Why Women Cry...

A little boy asked his mother, "Why are you crying?"
"Because I'm a woman," she told him.
"I dont understand," he said.
His mom just hugged him and said,
"And you never will."

Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?"
"All women cry for no reason," was all his father could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.
Finally he prayed to God who would surely know the answer.

When God responded he asked, "God, why do women cry so easily?"
God said:

"When i made the woman she has to be made special.

I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet gentle enough to give comfort.

I gave her inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children (and her husband).

I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining.

I gave her sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her badly.

I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes test her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly.

And lastly, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers and only hers exclusively to use whenever she needs it. She needs no reason, no explanation, it's hers."

"You see my son," said God, "the beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart - the place where love resides."

This chain letter was dedicated by Puan Apsah to all the women who attended BAG Networks' International Women's Day last Saturday.

*(text) added by Puan Apsah.

The highlight of the event was the speech given by Datuk Dr Jemilah from Mercy Malaysia. She is one kind of a character, very 'blunt' person as she puts it herself. She bluntly told us that she can come up with a disaster plan for Kampong Ayer after a half day visit; the 1st issue being 'how many of the women and children of Kampong Ayer know how to swim?'. She challenged the women of Brunei to step out of their comfort zones, to reach out to the community and offer assistance wherever required. She talked about the great imbalance between human suffering and those offering help, advocating humanitarian aid in any form; whether through financial contributions, volunteering help, spreading the word, non-material donations, etc.

Her cause was strongly supported by a video of Mercy Malaysia's mission across countries striken by war and natural disasters. Any woman cannot help but feel a tug at her heart strings when watching images of babies and toddlers starve to death, falling victims to wars they know nothing of, people losing their family and a place where they are supposed to feel safe; a place they call home.

Some of us may feel very disturbed and traumatised when watching these images and choose to look away, shut our ears and not speak of it hoping it will not scar the beautiful world that we live in. But really, which is the real world?

Alot of questions were thrown at Dr Jemilah on the hurdles along her way, the compromise of her family life, and the work she has done.

One lady in the audience asked how did she get her husband's approval. She smiled and said proudly, "By marrying the right man". Someone once asked her husband,
"Why do you let your wife do all that?" (go on missions for months, travelling on behalf of UN, etc)
His response was, "Because i cant do what she does. Can you do what she does? If you can, please do it so she can stay home."

At the end of the day, the thoughts of making a difference lingered in most of us. Women are compassionate and soft like that. One of my friends who also attended the event, asked if i would like to contribute to their Angels Net. and without hesitation i said Yes. They basically identify families that are in need and aid them on an ongoing basis, and that's what's important.. the commitment to help long term. We often question ourselves, what can i do? i want to help but where do i start? There are many public and non-govt organisations in brunei with similar programmes. It's all about taking that first giant step.

.with Dr Jem (2nd from left).

"The greatest use of our life is to use it on something that will outlast it."