388,800.
Please bear with me as I request you to simply stop what
you are doing, to sit down and to close your eyes for one minute. Don’t move. Relax
and just enjoy the peaceful silence around.
OK. Stop.
Did you know that what you just did amounts to the same one
minute of time you have spent inside your mother’s womb. So to cover the full
nine months of natural conception, we have to spend 388,800 minutes of silent
darkness where we can relax and feel completely safe. Yes, that is 388,800
minutes of absolute serenity.
But outside our protected comfort zone, a slew of
challenging events were happening to our respective mothers. Morning sickness,
lost of appetite, mood-swings due to hormonal imbalances for starters. Then,
her body pains starts as the womb starts to grow. Insecurity and anxieties are
likely part of her daily thoughts. Does she stop working? No way. If she is
employed, she will still wake up early to prepare everything including for her
husband and other children. She will still walk a few distance to where the
jeepney or tricycle stops for passengers. Through all the bumps and humps,
potholes and detours, she steadily hold onto something with one hand while
covering his mouth by the other to avoid inhaling dusts and smoke. If she stays
at home, she still cleans the house, wash and iron clothes, prepares the next
meal. She does this day in and day out.
At the moment of birth, whose warm body comforted us as
we cried? Hers.
Whose milk pacified us from crying with hunger? Hers.
Whose embraces and kisses kept us warm? Hers.
Whose voice did we first hear whispering the words “My
baby!”, “You are so beautiful!” and “I love you!”? Hers.
Whose lullabies and hums put us to sleep every night?
Hers.
As our sights began to open up, whose smiling face did we
see first and oftentimes? Hers.
Whose distorted and funny facial expressions brought out our
first giggles and laughter? Hers.
As we learn to move parts of our body, whose hands were
always there to guide us? Hers.
When we started to
walk, whose cheers encouraged us to keep rising every time we fell? Hers.
As we started experiencing hurts and pains, whose
comforting presence came to our rescue? Hers.
As an inquisitive
child wondering about everything around us, whose answer do we often seek then?
Hers.
When we started to learn how to pray, whose patient
tutorials led us to memorize these? Hers.
As years passed by, we did grow up, from bubbly toothless
children to pimple-conscious teenagers to idealist young adults graduating from
studies to a promising professional looking up the corporate ladder of success.
And whether we found our future-spouse or pursued other vocations, there is
always one invisible but guiding presence in our lives. It’s hers.
Yes, our mother has
always been there for us from conception to birth, from birth to adulthood and
whatever in-between events that we went through or are presently undergoing
now.
It is of little wonder
why God used the comparison of a mother’s love to His because it is the closest
unconditional love we can personally experience in our earthly lives. Jesus,
during His ascension, has assured us that He will always be with us until the
end of time. Theologically speaking, we believe this gift to be the Holy
Spirit. But in the eyes of a child, this gift from God is personified and
personalized through the love and care that only a mother can give.
To our Mommy Tonette on her 70th birthday, we profoundly
thank you for all your years of selfless giving and endless loving to us your
children and (now) to your grand-children. We pray and wish for you to have
more healthy years as you continue to be there for all of us.
We love you.
Proverbs
23:22, 25
“…..When
your mother is old, show her your appreciation….let your father and mother be
proud of you; give your mother that happiness.”
