Terima kasih (or, There still is some hope in this world)

Today, during the break in between Tort law class, God made something beautiful happen.

It so happened that Nithya and I went to the nearby 7-Eleven to get some snacks (I'm abstaining from ice-cream and I'm planning to extend that to chips too, by the way). So when we came out and headed back to the Koponas* building, we were rather tired after doing so much walking - not only did we walk to 7-Eleven, but also to KL Sentral for lunch - we made a few trips here and there. So we decided to take the lift.

The lift was still on the third floor.

When the lift came down, there was a family inside. I think there were about five or six people inside. Nithya and I held the lift.

And much to our surprise (and delight), the children looked at us with wide-open eyes and said, "Terima kasih" (Malay for thank you).

We both smiled back.

While in the lift, my usually talkative nature died down, it gave way to a pensive silence.

I'm impressed not only with the children, but also the parents of those children - they brought their kids up pretty well. Their manners were impeccable. And also, with their childlike innocence, they know how to appreciate the good deeds people around them do. With the kind of stress we people of Kuala Lumpur go through during rush hour, how many people would stop and say a simple thank you, let alone smile and give a nod of appreciation ? Hardly anyone does that.

But today, the simple gesture of these children gave me the realisation that there still is some form of hope in this world. Just yesterday, I was crying alone at the computer table, hoping that God would give me some form of hope. Today, He gave it to me - through the act of some two or three young children.

Praise Him.

Sometimes, I wonder if the campaign for courtesy (which was actually launched some two years ago) made a difference. To most Malaysians, it didn't. I mean, of course, to many school-going children and teenagers, it did. But the elders, especially those of Generation Y, don't seem to be affected by it. Oh well...

*KOPONAS = Koperasi Pos Nasional = National Post Cooperation. Brickfields Asia College has classrooms on the first and second floor of the Koponas building.