THEY DIDN’T TELL ME

They didn’t tell me all they had to go through for me to be here today.
They didn’t tell me that it wasn’t easy to divide their attention among all my siblings and me, or
how difficult it was to juggle parenthood, their work, and personal lives. Instead, they broke their
backs and made sure, to the best of their ability, we had everything we needed, when we needed
it.

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They didn’t tell me that having us changed their lives completely. They no longer could do things
the way they once did them, or have the freedom to live out their youth in freedom and carefree
Paradise. Instead, they involved us and included us in everything that they did, and made sure
we enjoyed ourselves, lacking nothing, and that gave them all the joy and satisfaction they
needed.

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They didn’t tell me how difficult it was for them when they couldn’t give us all the nice things we
wanted, or how it broke their hearts when they couldn’t provide some basic needs. Instead, they
made sure they were present, and taught us the values of life; what’s really important: Love.
They didn’t tell me how it felt like death to be separated from us, even for a day (to go to
work), and that they would just be counting the hours and minutes before they could get home to
us. Instead, they taught us the value of honest diligent work and showed us that this is how they
put food on the table and clothes on our backs.

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They didn’t tell me how tired they were, or how difficult some days would be. That some
days, they didn’t even want to get out of bed. Instead, they taught us how to get up from everything when we were feeling down, and just keep it moving. Feeling down and browbeaten by life happens, but urging us not to set up camp there.

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They didn’t tell me how much it hurt them to discipline us with the rod, and the guilt that would
course through them by inflicting any sort of pain. Instead, they taught us that when you truly
love, you cannot allow a person to go down paths of destruction and that later we would
appreciate the chastening.

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They didn’t tell me that they experienced hurt and pain. Instead, they taught us
to lean on each other and trust God, and know that we are never alone.
There is so much more they didn’t tell me… but now that I am a parent, I understand.

Listen to your father who begot you,
And do not despise your mother when she is old. (Proverbs 23:22)

The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And he who sires a wise son will be glad in him.
Let your father and your mother be glad,
And let her rejoice who gave birth to you (Proverbs 23:24-25)

Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the Lord your God gives you. Deuteronomy 5:16 ; Exodus 20:12 ; Ephesians 6:1-3)