I came home to see my mom’s eye red as if crying. We sat down and talked. I learned that she got the news that one of my brothers who has joined the navy passed out during rigid training at the camp and was taken to the hospital.

My brother J is not actually a navy but an engineer who would be working in a ship abroad and undergoing a training course fit to that of a navy. The training program is aimed to make them physically fit in case of emergencies at sea, to be able to at least save their own life (knock on wood).

Though physically fit, the rigid physical training involving non-stop jogging for at least an hour and something called a “navy dozen” (12 kinds of exercise with push-ups and crunches, who knows what else) is a whole new experience for J. He was out of breath and passed out. He called my father from the hospital, my father had a chat with my mom.

Since we weren’t able to reach J last night due to time difference, my mother was really weary. I tried to comfort her by telling that J is already in his 20’s, should be ok and his body can get used to the training soon.

My mom was silent and nodded a few times but I know no words of comfort will be able to suffice the worry and anxiety she feels for her son. I realized that if I had been on her feet, I would surely feel the same.

Babies fully independent on their parents grow on to be toddlers who will be busy with their own world, to being a teenager busy with friends to an adult fully capable of detaching from their parents. But parents? I guess no matter how old our children become, we remain parents who are sensitive to their needs and feelings and will constantly want the best for them no matter what.

Last night, I thought of my mom, of the thoughts she has on her mind, of the prayers she says every night - that the Lord will guide all her many children scattered all over the world away from her comfort and love.