Every time I look the picture of the orchid above, I am reminded of some friends who have been special to us from 1983, since Anna and I first met them in Zurich. This orchid or similar to this have been in their homes whenever we visited them.
Hedwig Buchi, whom we met first in Zurich in 1983 was a family friend and became friend of ASHIRVAD. As a teacher she excelled and although affected by Parkinson's disease in a young age she lived well and cheerfully. She trained herself in body relaxation exercises and adjusted to her limitations well. Every time we visited her in her home, she made us feel at home with her hospitality and intense interest in our lives and our calling. She visited us during the time of Arpit's wedding. Hedwig went to her heavenly abode a few years ago.
Theo and Maria Herren were another couple we got to know well since I983. They lived in Philippines and returned to Switzerland when their children had to go to college. Their home was a place of welcome for friends. Their children added charm to their home because of their kind and caring ways. Maria developed dementia and they visited us while we were at CMC Vellore to get some medical help. But she had a quick decline and moved on her to heavenly abode. Theo now in his eighties lives well. He brought the pulpit message at the wedding service of Anandit.
The memories of these three friends return to us often as we shared our life stories with each other in some details and depth. They were listeners and active participants in helping us when we had to choose whether we stayed on at Chennai to continue the development of ASHIRVAD Child Development Centre or relocated at CMC Vellore when the invitation came to establish the Developmental Paediatrics Unit. They enabled us in that transition by staying in touch with us and supporting us to integrate into a larger community at CMC.
Anna and I feel good that Arpit and Anandit have had long years of association with them.
Friendships have different bandwidth and levels. The friendships with three of them were at a heart level where trust and sense of belonging grew each time we met with each other.
Friendships form our lives. Friendships also give a flavour of the goodness of God.
M.C.Mathew (text and photo)
No comments:
Post a Comment