Friday, August 7, 2015

Mom, A Priceless Pearl!

 Mom! You are a priceless pearl; No one can replace ‘YOU’!
Whenever I think of you in my anguish or joy,
my eyes are filled with tears, I don’t know why!
I wonder if they are of sorrow or happiness!
However, I perceive them as gifts,
since they visit me when I need them the most.
Mom, a priceless pearl; No one can replace ‘YOU’!

Mom, you never been to the formal school door in your life, and
yet no one is as wise teacher as you were. 
You taught me the things of your heart,
which the lessons from the school would fail to convey.


Mom, you were a teacher not only of the heart but also of the mind.
You would sit down beside me sewing clothes,
while I was studying as a child at night.
You would ask me everything taught in class;
I, as an obedient student, would recite it to you.
What I am today is the result of your sacrifice.
Mom, a priceless pearl; No one can replace ‘YOU’!

Mom, you were a kind, gentle, compassionate, and merciful Mom,
your presence would fill the place with cheerfulness;
You knew how to turn others misery into happiness.
You possessed a generous heart: open for all.
You would share with others what you had, 
without reservation, especially with the needy and the beggars.
You would say, “son,”­– “God is visiting our home today as a beggar,
so we need to share with him (her) with what we have,” such was your generosity. 
You always tried to learn "to find Jesus in the faces of others,
in their voices, and in their pleas."
However, a few neighbours were jealous of you and falsely accused you;
Not that you did something wrong, 
but because you possessed the virtues which they lacked.  
They failed to accept when you helped others
because their egos were hurt. 
When you left this world, a teenager thought,
they would celebrate your departure, but it was not so!
They realized they also had lost a priceless pearl. 
Mom, a priceless pearl; No one can replace ‘YOU’!

Mom, you  always stood beside me,
ups and downs of life had significant meanings in your presence.
You were my best and true friend.
You were someone who supported me,
pushed me gently to achieve something great.
You were the source of my comfort.
Your presence was like a shade of a thick 
banyan, kusum or jamun tree in a scorching summer day.
You gave me the feeling of belonging.
The warmth of your gentle smile brought new life.
Mom, a priceless pearl; No one can replace ‘YOU’!

Mom,  I miss the tender touch of your hands, especially in my sickness,
and your love, care, and kisses in my cheeks.
They had magical effects of soothing in my life.
The food from your hands tasted sweeter than honey;
You were the best cook in the world,
and yet you would ask me to cook the chicken,
because for you it tasted better when I cooked. 
Though chicken was served only on special occasions.
You never ate anything alone, always distributed.
Sharing and caring was part of your nature,
so you inspired your children.
Mom, a priceless pearl; No one can replace ‘YOU’!

Nature was very close to your heart Mom,
you would spend hours in a prayerful disposition.
You would often talk to the birds, trees, and creation
with admirable compassion and love;
They, in turn, revealed to you the secret of God’s love.
You were bestowed with the blessings to use nature
to cure many ailments.
Moreover, you inspired dad to use it
as remedies for many sickness.
He enjoys helping the needy and the sick to the extents
that he often forgets his own responsibility of the family.
Mom, a priceless pearl; No one can replace ‘YOU’!

Mom, you were an amazing dancer and singer,
the traditional tribal singing and dancing was in your blood.
You were the source of inspiration for many young boys and girls,
who were on the verge of loosing their cultures.
You were very approachable;
so often people invited you, without hesitation,
that you might teach them the seasonal cultural dance with its seasonal songs.
You would sing and dance hours without a break, such was your passion!
Mom, a priceless pearl; No one can replace ‘YOU’!

Mom, you were a very good story- teller,
you knew how to capture the minds and hearts of children by your emotional and enthusiastic stories.
You were so gifted that you would create stories on the spot on any given topics.
Moreover, you taught your children catechism through stories;
thus you sowed the seed of Christian faith in their hearts.
You even tried to teach them cultures through stories.
Every evening during summer the neighbouring children would gather together just to listen to you.
The more interesting thing was: you always promised to tell new stories if the children were ready to do your work.
The stories were so interesting and enriching that everyone was ready to do your work.
Mom, a priceless pearl; No one can replace ‘YOU’!

