There is an old adage that says "You can choose your friends, but you can never choose your family". This is a saying that I have always hold steadfast to. My family has always been an important aspect of my life that I hold dear to. Your friends can be with you in good times and at times when things get tough but it is your family that will be behind you all the way when you take the journey in life.
To me, the one important soul that I will never trade for all the luxury in the world in my mother. She is the one soul that had been a source of inspiration in my life. Sure we have our quarrels and fight but no matter how ugly the situation is, my mother will be the first to forgive and forget. To her, her happiness is secondary, but the happiness of her children is paramount.
She raised me up since young through hardship and happiness, she will always be there to share my sorrow and laughter, always ready to give motherly advice and insight in life. I have learnt over the years that nothing wrong will come out of listening to the advice of my dear mother.
I cannot imagine those people that would be willing to part with their parents and sent them away to old folks home just because they are too busy to look after them in the old age. How is it one wonders, that a mother can look after all their children and still have time for housework and time to spare listening to out problems but we the children cannot even look after them. Have we wonder, what if in our old age, our children were to treat us the way we treat our parents.
I have never been closed to my dad when he is still alive, most probably he is a disciplinarian as a person, but in his passing, I dread the lost time that I could have been closer to him. My earliest memory of my dad was when he brought me any my brother to the beach to spend family time. I remembered vaguely he watching over me and my brother as we both splashed ourselves in the water. My elder brother the bully he is, would occassionally dunk me into the water and it would be my father's stern gaze that would stop him in a beat. He need not have to raise his voice, just his piercing looks would stop my brother in a heartbeat.
It is the family environment that defines us as a person. It is the upbringing that builds our character. All the imperfection in live, in our family is of no consequences at all. It is those imperfection in life that you will miss.
Treasure the time left as nothing in life is permanent. We cannot say for certain when they will suddenly be gone and when that time comes, we will regret all those things that could be, we regret the conversation that we could have, the trips that we could take, the meals that we could have, the moments of laughter and fun.
