After his father’s death, a Son decided to leave his mother at an old age home, visiting her only occasionally. One day, he received a call from the old age home. “Mom is very serious. Please come to visit.” He rushed over and found his mother critically ill, lying on her deathbed. He asked, “Mom, what can I do for you?” His mother replied, “Please install fans in the old age home; there are none. Also, put a fridge for better food storage because many times I slept without food.”
The Son was surprised. “Mom, while you were here, you never complained. Now, with only a few hours left, you are telling me all this. Why?”
She answered, “It’s OK dear, I’ve managed with the heat, hunger, and pain, but when your children send you here, I fear you won’t be able to manage.”
She explained that she wanted to modernize the old age home because she feared that one day, perhaps, his children would abandon him there and he would experience what she did. Her final words were, “What you give is what you get.” Her words struck the Son deeply. He realized how much his mother had endured silently and how her last thoughts were still for his well-being. He promised her that he would make the necessary changes in the old age home and ensure it was a better place for all the residents. In the end, he understood the true meaning of his mother’s words: “What you give is what you get.”