183- I’m Indebted to you Mom

In the state of Georgia, the only son of a widow was the top of his class in college. He was waiting for the day of receiving his diploma from the Dean of the college. The celebration day was drawing nearer. On the celebration day, he noticed that his mother was not ready. He said to her, “Mom why aren’t you ready for the party? Today is the celebration of my graduation.”

The mother answered in a low voice, “You know son that I’m a poor woman, I make my living from cleaning homes and rich people will be coming to the party with their fine clothes. I don’t want to embarrass you since I don’t have a good dress to put on for the occasion.”

He looked at his mother with tears in his eyes and said to her, “What do you mean? Shall I be ashamed of you? I owe you every thing Mom. Every thing achieved is because of your love and hard work. I’m not going to the party without you.”

The mother was convinced to go to the party because of her son’s insistence. Mother and son went to the party holding hands. The mother sat among the rich and famous. She was wearing an inexpensive dress. The son was the first to receive his award and a golden medal being the top of his class. While everybody was clapping he went down the stage to put the gold medal on his mother’s dress telling everybody that she was the one who deserves the medal, “I’m indebted to you Mom.”

And so the young man was not ashamed of his poor mother who worked hard to make him a successful person.

Are you ashamed of your Jesus who became poor to make you rich and was crucified to pay your debt? Let us say with St Paul,

“As for me I only boast of the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Truly He promised us saying,

“Whoever acknowledges me before men I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven” (Matt. 10.32).

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: إني مدين لكِ بكل شيء يا أمّاه.

You became a slave You the Holy one,

To lift me up to the rank of a child of God.

You became last of all so I can have part in Your glory.

How can I be ashamed of You while You are the reason behind my existence!

Alone but Not Alone

Short Stories (Stories for the Youth) Books by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

The Night of Preparation