From Chi Da Thu

Thanks, Kiet.

I just wanted to share some wonderful and bittersweet memories of Dad that I left as comments to what you wrote, in case you don't all read the Blog:

Yeah, I remember the trip from Nha Trang to Saigon in March 75. Dad bought food for us kids but hardly ate himself, to save money so we would have enough to eat. He sacrificed so many things for us and this is one time in such chaotic and fearful condition that I never ever forgot over the years. May God bless his soul and reward him for all his love and sacrifices.

"a ride in the back of the military truck with some soldiers."...Actually, at one time we were walking along the road for lack of transportation. There were dead bodies all over. My feet were bleeding a little from walking and Dad was worried about it. He took off his socks and made me wear them. When Dad found a slow moving military truck full of soliers and others, he threw anh Tu* (Vu~) and me into it, on top of all the people in the truck, hoping at least we would escape. I was only 14. Seeing how Dad worried for us kids, somehow I wasn't that scared, knowing I wasn't on my own, that he was responsible for me and my safety. He is the one who gave me that feeling of security in my life. (When I was growing up, I felt that whatever went wrong, Dad would fix it. If it was my fault, he would yell at me - which he hardly ever did, for I was the perfect little kid (-: but he would make it alright). If anybody could see that, you would understand the love and sacrifice of a father for his children. And I saw it again before he lost his consciousness. Thank God for that and thank God for Dad.

When I visited Dad in the hospital a week before he died, he was in such deteriorating condition and so much pain, even with any little movements that we helped him. But he asked Quoc and me to help him out of bed, to sit him up in the chair for he couldn't move by himself (he was so weak that he slumped in the chair, we had to put pillows to support his back). Then he pointed at his hospital bed and told me it was late (after midnight), that I needed to sleep! He moved from the bed in such severe pain just to insist that I would get into his hospital bed and get some sleep!Such is the love of a father for his children that I was blessed to see again before he died!

Now I realize I have lost the person who loved me the most that he would have given his life to save mine (and that reminds me of another love - Jesus). And I regret all those years I never understood his love for us children so deeply, that I had let little arguments blind me from his love, that I judged him for his shortcomings, his imperfections, the very person who would have given his life to save mine! I looked at the way Huyen loved and supported Dad so unconditionally, even as she said, she didn't always agree with him, and I have such admiration and gratitude for her! I know she didn't live with him all her life and didn't undergo what we would say we have, but she also did not receive all his sacrifices that he made for his kids, either. And that goes for all co duong 6's family. Whether they agreed or not with Dad at times, they did not abandon him, they loved and took care of him. How much I have to learn! I thank God He gave me the chance to see Dad at the end and to let Dad know how I felt, even a little too late and that I could not take back all the years passed.

For all this, I ask God so many times a day, the One who has granted me so much, who always hears my prayers, to bring my Dad to Him and give Dad peace and rest in Him. Thank you, God.