~
My Mother’s 8 Lies—Her Love Was Priceless ~
The following is from an unknown source.
The story began when I was a child; I was a son of a poor
family. We did not even have enough
food. Whenever meal times came, mother
would often give 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.
When I was growing up, my persevering mother gave her spare
time to go fishing in a river near our house, she hoped that from the fish she
caught, she could gave me a little bit of nutritious food for my growth. After fishing, she would cook some 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,
which was still on the bone of the fish I had eaten. My heart was touched when I saw that. I then used my chopstick and gave the other
fish to her. But she immediately refused
and said “Eat this fish, son. I don’t
really like fish.” That was Mother’s Second Lie.
Then, when I was in Junior High School
to fund my studies, mother went to an economic enterprise to bring some
used-match boxes that would need to be stuck together. It gave her some money to cover our
needs. As the winter came, I woke up
from my sleep and looked at my mother who was still awake, supported by a
little candlelight and with perseverance she would continue the work of
sticking some used-match boxes. I said,
“Mother, go to sleep, it’s late, tomorrow morning you still have to go to
work.” Mother smiled and said “Go to
sleep, dear. I’m not tired.” That was Mother’s Third Lie.
The final term arrived... Mother asked for leave from work in order to
accompany me. While the sun was starting
to shine strongly, my persevering mother waited for me under the heat for
several hours. As the bell rang, which
indicated that the final exam had finished, mother immediately welcomed me and
poured me a cup of tea that she had brought in a flask. Seeing my mother covered with perspiration, I
at once gave her my cup and asked her to drink too. Mother said “Drink, son. I’m not thirsty!” That was Mother’s Fourth Lie.
After the death of my father due to illness,
my poor mother had to play her role as a single parent. She had to fund our needs alone. Our family’s life was more complicated. No days without suffering. Our family’s condition was getting worse, a
kind uncle who lived near our house assisted now and then. Our neighbors often advised my mother to
marry again. But mother was stubborn and
didn’t take their advice; she said “I don’t need love.” That was Mother’s Fifth Lie.
After I had finished my studies and got
a job, it was the time for my mother to retire.
But she didn’t want to; she would go to the market place every morning,
just to sell some vegetables to fulfill her needs. I worked in another city, but often sent her
some money to help her fulfill some of her needs, but she would not accept the
money. At times, she even sent the money
back to me. She said “I have enough
money.” That was
Mother's Sixth Lie.
After graduating with a Bachelors
Degree, I continued on and earned a Masters Degree. It was funded by a company through a scholarship
program. I finally worked in that
company. With a good salary, I intended
to bring my mother to enjoy her life in Gulf.
But my lovely mother didn’t want to bother her son. She said to me, “I’m no use to you.” That was Mother’s Seventh Lie.
In her old age, mother got stomach
cancer and had to be hospitalized. I
lived across the ocean but went home to visit my dearest mother. She lay in weakness on her bed after having
an operation. Mother, who looked so old,
was staring at me in deep thought. She
tried to spread her smile on her face... but it was a noticeable effort. It was clear that the disease had weakened
mother’s body. She looked so frail and
weak. I stared at my mother with tears
flowing. My heart was hurt... so hurt,
seeing my mother in that condition. But
mother with the little strength she had, said “Don’t cry, my dear. I’m not in pain.” That was Mother’s Eighth and Last
Lie.
After saying her eighth lie, my dearest
mother closed her eyes forever.
~
Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT
LIFE NOW
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