TEEN DIARIES 1 of 3: Mga Ilaw Ng Tahanan

“God could not be everywhere, so He sent Mothers.” – Rudyard Kipling. This quote was the first thing I read on social media today, and it stirred up a flood of memories. How great is the love of God that He sent mothers to protect and take good care of their children. Just like Mother Mary, who was not even prepared to become a mother of Jesus, she understood what God’s plans were for her and obeyed Him. It’s also quite timely that our topics in Nursing lately have been talking about motherhood and parenting. Oh, to imagine the struggles that a mother has to endure during her trimester, and the painful yet fruitful bearing of a child. Mothers are indeed superheroes–magnificent goddesses that don’t have any halos or capes.

How physically painful it is to give birth to a child, and emotionally heartbreaking it is for mothers when their young ones become hard headed. Just like Mother Mary who lost her little child Jesus and found Him at the temple, preaching is certainly such a heart-burst for her. I also can’t begin to count the times my mom and grandmother have come to my rescue when growing up. Unbelievably true and might be funny for some but I was once expelled from my first school for being a mischievous little brat, and my parents were immediately called. My grandmother then took charge and planned the next steps–choosing a new school for me. Thanks to the steadfast love and perseverance of both my mom and grandmother, I graduated elementary school in 2016. During our toddler years, my older brothers and I were cared for by three maids while our parents worked abroad. Despite this, my mother’s sister, a registered nurse in Australia, and my uncle’s wife, an accountant and my mom’s sister-in-law, would spoil us whenever our grandma was out handling household bills.

Each time I visit St. Jude Parish, just by staring at Mother Mary’s face, it always reminds me of how brightly vivid and unconditional mothers would love. The beaming light of my grandmother at my lowest moments, the guiding gleam of my aunties when I felt lost in my college program, and the tireless luminescence of my mother whenever I was overwhelmed with worry. Every good mother wishes for the good of her child. Whenever there is goodness, there God is. (Sophia Beatrice V. Sison | San Pablo Youth Apostolate)