Dedicated to Mom

[amai heian]

Mother's Day may have gone, but it's never too late to show our gratitude to the woman who selflessly gave it all just for us.


It may be a little late for Mother's Day, but it's never too late to show gratitude to the person who devoted her entire life for you.

This was made clear to me last Mother's Day itself, when I was in church together with my parents and sister. As usual, the cathedral--famous for the sheer amount of pilgrims coming every day--was packed, but despite the rain, there was a large number of people outside the church, holding umbrellas, and listening to the priest's words through a speaker installed outside. Since we couldn't get in, we settled ourselves under a tree nearby. When the Mass ended, there was still a large crowd both inside and outside the church, but we managed to get inside in time for another Mass. But during the Homily, I began to feel dizzy. It was probably because of lack of sleep the other night, or the long drive we took to get to the cathedral, or because of the crowd pressing on us from all sides. I thought I could shake it off, so I just leaned on my sister as the priest continued. But it wasn't long before I felt myself losing control of my limbs. Thankfully my parents noticed and helped me out. As we passed by on the way to the exit, I could not believe how concerned and almost panicked their voices sounded. My father went away to get me something to eat, my sister supported me as I went down the stairs, and my mother offered to get some first aid for me. She supported every shaky step I took, and when my legs were about to give way I could feel her almost carrying me. She wasn't very strong, but she never let go of my arms. Even when I felt better she still wouldn't let go, afraid that I might suddenly faint. It was a bit annoying at first, to be treated like I couldn't do it on my own--until I realized that it was motherly love that was binding her to me.

There are times that I get annoyed and sometimes mad at my mother. She would constantly remind me to do all those chores I keep putting off. She would fuss about the smallest details, and always double-check my stuff before I go out. She was always uneasy whenever I asked for permission to go out with my friends alone, and I thought she was being unnecessarily overprotective, but now I appreciate all the times she was at my side whenever I needed her.

Most mothers are like this. And most children behave like I did. But have we ever stopped to consider that what she's doing is for our own sake? At first it may not seem so, but at the end it always does. Mothers are God's special gift to all of us; He gave us the Virgin Mary so that every single one of us would always feel the gentle love of a caring mother.

At that time in church, I was feeling very lonely, like there was no one else that could compare to what I was feeling. But after that incident, my whole family made me feel special even when I don't consider myself to be one.

So everytime I feel annoyed at my parents for some reason, I make it a point to remember that day. It was a small thing, but what they did for me made all the difference.

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In Nomine Domini Nostri Jesu Christi
In the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