me.

A poor man asked Buddha: Why am I so poor?

Buddha said: You have not learned to give to others.

Poor man: How can I give when I have nothing?

Buddha: A person with nothing can also give others seven things.

Verbal Care: Speak words of praise and comfort;

Emotional Care: Open your heart to accept others;

Eye Care: Give others friendly looks;

Physical Care: Help others with your actions;

Seating Care: Offer your seat;

Space Care: Be willing to make room for others.

I believe that, in the teachings of Christ, this is equivalent to:

"Love your neighbor as yourself"

.聖誕節一直都離不開聖誕樹、裝飾和禮物。我記得有一年，父親告訴我他想成為基督徒，並請我聯絡哥哥，安排一位牧師來指導他。

在他受洗後的第二年，我安排他與所有在美里的孫輩們一起在家度過他的第一個聖誕節，家裡擺放著一棵大聖誕樹，還有裝飾品和禮物。

那也是我第一次也是最後一次為他和他的孫子們籌劃聖誕節。那年晚些時候，我母親中風了，我忙於日常家務，無暇顧及其他。而且，我當時非常窮，每天都得加班才能勉強賺到一些錢。

我並非虔誠的基督徒，但佛陀的教導卻一直縈繞在我耳邊。

一位窮人問佛陀：我為何如此貧窮？

佛陀說：你還沒學會布施。

窮人：我一無所有，如何施捨？

佛陀：一無所有的人也能施捨七樣東西。

臉部關懷：微笑著做事；

言語關懷：說些讚揚和安慰的話語；

心靈關懷：敞開心扉接納他人；

眼神關懷：給予他人友善的目光；

身體關懷：用行動幫助他人；

座位關懷：主動讓座；

空間關懷：樂於為他人騰出空間。

我認為，在基督的教導中，這相當於：

「愛人如己」。