Mom, you always tried to foster peace and harmony, without seeking for a reward.
You bore the responsibility of the family almost alone;
and suffered silently when you were unwell.
You tried to hide your sufferings from your children but in vain;
since it was very obvious in your eyes.
You loved your children “uniquely,”
I would not tell–– you loved them “equally”
since each child required special attention.
It might sound strange for some and might think otherwise. 
In fact, only God can love everyone equally.
Mom, a priceless pearl; No one can replace ‘YOU’!

Mom, you possessed the oasis of mercy,
you were bestowed with many blessings from heaven.
You were a God fearing woman.
You never held grudge against anyone; 
You believed in the power of forgiveness.
You were so close to Jesus with your life and actions that
you never went to bed or out of it without a short prayer.
I learned from you almost everything within a short span of time.
You loved Jesus so much that He wanted you to be with Him soon;
So He called you to be in companionship with all the saints and angels
soaring freely in the heavenly abode.
Your presence in this world was confined
to one place at one particular moment, now it is not;
the principle of contradiction would not contradict your presence!
Mom, a priceless pearl; No one can replace ‘YOU’!

But Mom! 
How does it feel,
when the mother (parents) is snatched from a child?
Every child who has lost his (her) mother (parents) knows it;
the answer need not be expressed in words;
the pouring tears from the child’s eyes
will describe the answer more adequately!
Today in a selfish and materialistic world,
it is a heartbreaking situation to see
a mother abandoning her child to die in the street 
as though she never experienced mother’s love. 
How can a mother do to her child! 

Furthermore, often old parents are neglected and left by the road to die
by their sons and daughters. 
What happened to the bond of love between parents and the children!
What happened to the conscience of humanity? 
Even the birds of the air would not do that!
In Pope Francis' expression, is it the sign of "throwaway culture" where everything quickly reduces to rubbish? 
How would Tagore react to the culture of today as, 
“Every child comes with the message
that God is not yet discouraged of humanity.”
Mom, a priceless pearl; No one can replace ‘YOU’!

Mom, your untimely departure from this world, in our sight,
was a blessing in disguise.
It is a serendipitous moment to know
that Jesus gave me Mary, His Mother, 
as a parting gift from the cross to be my “mother.”
He said to Mary: "Woman, here is your son." 
Then he said to his beloved friend: "Here is your mother" (Jn 19: 26-27). 
Thus, He has entrusted Mary to take care of me, Mom. 
My heart is languishing for God's unconditional love.


Mom! 
God the Father took a great risk to choose Mary, 
a peasant teenager, from a small place, 
to be the instrument in bringing 
the Second Person of the Trinity into this world. 
I believe He had a tremendous amount
 of trust and confidence in her. 

Mary, in turn, had same amount of trust and confidence 
in God the Father in saying "YES" 
without fathoming the consequences. She also risked her life to do so. But she believed: "For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible" (Mt. 19:26).

Mary is the source of "revolutionary nature of love and tenderness."
I am now "convinced, enthusiastic, certain,
and in love" with her. Because she is the perfect model of parenting;
I am safer in her hand; safe enough to attain 
the eternal happiness when the earthly pilgrimage is accomplished!
I love you, Mom! You are a priceless pearl; No one can replace ‘YOU’!


(Inspiration drawn from the meditation on the role of Mary (Mother of Jesus) in the salvation history).


9 comments:

  1. I m sure ur both Moms are proud of u and always with u... It was a delight to read ur personal experience of mom... indeed Mothers are priceless pearls...

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    1. Thanks! You forgot about one more Mom...Church...they are indeed...

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  2. Roshan if there is something that would define a writing from your heart it would be THIS....
    love reading it...miss my Mother too...and thanks for sharing....

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    1. Thanks a lot. I would have been glad if you could have sent it through your google account since I could not make out who sent it. I am sorry to hear about your mother. Thanks again.

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  3. Awesome. ...Thanks for sharing such a precious poem.It reminded my mom's care and love.I miss my mom too badly, we have another caring mom who is always with us and takes care always.

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    1. Thank you Madhu! It's highly appreciated. We know how it feels like losing mom in childhood.

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  4. Excellent...could feel the depth from where it comes.

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    1. Thanks Greta, much appreciated! It means a lot to me.

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