Obstacles are the only things you see when you take your eyes off the goal. My childhood is inflicted with many pains and hurts brought about by conflicts and arguments between my parents. Family is said to be the first community where you should experience enough love and care. Having a family like mine is indeed a roller coaster ride with so many ups and downs of struggles that we wished to overcome. I was raised both by parents and my grandmother. I really cannot put into words what I exactly feel being taken care of an elderly. She was indeed one of the greatest blessing from God and loosing her taught me a lot of things about life.
Every morning I am awaken by the shouting voices of my parents. Who kept on arguing over petty things. Bills, house chores and responsibilities that they should be knowledgeable enough to handle. Sometimes I feel like not going up my bed and just be confined between my blanket and cover my ears with pillow to avoid hearing their noises. Good thing I have with me my grandmother who patiently explains to me everything and takes care of me the best that she can. She is the best caregiver in the world for me. My parents entrusted me to her that’s why she finds every way to give everything I need from sunrise to sunset.
Whenever my parents had an argument I hear my grandmother’s whisper on my ears saying “pray and everything will be okay.” Upon seeing that smile on her face I feel how sincere she was and I obediently follow her and pray for further peace between my parents. Although she looks like snobbish and strict, she loves to clown around and plays with me whenever she has time. She has jokes that lets me laughed my heart out and forget my problems about my parents.
My grandmother is also my mentor when it comes to religion. We never failed to attend mass together and taught me how important faith is in a life of a person. “Problems are easily solved through prayer.” according to her. Everything is going fine between me and my grandmother until the worst day of my life happened. I was awaken by grandma’s shouting voice having an argument with my mother. “I will never leave this house!” She insisted. I never knew then that grandma is already suffering from a terrible disease. She needs to be hospitalized for her to recover. My parents who later on reconcile and never quarreled anymore convinced my grandmother to go with them to the hospital. She kissed me goodbye and told me not to worry much about her condition and just be good both in school and at home.
That was the last time I saw her alive. Even though I went schooling on that day my mind is preoccupied with worries about grandma’s condition. I cannot concentrate on my teacher’s lesson and I kept on praying from time to time. When it was our time for recess, I cannot eat well and I accidentally spilled juice on my classmate’s desk. He then got mad at me and we had a fistfight that led us to the guidance office. I feel bad fighting over my classmate that day because I disobeyed grandma’s teaching about humility and forgiveness. Good thing me and my classmate said sorry to each other and went back to class.
The bell rang for dismissal and I was really excited to go home. I am looking forward to seeing grandma in front of our door and waiting for me to tell my whole day school experience. When I arrived home, there is no grandma standing in front of our door. I called her and searched for her in the whole house but there were no signs that she is back from the hospital. The phone ring and when I picked it up I heard the crying voice of my dad “Be brave little one, I’m sorry but your grandmother left us already.” At first I find it hard understanding what he said and so I answered back “Daddy, what do you mean? Did grandma went to Aunt’s house for a visit but will comes home next weekend?” But then daddy had to answer me directly as he said “Your grandmother died half an hour ago, before she died she told me how much she loves you.”
From that very moment I felt that the weight of the world was on me. Tears came rolling down on my face and it was hard for me to accept reality. Grandma is gone and there will be no more fairy tales at night. No more quality prayer time with her and no more warm embrace I will be receiving from her. The next days are days of agony and recovery for me.
I was able to recover from her death and every time I feel sad I just look back on our happy days. I know she will be sad if she sees me from heaven crying and crying all day long. I need to be brave in facing life’s difficulties. My grandmother taught me many things about life. How to take care of every people dear to you and never hate your parents even there are times that they argue. She also taught me the importance of faith and prayer as the primary source of strength in times of distress. Her death gave me lessons that people come and go but their memories will forever remain in our minds and hearts. My personality is changed because of her I am no longer a cry baby and I avoid every fight among my classmates. All I know is that grandma is up above watching and guiding me.
