Often we are so reminded of doing good deeds in our lifes--help the underpriveledged, the physically challenged, the sick and aged ,the orphans, the homeless ,the poor and so on and on. Such acts of giving are common in the month of Ramadan or any festive season where corporate bodies will come forward to do their social obligations.
While the government stretches to go miles to see to the needs of every rakyat at all time, the younger generation are reminded to fulfill their filial responsibilities and to go extra miles to donate and contribute back to the society in their own ways. Anyway let me remind my dear listerners that charity starts at home too.
Again in ushering each new year, we would often generally see acts of children seeking parental forgiveness and blessing.They are also taught to forgive others and forget grimances,celebrate in joy and rise to move on. I wish not to be offensive but how much do we undertsand these noble practices/teachings? OR are these merely cultural rituals in every households or mere social gestures that are commonly understood by earthly beings? Does the younger generation cheerish the scarifices made for them by their parents?
How about the love of a mother that goes miles to provide, protect and care for her children till they are grown up and successful? No matter how tiring or weary her life journey is, never a day has a mother groaned in her responsibilties . She only knows how to lie-if you ever notice that.
Have you ever wondered why? Sit back and let me share with you the story of WHY that I have heard along the way. For those who have had heard this story before, take time to reflect its relevancy in our present time and reach out to those lost ones while you still can .
" EIGHT LIES OF A MOTHER~
1.The story began when I was a child; I was born as a son of a poor family. Even for eating, we often got lack of food. Whenever the time for eating, mother often gave me her portion of rice. While she was removing her rice into my bowl, she would say "Eat this rice, son. I'm not hungry." That was Mother's First Lie
2.When I was growing up, the persevering mother gave her spare time for fishing in a river near our house, she hoped that from the fishes she got, she could gave me a little bit nutritious food for my growth. After fishing, she would cook the fishes to make a fresh fish soup, which raised my appetite. While I was eating the soup, mother would sit beside me and eat the rest of the fish meat which was still on the bone of the fish I ate. My heart was touched when I saw it. I then used my chopstick and gave the other fish to her. But she immediately refused it and said "Eat this fish, son. I don't really like fish." That was Mother's Second Lie.
3.Then, when I was in Junior High School, to fund my study, mother went to an economic enterprise to bring some used-matches boxes that would be stuck in. It gave her some money for covering our needs. As the winter came, I woke up from my sleep and looked at my mother who was still awoke, supported by a little candlelight and within her perseverance she continued the work of sticking some used-matches box. I said, "Mother, go to sleep, it's late, tomorrow morning you still have to go for work. " Mother smiled and said "Go to sleep, dear. I'm not tired." That was Mother's Third Lie.
4.At the time of final term, mother asked for a leave from her work in order to accompany me. While the day light was rising and the heat of the sun was starting to get hotter, the strong and persevering mother waited for me under the heat of the sun's shine for several hours. As the bell rang, which indicated that the final exam had finished, mother immediately greeted me and poured me a glass of tea that she had prepared before in a cold bottle. The very thick tea was not as thick as my mother's love, which was much thicker. Seeing my mother covering with perspiration, I at once gave her my glass and asked her to drink too. Mother said "Drink, son. I'm not thirsty!". That was Mother's Fourth Lie.
5.After the death of my father,he died because of illness, my poor mother had to play her role as a single parent. By holding on her former job, she had to fund our needs alone. Our family's life was more difficult. No days without sufferance. Seeing our family's condition that was getting worse, there was a nice uncle who lived near my house came to help us, either in a big problem and a small problem. Our other neighbors who lived next to us saw that our family's life was so unfortunate, they often advised my mother to marry again. But mother, who was stubborn, didn't bother with their advice, she said "I don't need love." That was Mother's Fifth Lie.
6.After I had finished my study and then to get a job, it was the time for my old mother to retire. But she didn't want to; she insisted to go to the marketplace every morning, just to sell some vegetable for fulfilling her needs. I, who worked in the other city, often sent her some money to help her in fulfilling her needs, but she was stubborn for not accepting the money. She even sent the money back to me. She said "I have enough money." That was Mother's Sixth Lie.
7.After graduated from Bachelor Degree, I then continued my study to Master Degree. I took the degree, which was funded by a company scholarship program, at a famous University in America . I finally worked in the company. With a quite high salary, I intended to take my mother to enjoy her life in America . But my lovely mother didn't want to bother her son, she said to me "I'm not used to." That was Mother's Seventh Lie.
8.After entering her old age, mother got a flank cancer and had to be hospitalized. I, who lived in miles away and across the ocean, directly went home to visit my dearest mother. She lied down in weakness on her bed after having an operation. Mother, who looked so old, was staring at me in deep yearn. She tried to spread her smile on her face; even it looked so stiff because of the disease she held out. It was clear enough to see how the disease broke my mother's body, thus she looked so weak and thin. I stared at my mother with tears flowing on my face. My heart was hurt, so hurt, seeing my mother on that condition. But mother, with her strength, said "Don't cry, my dear. I'm not in pain." That was Mother's Eight Lie.
After saying her eighth lie, She closed her eyes forever. "
Amazing mother`s love.How has this story touched you? Like an eagle, when given a chance we will soar up to great heights and often than not we forget our roots , origins and focus.We tend to forget our parents` great scarifices in the name of seeking greater success and comforts.
Likewise my dear listerners and friends, I hope to those who are on their festive rush home are not doing them as just merely cultural gestures or yearly affairs but to remember them as your filial responsibilities .
To those who have not done so well in life yet and choose to evade going home because of no or low budget, do remember parents yearn for your appearance and presence even in state of penniless and nobody.
To those who had never had time to go home because of work business or corporate commitments , do remember the wealth you already have in your hands can be a blessing to others and a reward for your parents` scarifices.
To those who had to withold their duties at their work place,do not despair for parents know best your scarifices. Even your voice in a distance is heard by them with great gratitude.
To those who choose to go for a holiday break with their spouse and children than returning home, do remember your parents` days on earth are numbered- cherish the sweet moments and memories left before they are gone.
Do you know the greatest gift to give for any festive season is your time and prayers. Let me quote and unquote this - ` The perfection in mum`s handsewn baju raya is not in her stitching . Its her love` - what a timely raya wishing from Petronas.
So what would you wish for in this festive season? As for me, I wish I would not see another generation whose places of worhsip are the shopping malls with their vision and mission to possess latest handphones, cars, fashion and ask of them not to dwell into any harmful lifetsyle or doings of any dimension. Whatever it may be, DO NOT be prayer-LESS or fear-LESS but more appreciative, remorse and thankful of who you are and what you have.
Let me leave you with some wise words:-
`We have taken things for granted too much that we stop/fail to apprecitae the sunrise and thank God for that. Let` s be thankful, celebrate and be grateful.`
`We can`t use illegitimate ways to get legitimate things. We complain, compare, covet and quarrelled till our hearts become numb. Eventually we lose the sense of wonder for the important things in life. Is this not worse than TERRORism?`
Have a blessed Raya to all my muslim listerners and Happy Holidays to others.
