I was on board back home from Siem Reap, Cambodia. Still feeling melancholic because my holiday is nearing to end, and at the same time, feeling fulfilled for the opportunity that I dated myself alone for the 4 days of travelling. The lady beside me keeps on staring, and I started to feel unsettled. I shy my look away from her and instead, I focused my gaze on the clouds.
"Are you the daughter of Arlene?". She broke my pensive thought upon hearing my mother's name. I nodded and she started to tell her story.
A mother of 3, she's been working abroad for years to bring food on the table and send the kids to school. I thought that she's flying for a holiday. "My husband just passed away. I don't know why but I remember your mother the time when your father died. We were in the same situation then.". I feel like there's a lump on my throat I can hardly swallow. The clouds momentarily blurred as tears started to well. No words came out of my mouth. I reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. That's the best thing I can think of doing to let her know I understand her pain. I listened to her as she poured out her struggles to be in that flight. And I discreetly weeping inside. Her eyes looked weary from days of probably crying. I remember the days after my father's death when it seemed to be so dark I cannot see the clouds. Only the so much anguish of being left behind with words unsaid. Sitting beside her, and the clouds passing by our window, I knew God works in peculiar ways we seldom understand.
The plane landed safely. I reached for my wallet and found the remaining dollars I was supposed to spend for a Khmer massage and fine dining to see an Apsara dance back in Cambodia. I folded it in her palm. She was hesitant, but I insisted.
My friends keep on asking me why I chose to travel in Cambodia. I cannot exactly tell. But I know there's a reason why I have chosen that place, reason why on that exact date of flight, reason why I am on that seat number, reason why I was not able to have that massage and fine dining, reason why I need to feel the hurts of the past, reason why I am on that flight.
God orchestrated things to work for good.
And sometimes, He uses you for all those reasons.
I told my mother all the things that happened on that flight when we had our lunch together. "The past pain is making sense", she tearfully commented.
It's my best flight so far.
