Respect Your Parents ( A Short Story Must Read )
After his father’s death, the Son decided to leave his mother at old age home and visited her on and off.
Once he received a call from old age home….Mom very serious ….. please come to visit.
Son went and saw mom very critical, on her dying bed.
He asked: Mom what can I do for you?
Mom replied… “Please install fans in the old age home, there are none…. Also put a fridge for betterment of food because many times I slept without food”.
Son was surprised and asked: mom, while you were here you never complained, now you have few hours left and you are telling me all this, why?
Mom replied…..”it’s OK dear, I’ve managed with the heat, hunger & pain, but when your children will send you here, I am afraid you will not be able to manage!
She warned me vehemently to take care with what I left behind and said that this is why she wants to modernize the old age home because she feared that one day, perhaps, my children would abandon me there and I would experience what she did. Her final words were, “What you give is what you get.”
This story conveys a powerful message about parental sacrifice, the often-overlooked emotions of the elderly, and the cyclical nature of life. The mother’s selfless response on her deathbed highlights not only her enduring love but also a cautionary warning about karma and the values passed down through generations.
By not expressing her discomfort earlier, the mother didn’t want to burden her son, showcasing a resilience and silent endurance that many parents embody. However, her final words reveal her concern not for herself but for her son’s future—specifically, the possibility that he may face the same neglect he showed her.
The mother’s last wish, to improve the old age home with fans and a fridge, serves as a subtle reminder to the son of his own actions. Her wisdom and foresight emphasize that life often returns the treatment we give to others. Her poignant phrase, “What you give is what you get,” underlines a universal truth, urging us to act with empathy and respect, especially toward our parents. It’s a call to recognize the sacrifices they make and to value their presence before it’s too late.
