The Used To Be Small Matters

IMAGE SOURCE. Pic 1 by Carole Nickerson. Pic 2 by Fabrizio Turco. Pic 3 by Matthew Bowden. I have digitally enhanced these three pictures. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A warm greeting from our home to yours!

Before forgetfulness takes reign on my tend-to-forget brain, I want to thank many of you who have sent get well wishes (and prayers) for Emily. Just want to let you know how your comments did encourage me in their special ways.

This past few weeks were indeed a little holiday for me. I did devote most my time for the munchkin even though for her, it could be one of those regular days. Story time with mom or mom making her gluten free cookies (though some those cookies were burned because her mom was too ecstatic ‘chatting’ with a childhood friend who now lives in Bali).

Funny thing, for myself, I didn’t feel those days as equally the same.

In between some old magazine pages, I stumbled upon a simple poem that conveys a far-reaching message.

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things

=== By Robert Brault ===

Those simple words are supposedly to be understood easily but I found myself reading it - again and again. Upon reading it, memories of my childhood were unveiled.

There came precious imagery pictures of an elderly woman who lives thousands miles away in the other part of the world. Yes, it’s my MOM.

People knew Mom as an outgoing person but to her children, she ‘reserved’ herself. Now, after being a parent myself, I’ve gained a clearer perspective to accept who she is.

She grew up in a home where love was a quantity - and a portion. I saw how she struggled to forgive my grandma. But I also saw how love conquered a bittered heart. Before her mother passed away, Mom was able to forgive. It’s a victorious day for both women.

There’s a moment in my life where I did doubt whether Mom loved us as she seemed to carefully guarded her affections towards us. Only from her silent expressions, then I’ve learned she actually treasures us deeply.

During my junior schooling years, I often must stayed at school till late afternoons for extracurricular activities (ah, how I must dragged my feet to attend all of them). Knowing I like to eat good food, Mom used to unexpectedly stopped by at school.

As she unbundled a little wrapped package, she unbundled a sweetest surprise. It was a warm home made lunch - made by thoughtfulness and much unspoken motherly love.

As I am writing this post, I often had to pause. Memories of Mom’s home made warm lunches wrap my heart as if it’s a warm blanket. As I recalled the past, I thank God for Mom. I will always cherish the heart-prints she has left in my heart.

As each day passes and gone by, we create a new memory. For myself, I often caught up in other life priorities that a precious moment passed by just like that. And, there was a season in my life that my Mom’s sacrifices went unnoticed.

Now, looking back to my days at my childhood home, some used-to-be small memories have become so alive than ever. Yes, I’ve grown finer appreciations to my childhood as it holds the key to - Mom’s love legacy.

And lastly, let me close this post with one of my favorite quotes.

There is a time for risky love.
There is a time for extravagant gestures.
There is a time to pour out your affections on one you love.
And when the time comes –seize it, don’t miss it.”
=== by Max Lucado ===

May we all find ourselves abundant in affections. May we grab each opportunity to create deeper heart-prints in people we dearly love. God has brought them into our lives and it is a privilege to have shared our life journey with them. I guess without them our life stories would be - so incomplete.

Take Care and God Bless you all.

~ by ourfootprints on October 18, 2007.