One of my aunties called me today to inform me of a woman's death. Flood of regret crowded my heart. I know I wasn't faithful to the yearning of my heart to appreciate this woman before she joined the world beyond. When I was still younger, this woman was among the few people who showed concern about our welfare until she fell ill and this illness held her down for several years till her death. I visited her twice and for about five years I have not gone to visit her again and she never recovered from this illness.
Last year I asked about her and I learned she was alive and that's where I started having this burden to visit her and appreciate her for all she did and probably show her we didn't take her sacrifice for granted, but I never did until this news came to me. I felt a feeling of betrayal, that I never appreciated her and everyone she probably cared about forsake her when she needed them the most. I never responded to this yearning, I kept procrastinating until it was too late and now I know better why a quick response might save a future regret.
Sometimes our heart suggests something we consider to be awesome but we hesitate to take action and we never get a chance to do it again. I wonder how her family will consider us as people who never visited when she was ill but come to show fake sympathy? Or families that forsake theirs only until something tragic happens. Life is short and this calls for prompt response. If one's heart is troubled over a matter, it's only wise that we answer it quickly to avoid future regrets. I feel bad and ashamed to go stand before her children with teary eyes, no one will even believe it's true because I never showed love to her when she was sick for 5 years as she lay bedridden. It's true that I was busy, it's true that her thoughts crossed my mind, it's also true that I had enough time to have visited her but I never did. I wish I responded to this burden, I wouldn't have been here with a pile of regrets.