Did You Eat Yet? #KumainKaNaBa? My Mother's Day Post

Mother's day just went by like any other day in our house. I don't even try to post a message to my mom in the internet since she doesn't look at her Facebook account anymore (We made an account for her but she doesn't manage it- we do). 

But our church decided to have a Mother's day lunch this Sunday after our Worship service. A small gathering and a few tokens will be given to them to honor them. I was also looking for videos in the YouTube to show on the celebration. Then I came across one of the short films of  Wong Fu Productions titled, "What Asian Parents Don't Say..."

I was actually laughing at the video because I can really relate to almost all of them. I think the video of Wong Fu really was on point because most Asians have a hard time expressing themselves.

Then there was this part that tugged my heartstrings.

It made me think. What are other things my parents say but they don’t really say?

Growing up, I already considered our family a pretty open and expressive family. I grew up eating together every meal and learned that we must always talk while eating (but we make sure our mouth is not full ha?!).

But this one struck me. It reminded me that yes my parents are still Asians but also they don’t really know how to express themselves. How many times I’ve heard my mother say those words every single day, “Kumain ka na ba?” (Did you eat yet?). But I’ve never heard her say those 3 letter words “I love you” first (I usually say it first but she just answers with ‘hmmm’ or ‘thank you’).

Then I saw my father also do that (I know this is for Mother’s day but there are also fathers who’s role right now is both mother and father- you are not forgotten). I remembered when we started in Ministry; he could not express how he agreed with our house becoming the parsonage and even the sanctuary for the Church. 

But I would see him working so hard cooking food and offering it to everyone who comes to our house- he always made sure everyone is well fed. He might not say it, but now I know he is saying ‘I love you’.

I know this because I also adapted those words. If there is one thing my church members know I ask always as their pastor (especially my girls! If you are reading this, you already know now what I mean) is its “Kumain ka na ba?” (Did you eat yet?).

Why? Why don’t they say it? The short film also answers that:

 

Because some of them didn’t hear much of it while they were growing up.

But they can hear it now.

They might not have heard it before, but they can hear it now. Don’t just say it the way they say it. Say it plainly. Tell them those 3 words. 

Not just now because it’s Mother’s Day or it’s their Birthday. They didn’t say ‘did you eat yet’ to you on occasions but every day. They’re saying I love you to you EVERY DAY. 

#kumainkanaba?

(BTW: Watch the Video- the ending is so heartwarming I can't help but share it).