Mama Luding

My wife, Debbie, received troubling news that her mother, Salud, had suffered a heart failure. All my children were in the house; all deeply concerned about the fate of their grandmother they lovingly call “Mama Luding”. It was more painful for Debbie because the previous night, Mama Luding made a long distance call from Cebu as she was driving in the Auckland motorway and could not take the call. I was the one who answered and asked what her message was. She responded, “I’d like to greet ‘Happy Birthday’ to Jeydi,” referring to her first grandchild.

 

Though she never finished a degree in college having married early, Mama Luding had that innate love for children, having raised eight of them, all finishing university degrees.  When any of the children had problems, she would put all her energy to attend to the son or daughter and help find a solution.  Then, her children got married and had children of their own. Mama Luding left the ancestral home in Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur in order to be the nanny of the grandchildren, caring for them like she did with her own children.  Her maternal instinct brought her to the US where one daughter lives and to New Zealand where four reside. As she saw her children grow, she also experienced the joy and challenges of helping raise her grandchildren to be fine adults.  As she is loved by her children, Mama Luding is adored by her grandchildren – for her cooking; for her simple gestures of care and concern; for her sacrifices and selflessness; for her faith in God.

 

Each of us is called to care for each other as much as God cares for us. “I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.” (Psalm 31:7) So it is said: “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.” (Genesis 2:15)   God instilled in the first person on earth to take care of all his creations, all of humanity, all of his children. “You saw how the Lord your God cared for you all along the way as you travelled through the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child.”(Deuteronomy 1:31) Most importantly, to care for others is to tell of the goodness of God. “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

 

Debbie could not contact even the cell phone of Mama Luding; until two hours later. The faint voice of Mama Luding greeted her, telling that she was in the hospital and was being attended to by medical personnel. She was weak, but in high spirit.  Everyone in the house was relieved; and thanked the Lord for taking care of Mama Luding.

by Mel Libre