Puso ng Ina

Ang aking ina ay mayroong Alzheimer. Marami na siyang hindi nagagawa. Marami na siyang hindi naaalala. Marami na siyang hindi naiintindihan. Madalas malayo na siya sa "realidad'. Bagama't ganuon na ang kanyang kalagayan, lumalabas pa rin ang puso ng isang ina.

Kapag ako ay may sipon at ubo, agad sasabihin niya, "uminom ka na ba ng gamot?" at idadag pa nya, "kapag may kailangan ka, sasabihin mo sa akin, ha." Miski hindi na siya madalas nakakaalala ng mga mukha, ang kanyang isip pa rin ay sa pagiging ina at pag-aaruga. "Si Ikitti, takot yung mag-isa." o "Si PJ, nakagat yata ng aso." o "Si Kirbie, umiiyak yata."

It's paradoxical that at her old age, she became a child again physically - being fed, washed, and wearing diapers. Yet, no matter how deteriorated the brain and the body become, the heart of a mother lingers.

I am not romanticizing the disease; It is truly a difficult and challenging one. Still, It is at such a time when the rational mind is not at its best that St. Francis de Sales' motto "Heart speaks unto heart [Cor ad Cor Loquitur]" takes on a deeper meaning. Trying to listen to the heart of another and allowing it to reach the very depths of our being. When it seems we can't understand each other, just let heart speak unto heart.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, make our hearts like unto Thine.