To what lengths would one go to celebrate the birthday of their loved ones? Would you bring your loved ones to the best restaurant in town? Buy her a diamond jewelry? Spend your entire fortune on them? Would you?

After Brendan’s concert today, I went to dinner with Papa, Mummy and Clarence. As I was eating, I witnessed a person with down syndrome, celebrating the birthday of her grandmother. I can’t be sure of her age, since she’s with down syndrome, but my guess would be around 15-25. She was holding to this transparent plastic box which are used for packing kuehs, and inside was a single slice of cake. It was obvious the cake was cheap, most probably from a stall in the food court. There was a single lighted candle in the cake as she brought it to the table her grandmother was at. I wanted to take a picture of them but I didn’t. Wanted to freeze this moment of immense love but I couldn’t. We left the food court approximately the same time as them, and as we left, I saw her holding onto a stalk of rose, presumably for her grandmother.

This simple action of the girl holding onto the slice of cake and walking towards her grandmother almost brought time to a standstill. It’s like a scene on television where everything moves at half the speed. That was the exact feeling I had as she was walking past. The look of innocence on her face, the joy, the love. And as the candlelight flickered away, you could almost see the life of these two people flash past. The love binding the relationship between a granddaughter and her grandmother. How much further they have gone in life as compared to anyone in that time and situation, to dedicate their lives to one another. That is how much they would go to show their love.

There’s just too much pain in this simple action of seeing someone with such a disability performing such a sweet act. It tears my heart apart because I want it so much just to go forward and buy them a big cake. Something both of them love. A chocolate cake maybe. Buy them so much food they’ll have to ask me to stop. Buy gifts for the grandmother and the girl to show them they have other people besides themselves who love them. Hug and kiss them. Get their contact number and maybe their address so I can do a part in loving and taking care of them.

Maybe the reason why I feel so bad is because I’m disappointed with my lack of courage to do this. Disappointed with my lack of love. Disappointed that these are only thoughts that will never materialise. If actions speak louder than words, are worth a thousand words, then all these useless thoughts are nothing more than the dirt that everyone steps beneath their feet. Worthless. Unhelpful. Meaningless.

All I hope and pray is for God’s blessing to be upon them in every single step of their lives. Although that is of no use, no help and no act of love on my part, God’s blessing is the best thing anyone can receive. It doesn’t make me feel any less remorseful, but I hope they will be blessed forever until they return to the house of the Lord, where I’ll sincerely apologise for my act of selfishness.

A slice of cake, a candle, a stalk of rose. A multitude of love in eternity.

That is how much I would go for all those I love.

And I pray I would learn to go this far for strangers one day.