She cared for us with a tender heart. Those days we would get this chewing gums that had stickers along with it. It was a season when we would get stickers of scars like a fake cut or scratch on it. A particular day I had this fake sticker right up on my forehead which looked like I had met with an accident and got injured on my forehead. I wanted to fool Mummy. So while Mummy was climbing up the stairs I showed her my fake wound. She looked at me and said, “Why re what happened” ? There was an emotion of panic and sorrow on her face and her eyes were filled with tears. I remember how bad I had felt that day and in my heart I decided never to hurt her again this way. 

It’s a month since Mummy entered into glory. Her memories stay dearer with every passing day. I have just begin to see this truth that when a dear one leaves you, we are left with sweet memories of them. The good person they were. The kindness that they showed. The sacrifices that they had made for us while they were living. Yes, we would have had many conflicts yet that does not surface at all. The good out – weighs everything. How nice it would be if we could have directed our hearts to these matters right from the beginning!!

Mummy was the most hardworking person I have ever known. She just gave and gave to her children. I can recall of the early days of our childhood. She was working as a primary school teacher. She would return home an hour after we returned from school. Yet from the moment of her return and after a cup of tea she invested all her time with us. While cleaning and cutting the vegetables she would listen to our school tales, some real narration and mostly fake ones. Every meal was fresh. It was definitely simple yet fresh. 

Every Christmas season she would have saved some money for our clothes and shoes. While as a primary teacher she was earning around two thousand rupees, our parents tried their very best to give us the best Christmas clothes and shoes they could provide us. Each of us would have a sum of an amount for a dress and another for our shoes.  I still marvel how did they manage doing that!! 

As one of my sister shared, even in her sickness she gave us all the opportunity to serve her. We praise God for the last few weeks where she came down to our places and gave us the privilege to care for her. I remember holding this tender hand one day while she lay flat with pain on the ambulance seat post her biopsy. She grasped my hand so tight with every jerk and bump. Who was this woman, it was that same tender yet firm mother who years ago used to make sure to hold us so tight while we crossed the road safely. Time flies and season passes, yet memories stay back. Children made some funny faces and it was captured. I made a new dish and it turned out good. I got a new dress and looks like it suits me or at least I feel so, so many things piled up in a daughters heart, meant to be shared with her mother. Only a mother cherishes and enjoys the details of the little tiny things that happens in her children’s life. I take out the phone to share with the person – ‘Mummy’ not realizing she is not present at the other end. Death is so real and so is the hope of reaching the other shore. Praise God for the hope we have in Christ that one day we will meet.