This post is written by David for the two amazing women in his life.

It was late and I didn’t want to wake anyone up. I crept quietly from the bathroom to a room I know all too well – my bedroom, except that I had not stepped into my bedroom for almost 4 years – I was overseas studying and had just returned upon graduation.

As the timber floor of my maternal home protested with the all too familiar creaks, I turned to my Mum’s room with a guilty face ready to apologise for waking her up but instead what greeted me was a familiar silhouette which I have missed seeing – my Mum sitting on her bed, praying…as she has always done since my Dad passed away…and I know who she would be praying for – her three children.

My Dad had passed away at age 44 leaving her with three young children. Me, the oldest was only 13 and my sister, the youngest, only 6. My Mum not only had to endure the burden of caring for us through our tumultuous teenage years, she had a larger concern at hand – our future. Fortunately, her prudence and grit helped restore a semblance of normalcy for us after my Dad’s death but greed from my uncle (father’s brother) alienated us from our paternal relatives, further narrowing her much needed support network.

It didn’t help that her eldest son was a rather confused and rebellious teenager. I had squandered my Mum’s hard earned savings through endless parties (yes, I’m a prodigal son) during the first year of my overseas studies. If not for a scholarship which I miraculously received, my tertiary studies would have had to terminate abruptly. Thankfully, after a number of years, sense got the better of me.

As I looked at that familiar silhouette, I paused to take in the moment. There, in the stillness of the night it struck me: Behind the feisty, gregarious and tough persona that is my Mum, here in the stillness is where she cries out to God, here is where she bares her burdens before her Creator and here, in the stillness of the night, is where she draws her strength and form the resolve to provide and protect her children from the uncertainties of life. As a young widow, she was determined that her children would lead as normal a life as any other children with both parents.  

Fast forward twenty years, it’s 5:30am and I’m awake. In the stillness of the early morning, I gazed at my wife who nearly lost her life trying to bear us a child, who had to bear the deep grief and the enduring shame of childlessness for almost a decade of our marriage. This is the same woman who, submitted to the will of her God and endured the unexplained pain of multiple child losses. Here is a woman who is not only submissive to her husband but also to God. Years later, the same woman, now resting quietly next to me, would welcome our 2^nd child but had to continue to face the pressures and politics at work while juggling her role as a Mother all because her husband had always believed that wives should work (to be self-sufficient) partly due to my Dad’s premature death. Here in the stillness of the morning, she rests and gathers her strength to face another day of challenges and decisions. Here in the stillness, her inner person never stops talking to God, seeking God, praising God….

I’ve been blessed that in my life, I have been shaped by the courage, resolve and faith of these two amazing women – My Mum and my wife. Women whose strengths lie in their quiet resilience and submission. They face life’s situations squarely, take the proverbial bull by the horn and wrestle with whatever life throws at them while clinging on God’s word instead of blaming God for their seemingly poor lot in life. In quietness, they sought God, and in return they found themselves trudging on with renewed strength and purpose, enough to last just one more day.

I’m sure, they are not the only ones.

Mothers are amazing people. Though they are often described with qualities such as ‘sacrificial’, ‘loving’, ‘caring’ etc…I’m sure you would agree that these words hardly scratch the surface for all that a Mother personifies.

As we celebrate Mothers’ Day, let us remember that it is not just about this one day, but each and every day that these amazing women live making sacrifices for their families. Let us affirm and appreciate them daily, just like how they constantly put their family’s needs above theirs. This tribute is also for those who are experiencing the burden of childlessness, the pain of child losses and the loneliness of being separated or widowed. You are not forgotten and we pray that in the stillness, you too will find resolve and strength to carry on.

(Love) always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres…”

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

To my Mother and to my wife, Happy Mother’s Day Mi and Happy Mother’s Day Darling.

Here’s a little tribute we have put together secretly for our ‘Super Trouper’ Mommy, and all the super trouper Moms out there who through your daily sacrifices make your kids (and hubbies) feel like they are ‘No. 1’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KnLkfKJmOI&feature=youtu.be

We hope this surprise video tribute will bring a smile to all Mommies’ faces!  

Tomorrow, we’ll have a post from MummyWee, a stay-at-home mum to 6 children ranging from 2-16 years old. When they were little, her wish on Mother’s Day was for more sleep and some alone time. Her wish never did come true. Now that they are older, her girls do make an effort to make Mother’s Day special for her! 

This post is part of the Dear Mummy blog train hosted by Mamawearpapashirt.  Click on the badge to read what other kiddos have to say to their beloved mummies!