Deaths,Taxes and Beauty Of The Earth

Deaths and taxes are 2 things you have to live with and cannot run away from them.

The month of June is our financial year and it is time to do your tax returns. I always hate doing my taxes at this time of the year every year. There are paper work to sort out, deciding what can be claimed and what cannot. Every little interest you earned from your pittance savings have to be declared as income. It is no wonder the “ang mohs” rather prefer to spend all their money than save them up and pay taxes on interest earned.

After sorting out the paperwork, you make an appointment to see the tax accountant to further sort out what is acceptable and what is not. Then some more, eh, you have to pay the accountant for his work and submit your tax returns.

You may asked, “Why don’t you do it yourself?” Well, it is better to let the man do it because he knows what to look for and how to wring every dollar from the taxman. Even though you have an accountant doing your tax return you are still responsible for your tax returns and claims, not him. There are some dodgy accountants who will filed any claims to maximise your tax return not caring whether your claims are legitimate or not. After all the responsibilities are your and not them.

Earlier this year there are 2 deaths, my uncle and Mary Morgan. That would be enough to make you sad. Yesterday we received 2 phone calls informing us the death of 2 friends. That makes 4 deaths so far. It was sad but it is something we cannot change or avoid. Death has no respect for anyone. It treats everyone equally. Kings, Presidents, Princes and Princesses Prime Ministers, millionaires, man in the street, beggars, housewives, husbands and children etc. are all treated equally. When the roll is called and your time is up, you have to meet your Maker.

Jimmy died of a stroke on Tuesday. He had high blood pressure but he refused to take any medication. He believed in leaving his fate in God’s hand. He believes when your number is up it is up. He believed you cannot change your destiny. Yes, man, even with or without medication.

Alice died of cancer. We know her for a short 4 years when we moved to the church we currently worship in. A few years ago, she beat the cancer in her and was in remission. But since last year the cancer came back and it came back with a vengeance. Alice fought against it with no complains. She was always cheerful and generous even though she was in pain and ever ready to thank God for her suffering. She died on Monday having lost the fight. She was ready to meet the Lord, her creator, her God in a heavenly home where there are no tears or suffering.

All this brings me back to reality. No amount of money or tears can bring back your love ones. Every day is a bonus to me. I will never know when my number is up. Every morning I wake up I thank the Lord for another day. I thank for his blessing and good health. I make every effort to live my life to the fullest - enjoy the fresh air, the cold weather, the sunshine, smell the flowers, driving through the crazy traffic, accepting and understanding my cranky boss, enjoy my hobbies, enjoy the food I eat, enjoy my friends and families companionship, not worrying about the mullah or working long hours to chase them. It is not worthwhile having plenty of it and not spending more time loving the people around you. I will more spent time with wife, understanding and appreciating her dedication and love, for accepting me for what I am and accommodating my sometime cranking moods. I thank God for giving me such a wonderful, understanding and loving wife. As for my friends and family members, I will be more patient with them if they do not write or respond to my blogs or emails. I am sure they are busy too. I promise I will be more patience and lend a helping hand wherever I can.

Lastly I want to tell you all who read this blog, “I love you! Yes, I love you!” I guess you never expected it, enjoy it while you can, you and I will never know what tomorrow brings.

For the beauty of the earth
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.

Refrain

Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour,
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon, and stars of light.

Refrain

For the joy of ear and eye,
For the heart and mind’s delight,
For the mystic harmony
Linking sense to sound and sight.

Refrain

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild.

Refrain

For each perfect gift of Thine,
To our race so freely given,
Graces human and divine,
Flowers of earth and buds of Heaven.