MY MOTHER NEVER SAID "I LOVE YOU", BUT SHE SHOWED IT EVERYDAY

In my years of life, I have never heard my mother say "I love you" to me.

Not once.

When I was small, I used to watch American films and see how mothers would hug their children and say "I love you, sweetie" before they sleep. I would feel somehow. I would ask myself, does my own mother love me? Why does she never say it?

My mother is not that kind of woman....... She does not know how to say sweet words. She will not hug you and be petting you. In fact, if you do nonsense, she will give you that her straight face and shout "Go and sit down!"

But as I grew older, I started understanding her own language of love.

My mother shows love with food. Whenever she cooks meat, she will give me and my siblings the big meat, and she will take the bone and be sucking it with joy. She will say "I don't like meat too much" — but I know she is lying. She likes it, but she wants us to eat it.

My mother shows love by waking up first. Even before cock crows, she is already in the kitchen. She will sweep, she will cook, she will iron our school uniform while we are still sleeping and snoring. She never said "I love you", but her 5am morning actions said it every day.

My mother shows love by worrying. If I go out and come back late by 7pm, she will be at the gate looking left and right. When she sees me, she will start shouting "Where did you go? Why are you coming back late?" I used to think she was just shouting. Now I know, shouting is her own way of saying "I was scared, I love you, don't scare me like that again."

My mother shows love by keeping my secrets. There are things I have done that if my father hears, he will be very angry. But my mother will cover me. She will say "Don't worry, I will talk to your father." She never said I love you, but she protected me like a lioness.

So I stopped waiting to hear "I love you."

I have heard it in the extra spoon of rice she adds to my plate.
I have heard it in the way she still keeps my baby clothes.
I have heard it in the way she prays for me by 5am every morning, mentioning my name.

Some mothers speak love. My mother COOKS love, WORRIES love, PRAYS love, and WORKS love.

If your mother is like my own — she never says "I love you" but she shows it every day — please don't wait for the words. Look at her actions. That is her own dictionary.

And today, go and tell her "Mummy, I know you love me. I love you too." You might make her cry, but she will never forget it.

To all mothers who don't know how to say sweet words, but show it everyday — we see you, we love you, and your love is enough.

Have you ever experienced this? Does your mother say "I love you" or does she show it like mine?

IMAGE IS AI GENERATED