Show Love To Your Mother

Well, it’s been six months since my last post. For the past few months, I’ve been busy visiting relatives and friends and running errands for my parents at the same time celebrating Christmas and New Year with them. After New Year, I went back home (which is in a different country) and continued on my daily routine. Life is full of surprises indeed (good and bad). After several weeks, I received an email saying my mom had a stroke and is in a critical condition. My husband and I agreed that I have to fly back to be with her. Ironically, she already passed away even before I arrived. IT REALLY HURTS. I never thought that would be my last moments with my mom. I realized, we totally don’t have control in life, we just have to give it all up to GOD and trust Him in EVERYTHING.

A mother is a gift from God. She makes you realize the true value of life itself by acting as a guardian angel whenever you experience roughness and discomfort in life. Nowadays, we take less importance in valuing motherhood. Amidst our busy schedule, I suggest we spare some time to give our mother the appreciation and the care that she needs.

Although it's quite too early for Mother's Day, I would like to share some tips to make your mom feel special and loved:

1. CALL HER - Pick up the phone and say hi. Ask how she is or tell her you miss her cooking. It will definitely brighten up her day.

2. BRING HER TO A BEAUTY PARLOR - Mothers need pampering. They don't say it out loud but when we make the first move by offering her a hair makeover, or maybe a manicure and a pedicure, they will be so happy and be thankful to you for being sensitive to their needs. (You can also try to treat her for a spa or a whole body massage)

3. TREAT HER FOR LUNCH/DINNER - Surprise her by taking her to her most favourite restaurant in town once in a while. 

4. WATCH MOVIES TOGETHER - Enjoy watching a movie with your mom from time to time. It will remove the stress out of her daily routine.

5. TAKE HER ON A TOUR - Taking her on a trip will surely revitalize her energy and outlook in life. Try bringing her on a countryside away from all the city lights and busy highways and experience the serenity of that town or maybe to the beach and enjoy the sunset together.

6. BE A LISTENER – Take time to listen to your mom whenever she expresses herself.  Sometimes mothers can be burdened with a lot of problems so when she feels like talking to you, be there for her.

7. SHOW YOUR GRATEFULNESS – Thank her for always being there whenever you need her, for the wisdom she gives you each day, for her constant love, for the amazing dish she serves you, and for other things she have done for you. It may be in a form of a gift, a bouquet of flowers, or even just saying a heartfelt “THANK YOU MOM”.

8. GIVE HER HUGS AND KISSES – Nothing beats a hug and a kiss to show affection to your mom. If you are not a physical type like me, just try the suggestions above. (“,)

I'm really going to miss my mom dearly, so to my valued readers, don't ever stop showing love and affection to your mother 'coz you'll never know---it might be your last chance.

A mother's love for her child is like 

nothing else in the world. It knows no 

law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes

down remorselessly all that stands in its path.

~ Agatha Christie

STAY HAPPILY MARRIED

Congratulations and best wishes to all the newlyweds who are reading this article!  And for those who are married for quite some time now ... how’s it going? Marriage is not a bed of roses or a piece of chocolate cake, (hmmm...) I can tell you that. But what makes some couples stay happily married? Here are a few points I’ve read from an editorial column which I would like to share with you:

-MARRIAGE CREED-

©    Treasure Your Union – Remember the first time you dated with your spouse? How you felt that night and how you don’t want the night to end? It is good that once in a while you have to reminisce those dating days with your spouse because it will give you a romantic mood.

©   Listen To Each Other – Pay attention not only to words but also to the expression and mood of your partner. Learn to listen to understand rather than listening to argue and NEVER ignore.

©  Caress As You Would Be Caressed – I’m talking about physical warmth and affection, your comforting touch that will make him/her feel loved and wanted. Remember, marriages fade from lack of closeness. So what are you waiting for? Make a move and give him/her a kiss, a hug, and a snuggle. The best time to do it is NOW. J

©  Provide Each Other Appreciation – “You look beautiful” “Thanks honey (or whatever you call each other)” “I like your haircut” and a lot more. Appreciating your partner will make him/her feel comforted and admired in a deeper way.

©    Love One Another – The best thing you can give your partner is the gift of Love. Genuine love is priceless, more precious than a fancy car or a diamond ring.

©   Express And Be Open With Each Other – Secrets create suspicion and doubt which will lead to an argument or a fight. It is best to be open and share moments to your spouse, in this way doubt and suspicion will not be able to destroy your relationship.

©   Allow The Other To Be An Individual – Each of you is a unique being with different characteristics. Accepting the other as they are, as you would have yourself accepted.

©   Soothe Each Other – Provide a sanctuary and refuge for each other. It is one of the benefits of marriage that you both can enjoy for a lifetime.

©   Empathize And Respect Each Other’s Rights – Each is entitled to his/her own preferences and must be responsible for the results of the choices that have been made.  Value your partner's rights and he/she will do it in return.

In conclusion, both should work on it and must be genuine to one another. You will always encounter arguments and fights but in the end, love will be the strongest and deepest element in marriage, the foundation of your union. Cherish it!

Two such as you with such a master speed

Cannot be parted nor be swept away

From one another once you are agreed

That life is only life forevermore

Together wing to wing and oar to oar.

-ROBERT FROST-

*By the way, I added a secret message on the Marriage Creed. 

Decode it and apply it in your marriage.  Enjoy! J

RESPONSIBLE YOU

“You are responsible for your own actions...” I guess you’ve heard this statement before. This line MUST persistently play in our minds every time we have to make an important decision. I’m not talking about deciding what clothes to wear or what movie to watch but something that is life-changing. 

Have you ever been in a situation wherein you were so frustrated just because you listened to someone else’s advice and it turned out to be a fiasco? That you should have listened to your intuition? Well, don’t blame the poor fella ‘coz what that person did was just to give you an advice---it is up to you whether to take it or not. Accept the responsibility of your own action and stop making excuses. We have to learn from our mistakes and move on. It is good to ask for opinions from others especially if we are having difficulty to decide on our own, in fact, it is encouraged by many. But we have to REMEMBER ONE THING; we are the one who is in the situation therefore we must know better than the others.  No one is in-charge of our life but us, not even our husband or our very best friend or even our friendly neighbour, just us. The reason why we are who we are right now is because we decided it to be. It is a fact that people around us are capable of influencing us but the last decision is always in our hands.

In my humble opinion, to become a responsible person, we have to learn to think in responsible ways, and throw out immature ideas.

"Success on any major scale requires you to accept responsibility . . . . In the final analysis, the one quality that all successful people have is the ability to take on responsibility." — Michael Korda