She would have been 107 today

This is my mother. She would have been 107 years old today.  She passed away in 1972, but her life and example remain deeply alive in my heart.

She was a good and caring mother, and more than that, she was my first teacher in life. When I think of her, the word that comes to mind most strongly is resilient. By today’s standards, the life of our family would be considered very difficult. We did not have much, and each day required effort, sacrifice, and endurance. Yet in the face of hardship, suffering, and uncertainty, my mother never gave up.

She was a hardworking woman who constantly found ways to provide for us. I remember how she would think of ways just to make it through each day, making sure we had something to eat. Even during the hardest times, we were able to have three meals a day - sometimes only rice with bananas or rice with sugar - but we never went completely without. Looking back now, I realize that those simple meals were expressions of her love, her determination, and her quiet strength.

Two qualities stood out in her life: frugality and honesty. She was careful with what little we had, never wasting anything. At the same time, she held firmly to her integrity. Even when others might have chosen to borrow or depend on others, she chose a different path. She lived within her means, trusting that through hard work and perseverance, we would get by. Her life taught me that dignity is not found in wealth, but in character.

Now, as I find myself in my twilight years at 80 years old, I often look back with gratitude for the kind of mother I was given. Her example has shaped who I am today more than I can fully express. And as I look ahead, I hold on to a quiet and comforting hope - that one day, I will see her again.

I believe that we will be reunited in the presence of our Heavenly Father, where there is no more hardship, no more suffering, only peace and joy. That hope gives me strength and comfort as I continue my journey in this life.