When I was growing up, the persevering mother gave her spare time for fishing in a river near our house. She hoped that from the fish she got, she could give me nutritious food. She would make fish soup, which raised my appetite. While I was eating the soup, mother would sit beside me and eat bits of fish still on the bones of the fish I ate. I was touched. I would use my chopsticks and give the fish to her. But she would immediately refuse and say 'Eat this fish, son. I don't really like fish.'
That was Mother's Second Lie.
When I was in Junior High School, to fund my studies, mother went to an economic enterprise to bring some used match boxes that would be stuck in. That gave her some money for our needs. During winter, I would wake up from my sleep and watch mother, still awake, supported by a little candlelight, continue sticking used match boxes. I would say, 'Mother, go to sleep, it's late, tomorrow morning you still have to go to work.' Mother would smile and say 'Go to sleep, dear. I'm not tired.'
That was Mother's Third Lie.
During the final term exams, mother asked for leave from her work to accompany me. Under the burning sun, the strong and persevering mother waited for me for several hours. As the bell rang, indicating the final exam had finished, mother immediately welcomed me and poured me a glass of tea that she had prepared before in a cold bottle. The very thick tea was not as thick as my mother's love, which was much thicker. Seeing my mother covered with perspiration, I gave her my glass and told her to drink too. Mother said 'Drink, son. I'm not thirsty!'.
That was Mother's Fourth Lie.
After the death of my father because of illness, my poor mother had to play her role as a single parent. By holding on to her former job, she had to fund our needs alone. Our family's life was more complicated. No day went without suffering. Seeing our family's condition getting worse, a nice uncle who lived near our house came to help us, be it a big problem or a small problem. Seeing our family’s unfortunate life, our other neighbors often advised my mother to marry again. But mother was stubborn, and didn't pay heed to their advice. She said 'I don't need love.'
That was Mother's Fifth Lie.
After I finished my studies and got a job, it was time for my old mother to retire. But she didn't want to; she would go to the marketplace every morning, just to sell some vegetables for fulfilling her needs. I worked in another city, often sent her some money for her needs, but she was stubborn and would not accept the money. She even sent the money back. She would say, 'I have enough money.'
That was Mother's Sixth Lie.
After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree, I did my Master’s Degree, funded by a company through a scholarship program, from a famous University in America. I finally worked in the company. Within a short time was given quite a high salary. I intended for my mother to enjoy her life in America. But my lovely mother didn't want to bother her son, she said, 'I'm not used to.'
That was Mother's Seventh Lie.
By then mother was quite old, and got flank cancer and had to be hospitalized. I went home to visit my dearest mother. She was weak and in bed after having an operation. She looked so old, staring at me with a deep yearning. She tried to spread her smile on her face; it looked so stiff because of the disease but she held it. It was clear enough to see how the disease had broken my mother's body; she looked so weak and thin. I stared at my mother with flowing tears. It pained me to see my mother in that condition. But mother, with her strength said, 'Don't cry, my dear. I'm not in pain.'
That was Mother's Eighth Lie.
After saying her eighth lie, my dearest mother closed her eyes forever...
Life is not about expecting, hoping and wishing.
It is about doing, being and becoming...
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