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An Hòa’s dad was
driving his daughter to school one morning, and in the car, he
started, “An, I have something to tell you.”
“That you love
me, right?”
“Right! How did
you know that I was going to say that?”
“Because you say
it so often, Dad.”
“Now, if I don’t
say it often, can you still tell that I love you anyway?”
“Yes,” An replied
without hesitation.
“How?” Dad
inquired.
“There is this
strong feeling,” An replied.
“Well, a strong
feeling can be a part of love. But you know, the main part of love is
something else. For instance, your teacher, Mrs. McKinney, teaches
you all the wonderful things, and she likes seeing you learn. What if
one day, she feels tired and does not feel like coming in to teach,
but she comes in anyway. Does she love you then?”
“Yes,” An said.
“What if I feel
lazy this morning (and you know that I enjoy spending time with you)
and told you, 'An, I love you, so instead of taking you to school then
go to work, I think we should stay home and play your favorite game of
chess.' Would I love you then?”
“Umm, no, you
would only be doing what pleases you.”
“So what is that
called instead of 'love'?”
“Selfishness?”
“Right. Many
people cannot distinguish between selfishness and love. So what do
you think love is, An?”
“Love is doing
something good for other people.”
“Exactly. So
love is an action, then, and not necessarily a feeling. Have you
heard about the earthquake in India, An?”
“No, Dad. What
happened?
“The earth shook
hard, houses fell down on people, and tens of thousands have died.
Can we love them?”
“Sure, but what
can we do?”
“We can pray for
them,” Dad said. “Or, like some students at my University are
collecting money for the victims and their families, we can also
contribute some money. Do you want to do that too, An?”
“Yes, of course,
Dad.”
“How much money
do you have?”
“I still have
three dollars ‘lì xì’ from Tết,” An replied eagerly.
“How much do you
want to give?”
“How about all of
it. Will that be enough?”
“Wow! You know,
in the Bible, there is a story about a person giving everything she
had to others, no matter how much or how little, and Jesus liked that
very much.”
As An Hòa got out
of the car to enter school, she turned to her Dad and said, “Oh, the
money is in my purse. Please give it to the earthquake victims.”
Dad beamed, proud
and moved by his daughter�s gesture. “Thanks, An. You love them by
that action. And I love you.”
“I love you too,
Dad.”
Mercer Island,
Washington
February 5, 2001
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