Parents

I love my parents, I really do, even if they do get on my nerves sometimes, but that is what parents do.  They are doing it because they love me, because they care, because they have invested 20+ years into me, and really they do it because they really, really love me.  Yet, I forget how much they have actually done for me in my life.

When I look back on my relationship with my parents it has definitely been a rollercoaster ride.  The early years when they were working extremely hard, dad with the restaurant and mom working crazy hours because she worked at a Chinese restaurant.  Their jobs weren't glamourous, but they did it because they loved me and my brother.  I know that this is only human nature, but sometimes I do wonder what others think of my family and the work that they do.  I am not saying that I am ashamed of my parents, of course I am not, they had to do what they had to do to support our family.  This meant sacrifices, which usually meant time in my household.  However, I look back on it now and the dividends have paid off, we own our house, we have 2 cars, we have been on a number of family vacations, and my dad has fixed up every room in the house to the best of his abilities because it is one of his hobbies.  Further, even though we are Chinese and there is a lack of physical affection, I know that my parents love each other.  They now watch Chinese dramas together and go fishing every week from the time the walleye season opens to when the bass season closes.  And after 25 years of marriage, they are also going on vacation together for two months by themselves in the coming months!

Some news I heard this past weekend really made me realize how lucky I am to have two parents who are relatively healthy (the aches and pains of getting older...) who love me and my brother so much.  My parents told me about a neighbour down the street who had just passed away, she was only 55 years old, younger than my dad.  She has two daughters who are a few years younger than me.  My parents told me that she had died from cancer.  What makes this story even more heartwrenching is that only 8 short years ago, these two girls lost their dad suddenly from a heart attack.  I can not even start to imagine the pain and sorrow they are going through.  The questions that are racing through their head.  And their thoughts on the future.  This situation makes me cherish my parents even more.  It is so sad that in order for me to realize this, something so tragic has to happen.

Even though they may annoy me at times and bug me about little things, I have to hold steadfast onto the fact that they are doing it out of love.  And for me to really demonstrate to them the love of Christ in my life, to serve them and honour them, because it would really suck if I could not spend eternity with them in heaven.