Mariammah grateful for being able to provide for her children despite earning a low income

What say you on the issue below?

THERE has never been any roast turkey dinner, let alone a feast at some fancy restaurant for S. Mariammah and her children during Christmas.

For them, the celebration consists of a simple meal of thosai with chicken curry at their humble low-cost flat in Tambun.

“My children told me they cannot wait to taste my special chicken curry.

“It is really nothing special. It is just something that I cook each year during Christmas,” she said.

Simple life: Mariammah putting up the decorations on a Christmas tree at her home in Tambun Flats. With her is youngest daughter A. Rajiswari, 16.

The 47-year-old widow and single mother earns about RM550 each month as a cleaner to bring up her three young children, including a daughter who is hyperactive and a slow-learner.

She has two older children who are married and living elsewhere.

“It doesn’t matter that we can’t have a grand feast.

“We are happy to be blessed with a home, to have clothes to wear and food on the table,” she added.

Mariammah said her children were looking forward to try on some clothing given to them by generous donors.

“We are really grateful to them.

“It has been difficult for the entire family ever since my husband died two years ago,” she said.

Church members from Our Mother of Perpetual Help had given her a helping hand.

Mariammah said she hoped her children would also help the needy when they are financially independent some day.

“I hope they will be like the Good Samaritans who have helped us,” she said.