She...

It was a gloomy Monday morning. The sky was all gray. Drops of rain pour down from the sky as if sympathizing over the loss of one matriarch. There were people arround, taking cover from the rain, chanting prayers of some sort. We just reached the place from a not so distant origin. Still lacking from sleep, we brushed aside this need and tried to find for our selves seats under the made roofing and amongst people chanting. Then we saw familiar faces. Gestures were made to acknowledge our presence. They too were absorbed with the chanting. After the prayers and chanting the stone-cold matriarch is now ready to be brought to the chappel for the funeral mass and rites. She was the lead in her march. People behind her was a picture of grief and exhaustion.From a hill there was the chappel. She was a very meek structure. She patiently awaits her guest, wanting also to pay her final respect to the matriarch. The procession haulted as the matriarch entered the hallowed ground first and was allowed to position on the isle infront of the altar. The people from behind took their seats on the pews and patiently waited for the priest to arrive and minister over the rites. Then the rain pour heavily as if again signifying grief and anguish. Drenched in rain, finally the priest arrived. He quickly changed to his ministerial garment and went on to preside over the rites. Once again, prayers, songs and chantings were heard coupled with weepings and wailings. It must have been too painful to say goodbye to the matriarch. The end of the rituals is already coming to its near yet the rain never ceased. I was deep in my thoughts on how are we suppose to bring the matriarch to her final resting place with this condition. Coming from the pews, a familiar face came upfront with the request made by the priest to allow her to speak her concerns regarding the passing away of the matriarch. She was addressing the folks of the momeries she has had with the matriarch and she relayed one instance where she and the matriarch had a candid conversation. She continued on saying that she was a young girl then with an ever so curious mind. She proceeded asking the matriarch "WHAT IS A MOTHER?" A very difficult question indeed. Yet, the matriarch instantaneously responded, " I AM YOUR MOTHER WHILE YOU STILL NEED ME FOR YOUR BASIC NECESSITIES. I CEASE TO BE YOUR MOTHER WHEN YOU GROW AND BECOME LEARNETH, INSTEAD I BECOME YOUR MENTOR. I NOW GUIDE AND TEACH YOU ABOUT LIFE AND IT'S REALITIES. THEN I BECOME YOUR BESTFRIEND WHEN YOU ARE ALREADY ALL GROWN UP. I NO LONGER AM A MENTOR BECAUSE YOU ALREADY HAD YOUR FORMATIVE YEARS. I AM NOW YOUR BESTFRIEND BECAUSE I WANT TO CARRY ON THE RELATIONSHIP I HAVE TRIED TO LIVE UP ALL MY LIFE WITH YOU.ALL OF THESE BECAUSE I LOVE YOU." Then out of no where I have felt something in my heart. As I look around I saw people in tears, some are even holding it in, but still moved by what we just have heard...The matriarch after the ceremonies was laid to her final resting place amidst heavy pouring. People had gone to the extent of allowing themselves to get drenched in the rain and get cold...The matriarch is not at all from a well off family. She was a mother and a plain home maker. Her husband is a simple famer who toils the land just to support his and the matriarchs offsprings, 13 all in all...Life can summon the most difficult of trials but these are always surmountable...not because of our individual strategies nor that of anybody elses' but for the innapparent yet contstant LOVE given to us from the persons whom we call our MOTHER.