Mother Saves Her Son From Poverty Through Great Personal Sacrifice

This is a touching story of one mother’s love towards her son. The parable, which has been widely circulated on the Internet (author unknown), reveals how a parent will sometimes lie to a child in order to protect them from poverty and give them hope for the future. Her sacrifices do not go unnoticed, and her son reflects back on the “lies” his mother told out of love and devotion.

“The Eight Lies of a Mother,” Author Unknown

The story began when I was a child; I was a son of a poor family. We did not even have enough food. When ever meal times came, mother would often give me her portion of rice. While she was removing her rice into my bowl, she would say “Eat this rice, son. I’m not hungry.”

That was Mother’s First Lie.

When I was growing up, my mother gave up her spare time to go fishing in a river near our house. She hoped that from the fish she caught, she could give me a little bit of nutritious food for my growth. After fishing, she would cook some fresh fish soup. While I was eating, Mother would sit beside me and eat the meat from the scraps. I offered my soup to her, but she immediately refused and said, “Eat your fish, son. I don’t really like fish.”

That was Mother’s Second Lie.

Then, to fund my studies, Mother found a side-job recycling used matchboxes. It gave her some money to cover our needs. As the winter came, I woke up from my sleep and looked at my mother who was awake, supported by a little candlelight, still working away. I said, “Mother, go to sleep, it’s late. Tomorrow morning you still have to go to work.” Mother smiled and said, “Go to sleep, dear. I’m not tired.”

That was Mother’s Third Lie.

The final term arrived. Mother asked for leave from work in order to accompany me. While the sun was starting to shine strongly, my persevering mother waited for me under the heat for several hours. As the bell rang, which indicated that the final exam had finished, mother immediately welcomed me and poured me a cup of tea that she had brought in a flask. Seeing my mother covered with perspiration, I at once gave her my cup and asked her to drink too. Mother said “Drink, son. I’m not thirsty! “

That was Mother’s Fourth Lie.

After the death of my father, my poor mother had to play her role as a single parent. She had to fund our needs alone. Our family’s life was more complicated. No days were without suffering. Our family’s condition was getting worse, so a kind uncle who lived near our house assisted now and then. Our neighbors often advised my mother to marry again. But Mother was stubborn and didn’t take their advice; she said, “I don’t need love.”

That was Mother’s Fifth Lie.

After I had finished my studies and got a job, it was the time for my old mother to retire. But she didn’t want to; she would go to the market place every morning, just to sell some vegetables to fulfill her needs. I, who worked in another city, often sent her some money to help her, in fulfilling her needs, but she would not accept the money. At times, she even sent the money back to me. She said “I have enough money.”

That was Mother’s Sixth Lie.

After graduating with a Bachelors Degree, I began work on my Masters Degree. It was funded by a company through a scholarship program — a company that eventually hired me to work for them. With a good salary, I intended to help my mother enjoy her life. But my lovely mother didn’t want to bother her son. She said to me, “I’m doing just fine.”

That was Mother’s Seventh Lie.

In her old age, mother got stomach cancer and had to be hospitalized. I, who lived miles away, across the ocean, went home to visit my dearest mother. She lay in weakness on her bed after having an operation. Mother, who looked so old, was staring at me in deep thought. She tried to spread her smile on her face…but it was a noticeable effort. It was clear that the disease had weakened mother’s body. She looked so frail and weak. I stared at my mother with tears flowing. My heart was hurt, so hurt, seeing my mother in that condition. But mother with the little strength she had, said “Don’t cry, my dear. I’m not in pain.”

That was Mother’s Eighth and Last Lie. After saying her eighth lie, my Dearest mother closed her eyes forever.

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