Yesterday I went to celebrate my
mother’s birthday. I must say that I was invited and asked to be there for the
celebration. Initially I did not want to go. But my superior forced me to go as
he was aware of my mother’s love for me. You might be wondering, what is so
remarkable even my superior is aware of it. Every mother loves her children and
it is quite natural. But indeed my relationship with my mother is a special one.
She did not give me birth. She never nurtured me. In fact she became my mother
only last year. Does it sound strange to you? Probably yes...
Let me narrate to you the incident of
how she became my mother. As a priest, I
have more than enough opportunity to meet and interact with the people from all
walks of life. Some people leave some marks on the first meeting itself. She
was one such person, who made me feel close and important on the first meeting
itself. Her innocent smiling face captured my attention. We exchanged a few
words and she requested me to visit her house.
I must admit that her repeated phone
calls led me to her house. She welcomed me and made me sit and offered me a cup
of tea. While sipping the tea, I was attentively listening to her stories. She
told me that her husband died when she was quite young. She struggled to bring
up the children. She is content that her children are well settled in life. They
all live in the city, leaving her alone in the village. I noticed that she did
not complain about anything. Rather she gratefully remembers that her children
take care of her by giving her money regularly. As she spoke, her eyes were filled
with tears. At this point, I asked her, “Don’t you feel lonely? Wouldn’t it be
better for you that you live with your children?”
“Oh yes at a time I do feel lonely.
Especially at night I do not get sleep. But I cannot expect my children to be
with me all the time. Now they have to establish themselves. They stay in the
city with their family. Let them be happy with their families.”
“How often do they visit?”
“They try to visit me on Christmas
and Easter Sunday. But not all of them could make it always. You know they are
really busy people. Let them be happy with families.”
I particularly noticed that she was
repeatedly saying that ‘let them be happy.’ This is a sincere wish of a mother
for her children. I sat close to her for quite sometimes. As it was getting
dark I got up to leave. She suddenly caught my hand and said, “You are like my
son. I am happy that you are around me. Please come to visit me again.”
The innocent face of the lady flashed
back to me again and again as I was walking down my community. Silently I said
to myself, I have got a mother. From that day onwards, she has been showering
her love for me in every possible way. I remain ever grateful to her as her
love reminds me the love of Divine One who is invisible!
