(Job 37:6-He saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth)
Snow flurries hurriedly filled the bare earth reminding me of the manna which covered the Israelite camp. The ‘ Winter Wonderland’, heard only in song till now, became a dream transformed to reality. Silhouettes of branches etched against the lumninous setting. Forgetful of the biting cold, children were competing with kids in the neighbourhood, bringing to life their first snowman. They turned in when they grew weary of handling the white stuff but with a sense of achievement writ large on their countenance.
This snow land was referred to as the ‘Land of milk and honey’ by my friend. I chuckled. It was a frozen land of biting cold. My thoughts raced across the oceans and continents to the warm earth whose ground I had trod till now. Memories of loved ones flooded my eyes with tears as I sauntered towards my bed. I specially thought of my mother whom death had engulfed not too long ago. The words of Prophet Jeremiah came to my mind “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated You.” (1:5) Also Psalm 139:14-“I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
She was a blessed and wise woman who had the wonderful opportunity of living to see the day of her golden wedding anniversary; visit Israel and analyze its historical and Biblical perspectives in a circular dispatched to friends and family; win an all-India award in essay writing; acquired degree in theology: sing in Tamil for the Pope at Rome along with a group of evangelists who travelled from India; participate in the eucharist even on the last day of her sojourn on earth.
My heart ached. In whom could I confide now? With whom could I share my tears and sorrows? To whom could I reveal the innermost secrets of my troubled heart? Who is there to listen to what I say? Who will raise a voice of protest when injustice in meted out to me? Burying my sobbing face in the pillow, I seemed bereft of any source of comfort when the words of Psalm 71:21 kept ringing in my ears. (Thou shalt increase my greatness and comfort me on every side.)
Rupamathy Hepzibah was one among the six of the illustrious Thangaswamy family of Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli. Her father was the acme of innate goodness, erudite in law and the Bible. He decided to follow Jesus, forsaking the Hindu faith in which he was raised. He was a great admirer of Gandhiji and respected the congress movement. Her mother was a lover of music. She could treat other children as if they were her own. How difficult that must have been! Many who came from the surrounding villages in quest of better education or medical assistance were sheltered for days, weeks, months, and even years under their generosity and hospitality.
My mother learnt classical dancing, carnatic vocal music, veena and the organ. Her long tresses of glossy black hair often swept the ground. Unbelievable but enviable. Rather a quiet personality but excellent in studies, she scored four distinctions in the Intermediate examination. Medicine had to be sacrificed for marriage
Marriage exposed her to a totally different vista. It involved transition from a hot to a cold zone; from noise to quietness; from maximum comforts to minimum requirements; from private to public transport and so on. She ran through a world of adjustments. Her indomitable spirit compelled her to pursue graduation and post- graduation carving a career in teaching in order to augment the family income.
Her thirst for knowledge was unquenchable. The Greek text I bought for study of theology had to be handed to her as I could not fall in line with the Alpha, Beta and Omega. Knowledge of the Bible was her forte. She always advised my children to read at least five verses from the Bible and pray. Don’t ask me how she arrived at the number ‘five”.
Indeed a multi-faceted personality. My girls and I were proud to wear the beautiful dresses she tailored for us. She also did knitting. tatting, Bhatik art and needle work. Each of us had a cross stitch bed spread picturing nursery rhymes. Mine was exceptional as it displayed seven scenes from the story of Snow white and the seven dwarfs’.
Trying out new recipes was something she enjoyed and we were the beneficiaries of the good food.!
She loved everything that grew in God’s earth, even the weeds. Her love for greenery was immense. We’ve always had chrysanthemums, Jasmines, roses in our flower garden and peas, tomatoes, plums, strawberries, potatoes, cabbage, carrots and sometimes cauliflower in our kitchen garden. The varieties of orchids and other potted plants increased annually.
Her zeal for evangelism was great: Till the very end, she communicated the gospel to neighbours, students and colleagues, Bible-reading, significant moments of prayer and the expression of gratitude were certainly practised by her. Though not hardy physically, her mental strength was unimaginable. Of course, she was not a perfectionist. She had her own pit falls, vanities like any other human being, made of flesh and blood. She came to believe “speech is silver, silence is golden’”. Many a time, I have seen her suffering silently-the tragic death of a well-loved son-in-law, the physical agony of ill- health, the disrespect of the younger generation etc. Difficulties were many but not invincible.
Most of all I admire her for the cohesiveness with which she cemented family relationships, always mediating, encouraging, consoling. Her call to eternity urged me to plant my feet on pure, white snow leaving behind the golden sand. We will always cherish the verse of Scripture she engraved in our hearts Isaiah 43:2 (When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned: neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.)
-Malini Prabakar