A Blessed Sunday with Mom

What's up, Hivers? It's me again, makiyumee! I'm back again with another blog and today, I will be sharing to you how my Sunday date with my mom last August 18, 2024, went. Alright, let's go!

It was around 3 o'clock in the afternoon when my mother and I closed our store and got ready for the afternoon mass. We both changed into our formal clothes and locked the store before hiring a tricycle. When we found a tricycle, we rode it and traveled towards the church to attend the 3 o'clock mass.

The sky was cloudy when we arrived at the church, giving the day a gloomy vibe. As though they were preventing the rain, the clouds were gloomy, puffy, and hung low. With only a sliver of sunlight breaking through the heavy layer of clouds, the sky itself looked gloomy. It felt as though a storm might break out at any time as a cool breeze rushed through, carrying with it the slight smell of rain. As we got closer to the church, the atmosphere was even more dark and quiet because of the intense expectation in the air. My mother and I got down the tricycle and paid the travel fare before entering the gates of the church.

Although we were happy to come before the mass started, we were surprised to see how crowded the church was as we got to the entrance. My mother and I found a place outdoors where we could still hear and take part even though there were no seats left inside. The voices within the church blended with ours as the worship began, creating a sense of connection despite the distance.

I paid close attention to the priest's sermon, allowing his words to fully register while I thought about what they meant. The sermon spoke on courage, kindness, and faith; I couldn't help but consider how I could apply these principles to my own life. My mother and I talked about the priest's words and how they spoke to us as we exchanged thoughtful and reflective perspectives. When it was time to pray, we stopped talking and bowed along with the rest of the crowd.

We felt a deep connection to the mass even though we were outside; it was as though the church's walls couldn't keep us from the spiritual experience taking place within. With genuine prayer, we hoped that our voices would rise up to join the others in expressing our thanks and trust. We were able to enjoy a peaceful period of concentration while the fresh breeze and the distant sound of the city seemed to disappear.

We silently made our way to the prayer room as the mass was coming to a wrap up. There was an overwhelming feeling of calm there. Feeling the coolness of the marble floor beneath our feet, we knelt down and approached the humble altar with respect. Heads bowed, we gave our prayers of thanksgiving, expressing our gratitude to God and Jesus for all of their daily blessings and guidance. Knowing that they had been there for us the entire time, we took time to think on the happy times and difficult times we had experienced. As we prayed for courage and consolation for the days ahead, an overwhelming feeling of gratitude and connection filled our hearts in that quiet place.

After the mass, it was time for us to head to Gaisano to buy some groceries since there were only a few stocks left at home. My mother and I walked to Gaisano since it wasn't that far from the church. When we arrived at Gaisano, we decided to eat some tempura to satisfy our hungry stomachs after walking and standing for a long time since the mass. Eating tempura had always been my mother and I's favorite when it comes to eating snacks and spending time together. We also love to eat other street foods, and sometimes bibingka and puto.

When we had consumed all of our snacks, we knew it was time to go grocery shopping. We walked down the aisles of Gaisano, carefully examining everything, and choosing what to load into our container. I took control of pushing the trolley as we went from one sector to the next, and my mother concentrated on selecting what we needed.

I didn't want her to put herself through unnecessary strain, so I insisted on pushing the trolley myself even though I knew it was somewhat heavy. I'm constantly concerned about my mother because her health isn't what it once was. I've seen that as the years pass, she's becoming weaker, even if she's still strong in many aspects. I find it concerning that she might become fatigued or lightheaded from something as simple as pulling a big cart.

We strolled about and selected further things. I also purchased a few cookies for myself to use as a snack during my lectures and when working from home. When we were finished, we went to the counter to pay for the items we had purchased before taking what we had bought home.

It started to rain as soon as we got on the tricycle that my mother had set up to bring us home. We felt relieved that it was just a slight drizzle because we had forgotten to pack an umbrella for that particular day. We rode along, praying the weather wouldn't become worse, while the rain dropped like tapping sounds softly on the tricycle's roof.

It started to stop raining by the time we arrived at our house. It was looking like the short rainfall had ended at the perfect moment because the sky was clearing up. After giving the driver our fare and saying thank you for the journey, we focused on the items we had purchased. Together, my mother and I made sure nothing was left behind as we gingerly carried the plastic bags inside.

It was just another Sunday, nothing extraordinary or out of the usual, but however, I couldn't help but feel incredibly happy. Spending the day with my mother, going about our daily lives, and just being in each other's company felt comforting in a way. It served as a reminder that sometimes the most important days are the ones that are most enjoyable.

How about you, do you also spend time with your mother sometimes? That would be all for my blog and I hope you had fun reading it. See you all on my next blog, everyone!