Ninety not out
According to God’s Holy Word, the book of Proverbs states that, “long life is the reward of the righteous and grey hair is a glorious crown that He bequeaths.”
These thoughts that flitted across my mind, I wish to express my sentiments, good wishes and blessings to one who is much loved and cherished. She is none other than my eldest sister Joyce Euphemia Lilitha Fernando (nee Perera), whom I consider as my second mother, a caring sister - Loku Akka, my friend and confidante and, also my counsellor.
I was her kid sister who used to cuddle up beside her and sleep, and who was looked after with great love and care, until her beloved life’s partner, Hillary Arnold Eric Fernando, son of Mr. E.C. Fernando, Assistant Conservator of forests and Mrs Julie Fernando, carried her away from all of us. I vaguely remember the day she left our home as a radiant bride - a beautiful elegant maiden, walking up the aisle of that majestic church of the Holy Emmanuel, Moratuwa. I was her little flower girl, just three years old, holding on to her beautiful long veil. All this was too overwhelming for me that I shot up a fever for no rhyme or reason. This showed how much my sister meant to me. Feelings were mutual and she too left her home to make her nest with her loved one, amid sobs and tears leaving a big void in our home.
Their wedded life was a blessed union, gifted with three stalwart Sons and three pretty daughters. She was very fortunate to travel around the country, as her husband was serving in the department of forestry. They had their first home in Mathugama and then moved to Miliduwa to Batticaloa to Galle and so on and so forth. They say that “life’s sweet music is not complete without a chord of pain” and so, we saw that the going got rough and tough and her beloved Hillary was taken away from her at a tender early age of thirty two years. She could hardly hold herself as she recovered from the trauma. She came back to her paternal ancestral home ‘Silvermere” in Moratuwa back to her parents and her supportive family around her, and also the loyal domestic helpers who rallied round her in caring for her young family.
Life was hard and very demanding, especially bringing up six very young children at a time they needed the love and support of a father. But life as we know does not always flow along the path that we map out, but rather that we fall in line with what life bestows on us.
With all these nightmares and frightful dreams, it was amazing to see her unwavering faith in her Creator and Sustainer. She is a living testimony to all of us and our faith in God was strengthened by the way she lived her life and brought up children in the fear and nurture of the Lord. Her children grew up to be God fearing and reached up to her expectations in life. She has been blessed with grand children who have excelled in the fields of medicine and banking and also with two cherubs like great grandchildren. These, along with the children who joined the family over the years, are the jewels of her crown and, one could truly say “her children can call her blessed.” My sister on her part, can sing the beautiful evergreen hymn “All that I need Thy hand hath provided…Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord un to me!”
As I see her now, I could still see the radiance and beauty of her being and, I quote from a poem delivered from the pulpit many years ago, called “The Weaver”, which epitomises her life.
Their wedded life was a blessed union, gifted with three stalwart Sons and three pretty daughters. She was very fortunate to travel around the country, as her husband was serving in the department of forestry
Not until every loom is silent And the shuffles cease to fly, Doth God unroll the pattern And explain the reason why. The dark threads are as needful In the Weaver’s skillful hands, As the threads of gold and silver For the pattern He has planned. He knows, He loves, He cares, Nothing this truth can dim. He gives His very best to those Who leave the choice with Him. With all these thoughts and sentiments filled with nostalgia, I wish to say ‘God Bless you and keep you safe in the hollow of His palms and, may you have the best that life could give, my dearest Loku Akka’
Chitra R. L. Fernando