As a young mother, always learning (when I am awake enough
to), I cherish the advice and stories from experience told to me by older or
more experienced mothers. The lessons are endless, the epiphanies often and the
support cherished. Most of what I take in is from my own mother, who as you
probably know had seven (yes, seven) children. In my eyes she achieved a
standard of motherhood I can only pray to reach one day. To this day, with all
her babies grown up with families of their own, she continues to mother.
Whether it be my daily messages or phonecalls asking a rather wide variety of
questions, or the check-in messages I get from her when she knows I'm probably
having a tough time. Gifts that she doesn't need to give but wants to give
without ever, not once, wanting something in return. Space, also, when I'm
angry with myself or the world that I just need to process on my own. Aside
from being my mother, she is also my best friend. She knows me and above all,
cares about me. So much more than she cares for herself. I never understood how
she could be so selfless until I became a mother. I never understood her
sacrifices until I had to make some too. I never understood just how much she
loved me until I loved babies of my own. I know that over the years I will feel
that more and more, and she will just love more and more. Words cannot
adequately describe the appreciation and love I have for my mother. I just hope
that one day, my own girls will understand too just how much I love them.
So, aside from a glowing review on the best woman in my life that I will make
her print (not sure how yet), I also wanted to say how tables can turn.
We young learn from the old. But, in turn, the old remember from the young. The
relationship that exists is not purely for the benefit of the youngest, but for
the benefit of all. I love how talking about what I'm going through, reminds my
mum of all those times in her life. Reminds her of the happy long-ago moments
when she was going through a stage of life I'm in now. The best example I can
give is children in nursing homes, playing and interacting with the elderly. It
makes everyone so happy. The elder, because they feel younger for remembering
being young. And the younger for learning from the elder. Life works not just
for the benefit of the next generation, but in the benefit for all (if society
will do it right). Learning the love we receive from the elder, makes us love
them more also and want to repay that love at a time when it is needed.
As babies our needs take everything from the one nurturing us, how is it not
equal but to give back when they then need it too.
I pray that all generations learn the love they have received and respect those who gave it. I hope that every person out there needing a reminder of
younger days, of happy memories, will have someone there to show them. I hope
that everyone who nurtured, gets nurtured in turn. Because at some stage of our
lives, be it from a parent, grandparent, teacher or friend, we have all been
taught and we have all been loved.
If you can't think of anyone who was there then or is there now, just remember
our greatest teacher and nurturer, our greatest giver of love, is God. Whoever
needs love, will always have love. Whoever needs a friend, will always have a
friend. Whoever needs a parent, will always have a parent.
But today I just wanted to use my manners and say please and thankyou.
Please, help others.
Thankyou, for helping others.
