Real Life Lessons

A few days ago, I witnessed one of life's little lessons, which we might miss many times because it happened less than a few fleeting seconds.

I was sitting in my front terrace enjoying my breakfast of mom-made warm rice glutinous when a pair of father and son passed by me doing their morning walk. Err, sort of... will explain in a while. The son was around the age of five and the father was somewhere in his thirties, I guess. The son was on a four-wheeled bike, new-by the look of it, still had parts of it wrapped in plastics and all... He rode it cautiously, swaying left and right, rather unstable. Hehmm, a new rider, I said to myself. The father was walking slowly beside him, obviously making sure his son did not meet any harm or accident during his ride-learning voyage. As they passed by, the father nodded his head towards me, as we were neighbors. Of course I nodded back, smiling. So, on they went. I watched them, still, fascinated by the care I saw the father was doing. He guided the boy by re-adjusting the steering whenever needed, while patiently walking next to, matching his stride with his boy's slow cautious ride.

Suddenly, my eyes caught a strange movement of the bike, as if it was on a road-bump, but I now there wasn't any around. Just then I saw what caused it, the bike's front wheel was on the father's right foot. My eyes widen. And even stranger, the look on the father's face, not once did he grimace or even wince during this "ordeal". Well, it wasn't a very sizable bicycle but still the boy should be quite heavy. What I witnessed next tugged at my heart, and made me decided to write this. 

All the while, the whole three seconds, the father just stood there waiting for his son's new bike's front wheel to finish running over his foot. His son noticing none of this incident, went on his way as if nothing had happened.  Then the father smiled ever so slightly and stroke his son's hair tenderly. So much care was visible. Warmth spread through my chest. How deep can father's love go? Beyond words. 

That reminds me of countless little incidents, where I, as a teenagers, more often than not, got agitated and angered by little mistakes (which I thought, then, was unforgivable) done good-intentionally by my beloved parents: a knock-at-the-wrong-timing, an oh-I-so-do-not-need-this-right-now advice, a this-will-look-good-on-you-but-I-hate-it blouse, and so on and so forth. Not to mention: innumerable I-thought-was-useless suggestions, numerous I-thought-was-ridiculous opinions, endless I-thought-was-unnecessary reminders. How I am ashamed of my reactions back then, so thoughtless, so ungrateful! How I wish I knew then what I realized now that all they cared about was my well-beings, ensuring my future is good, for me.

At least, it is not too late for me to show my appreciation for them, the two persons who are responsible for my existence on this planet. I know I could never repay what they have sacrificed for me all this time, I will try my best anyway. May you both be healthy and happy. I love you Mom and Dad!