A Mother Cares

I had lost my mother quite early in my childhood and have very little memory of her.  Since the time I joined Swami's school, I always regarded Swami as my Mother.  It is said that a girl's sixteenth birthday is very special.  The day before I turned sixteen, I wrote to Swami revealing my desire that my body's mother, wherever she was, should visit me on this special birthday.  Swami did not take my letter, I kept it away.

I went to bed on the eve of the special occasion.  At midnight, my affectionate and overzealous friends at the Hostel woke me up to wish me "Happy Birthday".  I did not remember any of it.  All I remembered was someone shaking me by my feet and trying to wake me up.  I said so to my friends next morning.  One of my roommates, who was awake throughout that night, running high temperature, looked at me in a very strange way.

Weeks later I was to learn that in her fever, my roommate had seen the figure of a woman apparently appear at the window, enter the room, try to wake me up shaking my feet and leave soon after.  My roommate had seen my mother's photograph.  The mysterious woman at my bedside resembled her.  Even the sari she wore was the last my mother had worn on a special occasion.

My roommate had no knowledge of my secret desire and my communion with Swami.  It was a unique birthday gift from Swami.  Swami revealed to me that a mother cares.

(Source: Spiritual Impressions - May/June 2001 - Name of author unknown)