A Spanish proverb captures the importance of Mother’s Day: “An ounce of mother is worth a ton of priest.”
My Mum passed away a few years ago and I miss her. When she was alive, I never connected with her. I wish I had more quality time to spend with her.
As South Asians we cherish and are proud of our traditions. One of the languages I was raised with in India is Hindi, in which the word for mother is “mata” and for father “pita.”
You would never call your mother mata or your father pita. Instead, your parents would always be addressed as mata-ji or pita-ji. The suffix “ji” is a word showing honour and respect. A similar practice in today’s culture would be to say mummy-ma’am or father-sir.
Imagine addressing your parents this way every time you spoke. I think it is about time that we honour our mothers and impart this truth to our mainline communities.
For many, their mothers have passed away; for others they may not have a good relationship. There are many others who don’t have any connection at all. As we celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend, let us pray for and remember each other. Let us keep in mind those who, for various reasons, are not able to celebrate their mothers, and let us also keep in mind all those mothers who don’t have a relationship with their children.
Finally, let us also remember and pray for those women who are unable to become mothers or who are struggling with fertility issues.
One of the best ways to celebrate Mother’s Day is to give your own mother the day off. Let her take it easy and relax while the rest of the family does the work. Many families begin Mother’s Day with breakfast in bed. Usually Dad and the kids will let Mom sleep late as they go into the kitchen and prepare her favourite meal.
Many families make a special Mother’s Day dinner, or take Mom out to her favourite restaurant for a meal. It is a good day to let your mother relax and let her see what a wonderful family she has. If she is not in your community, pick up the phone and call her. Happy Mother’s Day!
David McLauren, Abbotsford
