MY MOTHER'S EYES- A Tribute to my Mom on Mother's Day- Sunday 9th May 2010

Article written By: Raymond Anthony Fernando

Those of us who enjoy listening to music of the 60s' will definitely remember English singer and songwriter Russ Hamilton's all time favourite, “My mother's eyes” .

The opening lyrics goes like this:

“ One bright and guiding light
That taught me wrong from right
I found in my mother's eyes”.........

Whenever I hear this song on the radio, it brings fond memories of my dear mother. Some of the virtues which I have inherited from my mother, Mrs Pearl Rodrigo, a Eurasian, includes kindness and resilience. My mother is able to withstand extreme hardships when facing adversities.

Mum has a soft heart and she inculcated good values in all her children. She taught us how to feel for another human being. She taught us the true meaning of love. I remember mum often giving some of her delicious cooked meals to the rubbish collectors when she observed that they were poor and carried out a job that many would not undertake.

I guess I must have inherited mum's resilience and this virtue has helped me tremendously to care and love my wife who was stricken with schizophrenia at the tender age of 17.

Mum is one person that does not discriminate. When I told her that I was intending to marry Doris, a Chinese who has a serious mental disorder, mum never discouraged me from taking her as my lifelong partner.

“It does not matter what illness she has or what race she belongs to. So long as you love each other and can take care of her, you have my blessings,” mum assured me.

Mum passed on her culinary skills to my wife, enabling me to look forward to a sumptuous meal everyday. Through the art of cooking, my wife has managed to produce not one, but two successful cookbooks.

My mother's compassion for my wife has equipped me with patience and understanding. She taught me how to love a woman unconditionally. Many a time when my wife suffered a relapse, mum would comfort and give me lots of encouragement. She taught me the power of prayer.

“Son, Doris has been a good wife, so bear with her disorientated state. She is behaving in this manner because she has suffered a relapse. She will get well with treatment. When you married her , you vowed to love her in sickness and in health,” mum would encourage me. “Meanwhile trust in God and offer your sufferings to Jesus. I will also pray for her speedy recovery.”

Through the support, love and understanding, my mum has played a major role in helping my wife to recover after she returns from hospital.

I would like to sum up my feelings for my mother and all mothers in this poem which is fitting for Mother's Day:

A Mother’s Love

When a child is crying
A mother will dry those tears

When a child is in pain
A mother will feel the same

When a child is hungry
A mother will sacrifice her own meals

When a child is troubled
A mother will share the burden

When a child is sick
A mother ensures that the recovery is quick

When a child has no answers
A mother will find the solution

@copyrightraymondfernando2010