These two pictures perfectly illustrate umma - a beautiful balance between a loving, affectionate mom and an inspiring, powerful woman. It was her birthday yesterday and it wouldn’t be my cheesy/sappy/sentimental self if I allowed that of me to remain in my similarly cheesy/sappy/sentimental birthday card. Happiest birthday to my mother who pulled and pushed me through, who silently cried behind closed doors for my pain but only showed me a smiling and determined face. She was always studying and working, working and studying - grad student to studying for the customs exam to CEO to EMBA student. But with all of that, she planned my 5th birthday party with 20+ other 5 year olds, came to my elementary school talent shows, took me to the daily hospital appointments for years, and missed the plane to Korea to stay in San Diego one more day for one more night’s worth of soothing and rubbing my stomach. That’s why this time is so sacred to me, and I love spending time at home. Because the time of desperate need is over. And now I am not in a state of fragility and yearning for her, but rather in a state of deep gratitude and celebrating her. We share our hearts, we share our worries, we share how God has touched us on a particular day, and He shows me more and more each day that not only is she my ma, but she is also His beloved.
I love you umma. With all that I am for all that you are. ( :
