No Charge

For my column today, permit me to share a touching short story about a mother revealing her relentless love to her son.

My little boy came into the kitchen this evening while I was fixing supper. He handed me a piece of paper he’d been writing on. After wiping my hands on my apron, I read it, and this is what it said:

For mowing the grass, $5

For making my own bed this week, $1

For going to the store, $0.50

For playing with baby brother while you went shopping, $0.25

For taking out the trash, $1

For getting a good report card, $5

And for raking the yard, $2

Well, I looked at him standing there expectantly, and a thousand memories flashed through my mind. So I picked up the paper, and turning it over, this is what I wrote.

For the nine months I carried you, growing inside me, No charge.

For the nights I sat up with you, doctored you, prayed for you, No charge.

For the time and the tears and the cost through the years, No charge.

For the nights filled with dread, and the worries ahead, No charge.

For advice and the knowledge, and the cost of your college, No charge.

For the toys, food and clothes, and for wiping your nose, No charge.

Son, when you add it all up, the full cost of my love is No charge.

Well, when he finished reading, he had great big tears in his eyes. He looked up at me and he said, “Mama I sure do love you.” Then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote, PAID IN FULL. (Christmas CrossTalk Songs and Stories, Joel Eslabra)

Yes, no one in this world can replace the role of a mother.

No profession can equal the amount of nobility your mama offers considering she always works overtime without compensation. Once she had timed in into motherhood, her tasks are endless. No wealth in this world can pay the cost of a mother’s love. Even every mine of gold and diamonds and all the bank accounts combined could not equal the very life your nanay has risked. But, most often we, her kids, tend to ignore her importance. We’d rather go to the movies with our friends than spend some few hours watching foreign novellas with her while eating Indian mango soaked in soy sauce. We’d rather choose to break her heart with our stubborn words because she becomes too nagging again than extend our patience more and accept our mistakes without talking back.

I am one lucky daughter. Amidst all those nights that I kept my nanay up until 3:00 in the morning while studying for my exams simply to be with me and cook noodles when I get hungry, I never heard a word of regret, a phrase of complaint from her. But, I am one ungrateful daughter. It was foolish of me to make her wait when she wanted a back massage since I was watching a good show aired on the television. It was dumb of me to constantly ask her to pass over some load for my cellphone, which she immediately does, considering there are times I would deny her some moments of hugs, kisses and words of thanks just because of teenage angst.

I do not know what your mother is like, whether you call her mama, nanay or mommy, how she puts you to sleep or how she reprimands your stupid decisions. But what I do know is, like my nanay, she would do everything, and I mean everything from fighting over labor pains when she was pregnant to strangling your pre-school teacher after she saw a bruise on your arm that resembled a ruler. My nanay told me one time that if she could have all the powers in the world, she would make me and my brother perfect and that would make her extremely happy. Now, tell me who has a love that unconditional and selfless? She deserves more than our thanks yous, roses, hugs, kisses and mushy column articles. But, you know what? She is more than contented of these petty and simple acts of repayment.

Like the little boy, most of us would compete with our mother’s worth. With a simple wash of dirty dishes or a quick sweep of the sala, we then think that we have done her role. But, actually we should do these simple acts as an attempt to make her happy and feel that her every day love and concern is appreciated. Each of us have the best mom in the world and even if we can’t be the best sons or daughters, she doesn’t care, she still loves even the worst of us. I guess in some way, the best mom rightfully deserves the best treatment. Kiss her with your best kiss. Hug her with your best hug. Do your best to love her everyday.

Her love costs more than all the wealth you’ll see in your life time.

But her love remains free of charge.

Sa pinalanga ko nga Nanay, I love you and you’re the best!

Belated Happy Mother’s Day.