Naleighna Kai's Literary Cafe Magazine May - Mother's Day Issue | Page 27

I remember growing up, if someone came
to our house from a long distance trip and
would arrive around 1 or 2 o’clock in the
morning, my Mumma would wake up
and make them a meal from scratch, all
fresh foods—not canned, not leftovers.
She says a guest is like god coming to visit.
No matter if she was sleepy or exhausted
from her day, she would serve them with a
smile and pure warmth and embrace them.
Nowadays, if someone comes at two in the
afternoon (especially without calling), the
first thing is “What the heck are you doing
here?” And when it comes to feeding them?
The reply would be, “Why don’t you grab
something from a fast food restaurant”
That’s the difference in what I’ve seen from
my Mumma—extended herself and not
resenting a person’s presence because there
will come a time that the person may not
be here on earth.
It is said, even in the scriptures that if
you want to see Heaven, to look under a
mother’s feet.” I have washed my mother’s
feet as part of my culture and it is a sign
of respect and care for one who is so
important in my life. A mother’s feet is the
seat of understanding; those feet have taken
her to places and through experiences that
have given her wisdom. She has stood
her ground on things when it comes to
family and friends. Everyone benefits
from a mother’s love and especially the
wisdom that will carry her children and
her children’s children through a lifetime
of pain, joy, and things that happen in
between.
Mumma is a warrior and a survivor.
There is no one with more kindness that
shines from her gentle eyes and the soft
timbre of her voice. She will go hungry
in order to feed her family first. It is a
rare quality that I wish this generation
would understand—that giving of one’s
self is not meant to be seen as losing
something. Her generation was giving
and I am certain that seeing how today’s
generation tends to be more into “self ”,
single pursuits, and don’t embrace family
and foundation, it makes a mother’s
heart weep.
Mumma is a rare jewel who tries to ensure
that we, her children, know that we are
precious gems and that we, even if others
do not, should embrace the qualities that
she holds dear. Caring, compassion,
kindness and doing things for others is
what she preaches and practices. Even
if someone does something to hurt my
parents, my mother understands that
Karma will take care of them and the
situation. Let them be. Forgive them.
Honestly, this is something I still have
yet to learn and embrace because I’m
from the new school. If someone does
the things that I’ve seen happen to my
parents? Well, let’s just say, “let them be”
and “forgive them” isn’t the first thing
that comes to my mind. But I am trying.
What can I say except my mother divine
and that aspect of her nature is captured
in her name, Devi, which in Hindi means
a goddess.