Memoir Writing

 

Attention is a basic expression of love. Giving one's attention may take a short time, but it is full of meaning. Love is a virtue and can also be defined as a feeling that we want to share with the people who are around us. Another opinion is that love is something you want to do to others, such as self-sacrifice, empathy, attention, giving affection, helping, obedience, following and availability to assist those who are in need. Love is a virtue that every living person in this world must have.

Love has a key role in life, including in the family. In a family, a keen sense of love comes from parents who give love to their children, or vice versa, the love that children have for their parents and siblings. Now I can imagine that with love how harmonious a family would be.

This is what I felt and experienced in my family, I want to share the simple and extraordinary story of what my father did to me and my little brother, specifically when we were about to go to bed. One simple thing he did with great love was to always check our feet before sleeping. If it were clean he would let us sleep but if he saw that it was dirty, he would take a small wet towel and then clean our feet. Though simple, it was a meaningful experience for me, and I really appreciate my father. His attention and love were extraordinary. He showed his role as a father. My father learned from the way Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, in this context both have the same intention, to love until the end. My father used to do that simple action until we grew up and we could take care of ourselves.

When I look back on these simple moments, the longing for home and specifically my father is very deep. I am sure that my father is incredibly happy to see that his daughter has become a servant of God and can check the soles of her feet herself. Father, may you be happy in heaven and pray for all of us who live in this world. I am grateful for this simple experience; it taught me to be humbler in serving others as my father showed me. While serving, it may be possible that the people I serve ignore me, who will even ghost to avoid me. I try to reach them, even though it may not benefit me or the place where I serve. I just need to be obedient in doing my work happily. To obey requires humility. Humility brings obedience to do everything.

In my family, the love I received from my parents and relatives had a positive impact on my growth and development. I can grow into a good, cheerful, fun, and accomplished person. Of course, this is something that all parents in this world aspire to. They want to see their children happy.

Attention and love in the family is fundamental for healthy relationships and individual well-being. When family members pay attention to each other's needs, show affection, and demonstrate love through actions and words, it fosters trust, emotional security, and a sense of belonging. These qualities contribute to stronger bonds, resilience during challenging times, and overall happiness within the family unit. Attention is the basic food and water of a living and breathing relationship. Attention is how we nurture and feed. Attention is what we need and crave for. Without attention, no relationship, no matter how strong, can survive.

By: S. Anita, RVM