EXPERIENCES - The Day my Child taught me about Commitment
A Lesson about Love and Commitment
By: Ulysses C. Ybiernas | February 18, 2007 8:53 PM
When my wife left for the Middle East in search of better opportunities, I found myself taking on the dual role of both mother and father to our children. It was a new chapter filled with challenges, one that demanded constant adaptation and resilience.
Yesterday, a Sunday, brought its own set of hurdles. Our groceries were running low, and it happened to be my maid's day off. I decided to take my eldest child along for the shopping trip while the younger ones stayed at their grandparents’ house.
With my wife still looking for a stable work abroad, managing our weekly expenses required extra care. At the grocery store, I carefully selected the items we needed, keeping an eye on the budget. By the time we returned home in the late afternoon, I was exhausted. Yet, there were tasks waiting for me on the computer, and I settled in to work in the living room.
As evening fell, the joyful sounds of my kids playing with their friends echoed outside. The carefree laughter of childhood filled the air, a sharp contrast to the weight of responsibilities of an adult person.
By six o’clock, as darkness crept in, our maids returned home. The noise of the door closing was followed by the rush of my children entering the house, still brimming with energy. My eldest, a nine-year-old, approached me with determination.
“Papa, it’s time to go to church,” she insisted.
I explained gently that we had missed the last mass at our nearby church because they had been playing outside for too long. But she wouldn’t let it go. Tears welled in her eyes as she reminded me of her mother’s parting words: the importance of attending mass every Sunday.
Her persistence softened my initial reluctance. She pointed out that there was a later mass at the San Isidro Labrador Parish Church in Talamban, starting at 7:30 p.m. Despite my weariness, her sincerity moved me, and I agreed.
We hurried to the church, a few miles away, and made it just in time for the evening service. As we settled in, I reflected on what had just happened. My daughter’s insistence wasn’t simply about going to church; it was about keeping a promise. Her commitment to fulfilling her mother’s wishes showed her depth of love and determination.
In that moment, I saw the purity of a child’s heart, a purity often clouded by the complexities of adulthood. My daughter’s unwavering dedication to her mother’s words became a profound reminder of the power of love and the importance of honoring commitments.
Children live in the present, unburdened by the worries of the future. Their ability to focus on what truly matters is a lesson many of us forget as we grow older.
Sometimes, the smallest actions carry the greatest meaning. What began as a simple insistence to attend mass became a moment of connection, love, and understanding. My daughter’s earnestness rekindled my own sense of responsibility, not just as a parent, but as someone entrusted with the promises we make to those we love.
Through her, I was reminded of the beauty of living in the present and the enduring strength of love and faith, even amidst life’s challenges.
Children tend to only live in the present, for they never worry of the future. That's something we forgot as we grow up.
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