A young mother set her foot on the path of life. “Is this the long way?” she asked. God replied: “Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it.But the end will be better than the beginning.”
The young mother was happy, but she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her little children,gathered flowers for them along the way, bathed them in the natural streams as the sun shone on them. “Nothing will ever be lovelier than this,” she said to God.
Then as the dark stormy night came, her children shook with fear and cold. The mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said, “Mother, we are not afraid for you are near, and no harm can come.”
And then morning came, and there was a huge mountain ahead. The children climbed and grew weary. The mother was weary too but at all times she encouraged her children,” A little patience and we will be on top.” So the children climbed, and when they reached the peak they said, “Mother, we would not have done it without you.”
The mother looked at the night sky and as she gazed the stars she thought, “This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage. Today, I ‘ ve given them strength.”
And the next day, came angry clouds which darkened the earth. Clouds of war, hate and evil. The children groped and stumbled, and the mother said: “Look up. Lift your eyes to the light.” And the children looked and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory. It guided them beyond the darkness. And that night the Mother said,”This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God.”
Days went by, weeks passed, and then months and years. The mother grew old, feeble and bent. By then, her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. When the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill, and beyond they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide.
The mother said,”I reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them.”
Her children said, “You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates.”
They stood and watched her as she walked alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: “We cannot see you, but you will always remain with us.”
Your Mother is always with you…. She’s the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street; she’s the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks; she’s the cool hand on your brow when you’re unwell.
Your Mother lives inside your laughter. She’s crystallised in every teardrop. She’s the place you came from, your first home; She’s the map you follow with every step you take. She’s your first love and your first heartbreak.
Nothing can separate you from your mother. Not time, not space… not even God!
– Adapted and edited from an anonymous write up.
