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| My mom enjoying the hot-spring pool just last summer. That was the same shirt she wore to the ER that fateful day, and which was soaked in her blood from her head wound. I love mom. |
Later, when I was in 6th grade, I was her cooking assistant (I was also dad's and grandma's cooking assistant) at the kitchen, and soon I was the family cook, with mom as supervisor. I also did the wet marketing and grocery. I even washed my mom's and dad's clothes.
Even in her old age, I was her constant companion, together with my wife. I would go to her place to take naps in the morning to prepare for my afternoon and evening job, and mom would often nap with me. I'd nap in the rocking chair and mom in her favorite sofa right next to me. Or, we would watch TV together or eat lunch together. I accompanied her to the doc for her check ups, together with my wife. I and my wife loved mom so much. Mom often confided in me.
Mom was so proud of me. I'm not great, nor am I rich or popular--in fact mom would sometimes tell me of my failures when we talked. But with other people, I discovered that she was proud of me. She insisted that I took after my dad and mom's dad, who were both journalists. Mom loved dad so much; I was witness to that. God raised me up in such an environ so that now I love my wife so much. Praise God!
Mom liked it so much when I was taken training director in my present job. She often asked about it, and I would joke her about it. Oh, she laughed so much at my jokes, and I was the only one who could make her laugh so much. She loved my being a joker. I was the joker of the family, taking after my dad who was also a super joker. I have one brother and 3 sisters. None of them are jokers.
I was with mom the whole time of her last hours on earth. I and my wife took her to the hospital after she fell and bumped her head hard on the floor in the morning of Sept. 26, 2011. I looked after her at the ER, the MRI room, and at the ICU. The next day she died at 2.30 pm. She was 88. I accompanied her at the hospital morgue, and then to the funeral. I loved my mom, and she's one of the few people I'd rather think of when I hate life and ask what kind of life is this. First, I think of and talk to God, then I think of my sweet and lovely wife, then my mom and dad. Thank you, God!
Mom was a strong lil woman. She stuck with dad in the hard years during martial law and made ends meet so we could all finish our schooling. Besides, she was almost abducted by guerrillas in the Second World War (while yet single) when they thought she was favoring the Japanese. She was a young teacher then. Then they learned that her brother, Rody, was a guerrilla himself. She served presidents in Malacanang as Press Office staff and later as staff of the Office of the President, receiving letters to the president and summarizing them--from President Roxas to President Cory Aquino, about 5 or 6 presidents.
(Sigh!)...
A few days before she met the fatal accident, especially the last day before the accident, something--some inner voice--was telling me to take a good look at her--like a last good look, sort of. I appreciated how cute mom was. I was always looking at her, her face and body features. I didn't now that she'd die a few days after that--or didn't I?
I had seen how mom always felt secure when I was around, being confident that I would always protect her. We prayed together, and there were very many instances when she almost died but we held hands together and prayed and believed for God's miraculous touch on her body--and she got healed! She was 50-50 but God healed her! Praise God! I had shared the Word with her and she received Jesus into her life as Savior. The same with dad. Thanks so much, God, my Jesus! Mom used to be my number one persecutor when I became born-again in college. But years after (after many, many years of prayer), she became my number one bible study student. She supported me all the way, even willing to have my house church ministry in her house!
Thanks so much, my God, my Father! When I hate life and ask what kind of life is this, I just remember YOU, my God and Father, Your loving kindness, my wife, my family, and dad and mom! They're blessings!
