Tell Mum you love her
By LUCY KAPI
THIS Sunday is Mother’s Day, a day to honour the women that do and sacrifice so much for us.
If your mother is still alive, show her how much you love, value and appreciate her.
Early this year, I went to Lae, Morobe province on official duty for two weeks.
Upon arrival at Nadzab airport, I felt happy that at least I would be able to visit my widowed mum.
My village, Mangga in Mumeng district was just about four hours away.
I had not seen my mum for some years, and I longed to go to her, but work kept me busy that first weekend in Lae.
But after the second weekend, if it were not for a special friend, I would have missed the opportunity to visit her.
My friend whom I learnt had a very close and special relationship with his mother encouraged me go to the village on Monday.
He went out of his way to make sure that I had enough food and cash to give mum.
I arrived in the village late in the afternoon around 5pm.
There were tears of joy as we hugged each other, mum kissing me from check to cheek and at the same time rubbing them as if to make sure I was really there.
We talked long into the night. She wanting to know how her other children and grand children were doing and I wanting to know how she was doing back home.
She bought a live chicken and cooked it for me with some yams as well as pig meat from a little feast she was hosting to open her new haus kuk (kitchen).
That night, I slept soundly beside her as a little girl, her warmth kept me warm and safe throughout the cold night.
She woke me up at 3am and escorted me to the PMV carrying my bag of kaukau, yam, cabbage and other garden food which she had harvested with the help of my other cousin who prepared it for me to take back to POM.
To my elder brother, two sisters and I, mum was our heroine after dad passed away due to heart failure in 2001.
She realised she was now the head of the family and worked hard to meet the demands of a traditional village society.
She busied herself and worked hard tending to her six gardens apart from looking after her small pig farm and picking coffee.
“I work hard to plant these gardens so when you all come to visit with my grand children, you will not be short of food or protein,” she says when told to slow down a bit.
Whenever, there is a feast at the village, marriage ceremony, or a death in the village, mum made sure she contributed some food from her garden or cash on behalf of the family as a traditional obligation.
We all owe her so much and are thankful to God for providing such a wonderful guardian angel to us.
Although a simple woman, mum is the best role model as she has over the years done her best to instill the best values in her children.
What your mother does for you is beyond compare. When you understand the love and sacrifice she has for you, you will realise that your mother deserves a special treat not only on Mother’s Day but every other day as well.
Your mother is always there for you through thick-and-thin. She is the person you can depend upon to stand by you anytime you need her.
Remember all those difficult moments in your life when you needed someone who could make you see reason and give you good advice.
It was your mother who lent you her ears and pulled you out of the mess in your life.
Think about the love she professes for you everyday through all her acts, big and small. It can’t even be measured but can only be felt.
Make this Mother’s Day special for her by showing your gratefulness and don’t forget to tell her these words, “I love you mum!”
Say it while she’s alive or regret it when you look back to find her chair empty.
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