By TAY TIAN YAN
Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE
Sin Chew Daily

Father's Day should be celebrated gratefully and joyfully. However, I was informed that a friend from afar passed away on the eve of Father's Day.

I felt lost. He was a father of three and it had inevitably left a regrettable Father's Day to his children.

To all fathers and children, please do not leave any regrets if possible.

As a father, if you are given a chance, what would you do for your children? What would you say to them?

As a child, what would you do for your father? What would you say to him?

These are questions I would occasionally think about. However, it is always two different things to think and do. It is because we always think that we still have many chances to put words into actions!

It reminds me of the movie My Life.

A successful career middle-aged man was getting ready to welcome a child when his wife was pregnant.

He was really lucky if he was not diagnosed with kidney cancer which would possibly take his life in four months.

All of a sudden, he fell to the bottom from the cloud nine and everything would be disappear, particularly his beloved wife and the expecting child.

He really wished that he could witness the moment when his child was born, accompany his child to grow up and teach him everything worthy of pursuing in life. However, these little wishes could never be achieved.

He was in extreme anger and frustration. Later, he decided to make a video to tell his child all about himself, including what he did, and what he liked and disliked.

He even showed the proper way to shave and told his child that he should shave up to down and not left to right, as well as how to play football and which team to be supported.

He would no longer be there when his child was born, but he must let his child know about him.

His love for his child was derived from his hatred for his father.

When he was a child, he always felt that his father was too busy working and neglected him. It was his childhood shadow. He had a poor relationship with his father and thus, he ran away from home to avoid his father.

Before the end of his life, he decided to contact his father as he wanted to know why his father had cold-shouldered him.

When he met his father, only then he knew that he father actually loved him, but just did not know how to express it. He also started to understand that he left home because he was so desired of his father's love and he chose to run away as he was afraid of being hurt.

Along the path heading to the end of his life, he gradually untied the knot and resolved the anger and fear. He also started to accept and forgive.

He restored relationship with his father and the belated paternal affection was a salvation to him.

At the last moment of his life, he heard the heartbeat of his expecting child and saw a new hope of life.

He devoted and received love and there was nothing to be regretted.

It is an inspiration for all fathers, as well as children. Have a happy and blessed Father's Day!