August 9
This is the name of a new cafe near my house. I thought it was very peculiar when I saw the signboard with a specific date written on it. Every time I passed the cafe, I was curious about the meaning. One day I entered the café out of curiosity.
After ordering a drink, I asked the owner what the signboard meant while she was preparing the drink. She replied, “It’s the most special day in my life.” I asked if it was her birthday or wedding anniversary. Then she smiled and said:
“It’s my son’s birthday.”
It was an unexpected answer to me.
“If it’s your son’s birthday, isn’t it the most difficult day for you?”
“No way. For me, it was the happiest and most joyful day in the world.”
The greatest pain a person naturally experiences is childbirth, but she remembered it only as a happy day as if she had forgotten all the pain of childbirth. Seeing her roasting fragrant coffee and warming milk to welcome customers in the café named after her son’s birthday, I could feel warmth in my heart.
Suddenly, my mom came to mind. Since I began to work away from home, I could gradually realize how much my mom had been sacrificed for me, so I was very sorry to her. Even though I had decided to deliver only good news to her, I used to make her worried about me. So I took courage and said to her on the phone on my birthday.
“Mom, thank you for giving birth to me … Thank you.”
How difficult it was to complete the words that my heart pounded. Dad said, “Oh, you’ve grown up now,” and Mom said, “What a surprise,” being pleased. I regretted that I didn’t tell her earlier.
Just as the café owner said that the day her son was born is the most special day in her life, it must be the same to my mom. I wish that not only the day I was born, but also her every day will be happy and joyful. I’d like to help her live such a life.