Some love is loud. Some love is celebrated. But the most profound love in the world is usually silent. Parents don’t wear capes. They don’t ask for applause. They don’t keep score. And yet they choose you every single day over comfort, over sleep, over their own dreams. The image of a parent out in the pouring rain, umbrella drawn over a child while tears fall from their face, isn’t mere art. It’s the reality of millions of families across the planet. They stand in the storm, so you can stand in the sunshine.
The Sacrifices You Never Saw
You may never know:
- How many nights they remained awake worrying about you.
- How many times they discretely shelved their own personal dreams.
- How many times they pretended they were so strong when they were so broken.
- How much they carried in order to do so you wouldn’t have to.
Parents do not proclaim their sacrifices. They simply make them. One thing remains universal across cultures, languages and countries: Parents’ instinct to protect their child at all costs. One Day, You Will Understand. We come to them as children. As teenagers, we challenge them. As adults we get them. We begin to see the tired eyes. We see all the wrinkles we never noticed. This “I’m fine” for me so often was meant as an expression of “I’m struggling, but I’ll manage.” And sometimes, that truth is far too late.
Please Don’t Be Late to Gratitude
Do not put off for a special occasion. Don’t wait for regret. And don’t sit and wait for absence to teach you what value is. Say thank you today. Call them today. Come visit them today. Forgive them today. Appreciate them today. Because one day, the hands that kept you steady may not be there to hold anymore. Live Fully Your Lived Life to Honor Their Love. One way to thank your parents is not just through words it is in the life you create. Be kind. Be strong. Be grateful. Be somebody they can be proud of. They stood in the rain for you. Ensure that their sacrifice was never in vain.
