For most of us, mothers are there just to do — and do it post haste — what we stubbornly wish at that moment. Even as grown ups we rarely weigh our mother’s efforts against the scale of love. “Mother of mine you gave to me, all of my life to do as I please, I owe everything I have to you... Mother of mine now I am grown and I can walk straight all on my own, I’d like to give you what you gave to me…” are the lyrics of a highly popular and melodious song rendered by Neil Reid in 1971.
At 13, when I felt the call to priesthood, my mother packed my bags and was colourless as she saw me off. But like most children of that age, I too took all my mother’s outpouring affections for granted. When my “mamma” left for her eternal home I felt a vacuum left by her absence. To bring us into the world and to keep us happy, mothers forget their pain and comfort, hunger and thirst. And no one ever hears them complain.
Unfortunately, like some other religious festivals, Mother’s Day is easily commercialised. And quite a few of us in our attempt to, “give her what she gave me…” fall into the temptation and end up wrapping up a gift for her. Would it not be worthwhile to try and understand that if anything, all that our mothers long for from us are just genuine expressions of respect and love?
From this Mother’s Day onwards I suggest we resolve to give back to our mothers, the best of everything we can, for, we will never ever be able to “give her what she gave to me (us), Mother sweet mother of mine”.
