A tribute to .....

Mother - the fountain of love and life

Today many people around the world willpay special tribute to their mothers as it is a day dedicated to them. Mother’s Day which traces its origin to the USA is celebrated on the second Sunday in May each year. Like with most other international celebrations we too have started to celebrate this special day spicing it up with a commercial hype for added attraction. Of course it is an accepted fact that we do not need such special days to love, respect and honour our parents and express our gratitude to them for all what they have done, and continue to do, for us, as parents.

Thanks to the rich cultural heritage we have inherited from our ancestors, such values are inculcated in us from our small days. However, the hi-tech pace of modern lifestyles seem to be robbing the present younger generation of these values, leaving little or no time to love and appreciate their parents, especially those who are aged and feeble. Today is an ideal day to focus the attention of such people on the need to always appreciate the unique love of a mother and not abandon her when she is in the twilight of her life.

You too can do something special today to show how much you love and cherish your mother. However, more than any material gift you ever give her, the best gift you can give your mother (which she would treasure most) is to grow up to be a great person with high values and principles.

Today, we feature a few of the tributes paid to their mothers by some of our contributors along with an old song which aptly highlights the unconditional love of a mother towards her child.

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She’s the person I admire most

The person I admire most is my mother. She is a housewife. She looks after our family well. She gets up early in the morning to cook for all of us. She does the washing and cleaning too.

She understands us very well and provides necessary advice and guidance when needed.

She is good. My sister and I always confide in her when we have problems. She helps to solve them too. She helps people who are in need.

My mother is very religious. She is a good example of kindness and affection.

The love, care and kidness, she gives us is wonderful. We are thankful to God that we have such a loving mother.

Ayesha Perera,

Grade 9,Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Colombo.

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Your valuable teachings...

You taught me how to smile
Through flowing tears
You showed me how to wave good-bye
To thousands of fears
You made me be humble
During applause and cheer
You gave less work to my mouth
And more to my ears
You zipped my lips and showed me how
To avoid idle and jealous talk
The loneliness vanished since you are there
You’re the reason that I have hundreds of peers
Oh mum! you have also taught me
How to live without you for many years.

Shafeeka Hafeez,
Grade 10E,
Badi-ud-din Mahmud Girls’ College, Kandy.

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She’s everything in my world

My mum,
Makes me warm,
And gives me love,
when I need it every time.

She gives her shoulder,
when I need to shed tears.
She gives me advice
when I need one to give it
she teaches me what life is
By relating her past experiences.

Now my life is great
Because of my mum
She is the star,
She is the moon,
She is everything,
In my lovely little world.

G. Haseena Ahmed Hai, Lindsay Girls’ School,
Colombo - 3.

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The spring of love

She is brighter than the sun,
She smells sweeter than flowers,
She is more beautiful than the moon,
She has love deeper than a river...

You’re the queen of my world,
You’re the sun of my world,
Amma the most memorable person in my world
You are the spring of love...

You teach me good and bad,
As a loving teacher
You share your feelings with me,
As a good friend
Amma
You’re the most meritorious character in my life.

Sahani H. Madihage,
St. Thomas’ Girls’ High School, Matara.

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You are unique!

Mother you are a pearl,
You taught me everything.
You taught me how to crawl, to walk,
And how to hold a pen...
You taught me from A to Z

When I’m in trouble
You are always there to help
You encourage me when I fail in my mission
You support ‘me at all times
You protect me like a shady tree.

Sometimes I ignore you,
When you repeat the same thing,
But, when I was small,
I too asked the same question a hundred times.
And you answered all of them
You taught me what’s right and wrong.

You are unique mum!!
Now, I am a teen and
Cannot forget the gift of time and love,
We were blessed to share together.
I owe a lot to you, my dear mum!

Fathima Nisma Fahim,
Grade: 8,Ilma International Girls’ School, Colombo 15.

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No charge

The lyrics of the song some of you may already be familiar with...

Now our little boy came up to me
In the kitchen this evening' while I was fixing' supper
And he handed me a piece of paper he'd been writing' on
And after wiping' my hands on my apron
I read it, and this is what it said.

For mowing' the lawn, five dollars
For making my own bed this week, one dollar
And for going' to the store, fifty cents
An' playing' with little brother while
you went shopping', twenty-five cents.

Taking' out the trash, one dollar
Getting a good report card, five dollars
And for raking the yard, two dollars
Total owed, fourteen seventy-five.

Well, as mom looked at him standing there expectantly
And I could see the memories flashing through her mind
And so she picked up the pen, and turning' the paper over
This is what I wrote.

For the nine months I carried you growing inside me, no charge
For the nights I've sat up with you
Doctored you, and prayed for you, no charge
For the time and the tears
That you've cost through the years, there's no charge
And when you add it all up
The full cost of my love is no charge.

For the nights filled with dread
And all the worries ahead, no charge
For advice and the knowledge
And the cost of your college, no charge
For the toys, food and clothes and even for wiping your nose
There's no charge, son
And when you add it all up
The full cost of my love is, no charge.

Well, when he finished reading
He had great big old tears in his eyes
And he looked up at me
Standing there and said,
Mama, I sure do love you
Then he took the pen,
And in great big letters
He wrote PAID IN FULL.

Lord knows when you add it all up
The cost of real love is, no charge