Inspiration did not come for a very long time. I could not think of anything more significant than my sister's death to talk about. And the pain of my sister's death was too fresh for me to have anything inspiring to tell.
So, I rehashed my eulogy and made it fit the 5-7 minute requirement.
I decided to join at the last minute. And I "won" the Area Contest with flying colors. Uhm, the fact that I was the only contestant helped me attain this victory.
And then, the tough part was delivering it at the next level, the Division Contest.
I rehashed and rehearsed this speech, said it out loud maybe about fifty times. Maybe more. In some ways, all that rehashing has been therapeutic. It has certainly helped me process the pain and the regrets. I would cry and break down at some parts, and I was afraid of bawling in the middle of my speech in front of the Division audience. But I try to follow through with my promises always, so I went through the contest even though I had to go through the most nerve-wracking afternoon of my life.
During the speech contest, my voice broke down just a teeny weeny bit close to the end, but I composed myself, went on, and finished the speech. And won the first runner-up place. Winning in the contest was not the point of this exercise, so that prize was a very welcome and motivating bonus.
Here is the speech:
Three Gifts
International Prepared Speech by
Gege Sugue
What was the best gift you’ve ever received? My sister Rita
gave me 3 amazing gifts. Let me share them with you.
September 21, 2011. I was conducting a training workshop
when my brother called to tell me that our younger sister Rita was brought into
the Intensive Care Unit. The tumor in her brain had ruptured, filling half of
her brain with blood. I immediately knew that I immediately had to be with her.
Yes, I had a responsibility to complete my workshop, but I knew nothing was
more important than being with Rita and the rest of my family. I needed to focus on what was important.
Rita taught me to focus on family. Six years before her
coma, I accompanied her to Boston for a brain surgery. The surgeon explained the
procedure, advised us on what to expect, and warned us that there was a
possibility that after surgery, Rita was to wake up different. She might lose
her memory, or some of her faculties, or even the ability to walk or to talk.
So we promised her that as soon as she awakened, we were to speak with her. To
check.
When she woke up, the first two words she said were Anton
and Jonas. The names of her son and her husband. And then she knew she was
going to be okay. Everything was going to be alright. Didn’t matter if she lost
big chunks of her memory. Didn’t matter if she would move a little differently.
She still knew the most important words to her—Anton and Jonas.
Rita taught me
to focus on family.
You see, I want many things in life—my dream house, my dream
car, my dream vacation, my dream career.
Even my dream body. *smirk* How frustrated I have been not always
getting what I wanted. Well, Rita reminded me that when I have my family, I am
blessed, I have all that I need. Rita gave me that gift—a refocused life.
But that wasn’t all she gave me. Rita gave me a second gift:
recharged passions.
In the hospital, Rita lay unresponsive. But our family was
with her. Rita’s friends, family, in-laws, colleagues came to visit, to pray, to
be with her. They spoke fondly of her. Of how great she was as a friend, how
diligent a student, how excellent a leader. They said she was the best employee,
most supportive boss, a reliable mentor. People said she was an awesome mom,
sister, daughter. Everybody respected
and adored her because she did things well. She did things with heart. With
passion.
So even through the ordeal in the hospital, even as Rita’s
conditions worsened, she still inspired me to be a better wife, sister, daughter,
aunt, friend, teacher, trainer—just to be the best I could possibly be in
whatever I do. Rita recharged my
passions.
Rita’s 3rd gift: A restored faith.
As I was in the hospital, her son, my godson Anton would
come to visit. I looked at him and thought of the possibility of him growing up
without a mom. And I felt it totally unfair that I, who had no child, was going
to live.
Let me tell you about our family. My parents produced seven
children. We were a very close family. We had to be close. Because my family’s
way of saving money was to let us all sleep in one bedroom. All seven kids and
two parents. So at night, the master’s bedroom would be converted into a
refugee camp with mattresses strewn all over the floor and the children packed
together like sardines. In the morning, we would wake up with somebody’s butt
on somebody’s nose and somebody’s foot in somebody’s mouth. We were that close.
And I loved it.
And so even as a child, I had dreamt of having a big family
of my own.
But after years of marriage, I still did not have a
child, I prayed and prayed to God for even just one. And somehow, I felt and
heard in my heart that God promised me a son, my own flesh and blood. So I held on to that promise. I waited and waited. And
waited. But when I hit my 40s and still had not conceived, I felt
frustrated. My faith wavered. And I started believing that I prayed to a God
who did not listen, did not answer.
And as I was in that hospital room looking at Anton, it
dawned on me that, seven years ago, God had already answered my prayers. When
my sister gave me the privilege of being Anton’s godmother, God gave me
somebody I could love and care for as a son. My own flesh and blood. I realized
that God has answered my prayer all along. And I had no reason to doubt. My faith was restored.
Rita has given me back my faith. And it’s the faith that
tells me that someday Rita and I will see each other in heaven. Yes, sadly,
after 10 days in coma, Rita’s body succumbed and her spirit went to heaven. But
not without her first giving me her three gifts—a refocused life, recharged
passions, and a restored faith. Thank you, Rita.
Today, I tell you Rita’s story to
share with you her gifts and in turn, inspire you
to refocus your life,
to recharge your passions, and
to strengthen your faith.
Good afternoon.
Image stolen from: http://www.chow.com/galleries/261/new-years-hangover-brunch#!5320/chile-cilantro-hash-browns
