“What You Give, Is What You Get”: A Mother’s Final Wish
After his father passed away, a son made the difficult decision to place his aging mother in an old age home. Life grew busy, and though he visited her occasionally, the visits became fewer as time passed.
One day, he received an urgent call from the facility.
“Your mother’s condition is critical,” the voice on the other end said. “Please come immediately.”
When he arrived, he found her frail and struggling to breathe. Sitting beside her, he gently asked,
“Mom, is there anything I can do for you?”
With great effort, she looked at him and whispered,
“Yes, my son. Please have ceiling fans installed here… and bring a refrigerator. Sometimes the food goes bad, and many nights, I went to bed hungry.”
The son was taken aback. “Why didn’t you ever tell me this before, Mom?” he asked, his voice shaking. “Why now, when you have so little time left?”
She gave a faint smile, her eyes filled with pain and love.
“I endured the heat, the hunger, and the loneliness without complaint. I didn’t want to burden you. But I ask this not for myself… I ask because one day, your children might bring you here. And I fear you won’t be as strong as I was.”
Her final words stayed with him long after she closed her eyes:
“Life has a way of coming full circle. What you give… is what you get.”