Not long ago, while organizing my emails, a few messages caught my eye. They were from my younger sibling. Back when I was abroad and phone calls were hard to make because of local conditions, my mom had asked my sibling to email me on her behalf.
When I opened those emails, nothing in them looked particularly special at first—just a series of questions:
“Did you arrive safely?”
“Are you adjusting to the time difference?”
“Are you feeling okay?”
“Did you unpack your things?”
“Are you getting used to the food?”
“Mom is so curious about how you’re doing. What happened today?”
Worried about her daughter living in a foreign country for the first time, my mom had poured all her concern into those simple questions.
Thinking about it now, that wasn’t the only time. She has always asked me about my well-being:
“Is something bothering you?”
“Did you eat?”
“Are you feeling any better?”
There were times when I found her questions overwhelming, even annoying. But looking back now, I realize each one was wrapped in care and love.
Unlike my mom, who always asked so much about me, I rarely asked her anything. I thought I knew her well enough not to ask—but the truth is, I just wasn’t paying enough attention.
From now on, I want to ask her more questions too:
“Mom, did you eat?”
“Are you feeling okay?”
“How was your day today?”
Just like she once filled her questions with love for me, I want to fill mine with love for her.