Love of others is like quilting

2013-12-26 17:05

Love of others is like quilting

Lee Eung-tae
I believe others make us better people by sharing pieces of their personalities, their hobbies and their emotions with us.
Undoubtedly, their sweet fragrance is more than enough to warm our hearts. And the world will turn out to be a better place when we feel that hospitable atmosphere around us. I feel strong bonds whenever I am reminded of those people. A happy life is the process of building the bonds which change us into someone new.
We teachers go through many changes every March. Some teachers transfer to other schools, while others stay at the same school but assume different jobs.
So we come to meet new colleagues every year. And keeping a good relationship with people sitting around us is vital for a happy office life because we have to be together for a year.For that reason, whenever the semester is coming to a close, we get emotional and gloomy at the thought of parting ways with our beloved colleagues and anxious at the worrisome expectation of meeting strangers. As for me, I am particularly sad at the thought of the departure of two female teachers who have offered me boundless kindness and affection.
Just like white daffodils blooming below a shady rock, their affectionate small talk has always brightened my cold heart. To some extent, I feel guilty because I was so accustomed to their kindness that I became immune and took their goodwill for granted.
Ms. Lee teaches Korean. She and I came together four years ago. We happened to share the same office since then. While working together, we came to know each other so well and bonded very closely. Whenever I felt blue or under the weather, her suggestion for a cup of tea was good enough to put me in high spirits.
Particularly, she has been practicing meditation to purify her spirit for many years. For that, she always looks calm and peaceful with affectionate eyes.
Thanks to her, I learned the preciousness of living a humble life, the futileness of greedily seeking money and the real essence of life. I found, in spite of myself, my life has changed into hers, emulating her loving virtue.
Ms. Han teaches English. She came to our office this year after two years of maternity leave, during which she stayed in the U.S with her family because of her husband’s job.
So, at first she looked unnatural in accommodating herself to rather conservative circumstances. Sometimes, we could perceive her flush in red after unconsciously making hearty American-style talk, for which we sometimes teased her.
But soon, just like a gem covered with dirt, her loving virtue began to shine all over the office when the dust of misunderstanding was blown away.
Her cute English and witty talk became the pleasure we expect from her every day. She is very skillful at handicrafts such as quilting, knitting and creating artwork.
Personally, I am deeply indebted to her for allowing me to savor the new experience in my life: how to quilt. She kindly taught me how to trim, mark the stitch line and avoid the tuck in the corner.
Though probably being laughed at as a freak because quilting is regarded as a woman’s job, I felt great after I made a nice bag for my daughter. Of course, my daughter told me it was the greatest Christmas gift of her life.
In a couple of months, we have to say goodbye to each other and we will live our lives in different places. Even though I feel sad, I am deeply grateful to the two ladies who allowed me to savor their loving virtues. Whenever I am reminded of them, I feel enormous warmth in my heart, which will render a great inspiration in my life.
The writer is a teacher in Gimhae Girls’ High School in South Gyeongsang Province. His email address is eungtae@gmail.com