A Mother's Providence

Look at her now, she’s aged, she’s pale and almost dying but she by no means minds her condition just to carry you in all your needs and even your wants. She thrives all day long to clean the things you mess up, to prepare foods for you, to prepare the clothes you’re going to wear, to wash the plates you’ve used and just after the sun sets, she looks rugged but she still do the chores for you. In fact you only see her as a ‘maid’ but mind you, if she’s your ‘maid’, you’ve chosen the best maid huh! Where can you find a maid that is willing to work her life for you in no cost? Where can you find a maid that is there when you are in deep emotional problem and even when you’re weak? Where can you find a maid that is willing to observe your footsteps and correct them when they step wrongly? People, she’s more than a maid, she’s your mother!

She never bothers even her hands roughen, she never bothers even her skin turns into scales, she never bothers even her lovely face turns into a witch-like one. She never bothers because she knows all of these hardships are for your sake. Daughters and sons, she minds you!

Your mother who actually witness your first breath, your first step, your first word, your first crawl and at night, she’s sleepless just to prepare your ‘dede’. She even role as your first teacher and the reason behind your silly lines and curves drawn on your walls—your ‘happy family drawing’ that looks like sticks remember that? And the first time you sing the alphabet song?

She’s also there watching you as you grow up: as you learn how to spell your name, as you learn how to add, subtract, multiply and divide, as you learn to name different species, as you learn how to speak English and when you graduated your elementary days, she walks with you in the aisle until you both reach the stage to get your diploma and waves a good farewell to your childish elementary days to welcome your high school life. Look how things happen and notice your mother never let each day pass unless she hasn’t hug you nor kiss your cheeks nor listen to your fancy stories in midnight until you close your eyes in prayer.

But when you entered high school, a great shake twisted your life. Now you’re conscious to accept hugs and kisses from her, now things appeared corny when she asks you about your problems, your crush and your love life, now you chose to sleep in a separate room unlike before when you sleep with her and have some stories with her until you both sleep in a prayer. And sometimes you’re bragging about something you want that your mother can’t give and you will shout on her so she will slap your face until she finds you packing your things up and leaving your house. Did you ever think that it cause her a deep depression? Did you ever think that she couldn’t give you what you want because she has nothing to offer? Did you ever find out the reason why she slaps your face is to show you that you’re wrong? And there she’s alone waiting for you to comeback home.

Maybe, this could be the nicest reason for you to turn again on her, come back home, and ask for forgiveness for she will gladly accept you home. Or for those who never experienced this, you can still ask for forgiveness on her for your shortcomings and disobedience. And thank her for the great things she’ve done in your life. Kiss her in her cheeks, hug her jut like what you did before and tell her, Mom, HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! I love you!

Why wont offer the best for our mother this day? This is their day! Can’t we do their daily chores to free them from their sweat? Can’t we treat them to fast food or malls and have some fun there? Remember, this is their day, GIVE THE BEST EXPIRIENCE they could have in a year.

To all mommies, gandma, tita and to my mother, HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

Try to read this poem from Dr Dixie Chua written in her book, ‘Footprints in the Snow’

When I was just a little girl

With long hair tied into a pony tail

Sitting next to Mother in a stool

Holding tightly to her knitting wool

She said the company I gave then

Would someday given to a young man

Who would court me for my hand

And build a nest with me in Wonderland

With childlike devotion and disbelief

I proclaimed my desire short and brief,

“I will never leave you alone

Or this one we called our own.”

She smiled and sighed, but she was right

One by one her children took their flight

To all parts of the world they would scatter

And never did they came back together

Rocking by the fire she prayed

For each of them in his or her place

Where God has called them to do his will

With faith and love His tasks to fulfill

When she was old and weak

She trusted that God would meet

Her needs and providing help and care

And someone, her lonely days to share

A young strong arm to lead her way

And warm gentle smile given everyday

Through someone else’s daughter and son

Where her own far beyond the horizon

-Dr. Dixie Chua