Angel in disguise
Valentine's Day
February 13, 2004
The Iranian
Valentine's Day is here, once again. Smiles, kisses, flowers,
candies, heart shaped boxes and balloons... a special day of
the year when we can be kids again; a day when we can stuff our
face with chocolate, play with big shiny balloons, do a little
kissy kissy, and let our emotions loose on the ones we love. You
can't help but spot people acting-how should I say-all emotional,
everywhere you look.
A young man, in a nice expensive suit, is standing
at the bus stop with a big bouquet of flowers. A young woman steps
off the bus,
not noticing the young man. He suddenly taps her on the shoulder.
Surprise! Loud bursts of laughter ensue. Hands shaking, eyes tearing
up...
Elsewhere, I see someone sitting quietly on the subway
seat. Everyone is staring at her. Her cheeks are pink with excitement
and maybe
a little embarrassment. She is dressed up in a butterfly costume.
She can hardly hang on to the big red heart shaped balloon that
sways from side to side in the crowd. She is not a teenager.
None of these people, however, capture the spirit
of Valentine's Day for me. They resemble the people in a movie,
putting on a show,
far from a reality familiar to me, far from the person I really
love the most, my mother. She is my angel... in disguise.
No, she doesn't have wings, but she has the most
beautiful hands in the world. The palms of her hands are like a
treasure
map. If you follow the smooth lines, you will be guided to her
heart, a spring overflowing with kindness and compassion. She doesn't
dress in angel-white, but she does dress modestly; she doesn't
believe in wearing too much make-up; she never has, and I know
she never will. Like a stunning pearl hidden inside an oyster,
she doesn't feel the need to flaunt her god-given natural
beauty.
She is honest and virtuous, and her intentions are
good and selfless. Guests at her house are always overwhelmed by
her kindness and
generosity, and are constantly amazed at her boundless love and
incomparable capacity for understanding. Like a gentle spring rain,
her presence gives life to our house, and brings an air of freshness
and liveliness everywhere she steps.
Most importantly, as a mother, she always puts her
three boys ahead of herself and her needs. She has and continues
to sacrifice her
life, her youth, and her incomparable beauty for her children,
for us. She is, however, more beautiful than she ever was, more
youthful that one can ever imagine, and more loving than words
can ever describe. She is the best thing that ever happened to
me. Like the sun, lighting up my day, with her beautiful and genuine
smile, she gives meaning to my life. She means the world to me.
On
every Valentine's Day, God gives me a gift. Even though it is the
same gift, it is the best gift I have ever gotten.
He
gives me my mother's presence, even though I don't
deserve her. After all the wrongs I have done, all the trouble
I have caused, all those nights I have made her worry about me,
all those times I did not let her know how special she was to me...
God still gives me a chance to show her how much I love her.
I know God has built my mom the biggest golden castle
in paradise. I know I have nothing to offer to her, but my small
heart... but
maybe God will forget about her. And when God starts missing her,
years from now, maybe he won't recognize her without her
wings.
I hope this note of appreciation can, in some very
small way, show her how much she means to me, and how her presence,
like a stream
of honey, continues to nourish the garden of my existence.
Why look for love in Paris and Rome,
When you have the prettiest rose at home.
Maman... Happy Valentine's Day.
.................... Bye
Bye Spam!
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