By Goldie Chong
We visited Tek’s parent’s graveyard during our stay in Melaka and noticed various epitaphs engraved on the tombstones. I recall having chosen my epitaph years ago but I do not think I need it anymore. The reason is both Tek and I have bequeathed our bodies to the university for research* so there will be no tombstone. My parents did the same and we think it is the best way to dispose of our bodies. Besides benefitting medical science, the university held a most meaningful and dignified memorial service for relatives and set up a plaque of the donors’ names in a memorial garden.
Although I will not have a tombstone I would still like to be remembered with these words: “she did what she couldn’t” tweaked from Mark 14:8 where this woman came and anointed Jesus with expensive perfume. Jesus commended her saying, “she did what she could”. I feel I not only did what I could but I actually did what I naturally and normally couldn’t do the “good works which God prepared in advance for me to do” Eph.2:10 because the resurrected Christ enabled me to do more than what I was able.
Someone said regretfully, “when I came to die, I discovered I had not lived”. Would you like to consider what epitaph you would like to have? What would summarize your life?
*Ask the Australian universities’ Dept. of Anatomy for details, forms to sign, etc.
