Memories of a Mother

   A relationship between two people is made of many memories. Some of the memories are full of joy and others bring back pain.

   Toastmaster, ladies and gentleman, I want to tell you some stories about the relationship between a mother and her daughter. At the time these things took place, the daughter was in high school. Even though many years have passed since that time, these are experiences that she will never forget.

   One night, a little past 9 o'clock, a mother and my daughter stood in the living room arguing loudly. All of a sudden, the daughter picked up her school bag, threw it over her shoulder, and quickly walked out of the house, the mother ran after her trying to keep up, but she was soon left behind and gave up. "Wondering where her daughter could be and whether she would be safe?" this poor mother wiped her tears and helplessly prayed.

   After 10 o'clock, her husband returned home from work, and to her surprise, he came into the house with their daughter! Normally he would not have gone to the bakery, but that night he went and he found their run-away daughter there. The mother believed that the all mighty in heaven had heard her prayers and had answered them.

   This was the mother's first test, but there were more to come.

   One morning the mother was sitting in the living room reading newspapers feeling relaxed. Suddenly the phone rang, it was her daughter calling from school, she said, "Mom, I'm going to jump off the top of the building!" 

   The mother was scared to death, believing that her daughter was serious.  She frantically called the teacher and told her the situation. The teacher, wanting to avoid all dangers, assured her that her daughter would be carefully watched and guarded.

   This time the daughter's life was saved, yet there is another story----

   A few months later, the mother and her daughter again were arguing, the daughter became silent and quickly left the room. She took from the medicine cabinet as many pills as she could hold. Clutching them in her hand, the daughter made eye contact with her mother as if challenging her. Then she shoved all the pills in her mouth, took a drink of water, and swallowed them.

   When a war starts between parents and children, no one is going to be the winner.

   Such events can not be easily forgotten in a mother's heart. Each of them hurt her deeply. There were the mother's tests. Her daughter was testing mom to see if mom really loved her. You may be wondering who this mother was. It was me!

   Many years have passed since that time, and my daughter and I don't fight now like we used to. As time goes on we are becoming better friends. As I recall these experiences, I am thankful for them because they have allowed me to become a wiser person, and time after time, I assured my daughter with all my love.

   A few weeks ago, I was riding in the car with my daughter, who is now 22 years old. She was telling me that she is not going to have kids if she gets married. I asked her,” Are you afraid that your child would act like you? "Then I told her, only a mother has the chance to become a complete woman. because only by becoming mother does she have a

deep understanding of what love is. My darling daughter smiled and I knew she would understand someday. Through laughter and tears, children make our life complete.

Through our children, we learn lessons and get wisdom.

   Ladies and gentleman, this is what I have learned:

   "Love changes everything, love is the answer. "