A Hot Breakfast and Being Thankful
When I was a child, (and up to now, on certain occasions when my family and I “bunk” for the night at my Mama and Daddy’s place during a storm or an extremely late night) it seemed the most natural thing in the world to wake up to the wonderful smells of a hot breakfast cooking, whether it was bacon or “tocino” being fried, or hearing the sounds of someone puttering about in the kitchen, preparing a hot meal before we all woke up and set off for school.
While I’ve always been grateful for how my Mama was always there to wake us up in the morning, eat breakfast with us, and see us off with a smile and a reassuring hug, it’s only this morning, as I woke up before dawn to prepare breakfast for MY own little family that feeling thankful came rushing back once again.
As I type, fatless tocino is frying in its pan and hot rice is cooking. In a bit, banana slices will be placed in Drian’s bowl, and orange juice will be poured out in glasses.
You see, I used to sing regularly in gigs for a very long time. I know what it’s like to sleep at 4:00 in the morning, still buzzing from adrenaline of performing the night before, and wake up at 4:00 in the afternoon, ready to have “breakfast,” squeeze in some writing jobs before setting out again to sing. Being a nocturne was the most natural thing in the world.
Just as it felt natural for me as a child to wake up to Mama awake and smiling and doting and loving during the early hours of the day…and all the way until the last minute before I closed my eyes at night. With consistently loving, firm kindness, unabashed delight in embracing her roles as a wife and a mother…That’s how my Mama lives each day.
I never thought that it wouldn’t be anything other than easy, rousing an exhausted-body from sleep and going about regular chores, even after having a few hours of sleep the night before, making sure that everything was in its place and perfectly peaceful before succumbing to sleep…
Perhaps, squeezing in some “alone or me-time” in pockets of the day, praying and shaping a few individual hopes and dreams one day at a time, while busy helping the ones you love build theirs. Every glass and plate washed, the kitchen spick-and-span, toys put away in their bins, husband resting well, child sound asleep.
Watching the dark skies turn into light, this time standing over a stove, checking if breakfast is ready before I would now gently wake my little family up.
The tocino is cooked to perfection, sunny-side up eggs are frying in the pan, hot garlic rice is ready to be scooped and served on a plate.
My Mama made it look so easy, and to this day, she still makes it so. As I putter about in my own little kitchen, waiting for my husband and child to stir from their slumber, I’m overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude again.
Motherhood is love so easily shelled and scooped out and tenderly poured out with reserve. Motherhood is how ordinary things are churned out with extraordinary yet seemingly effortless ways.
I can’t wait to call my Mama and share with her this experience, and thank her that though it’s NOT easy to wake up before dawn to do all these things, because of her loving example and my deep love for my husband and daughter, now I’m making this the most natural thing in the world… Serving up a hot breakfast, and keeping my husband and child warm with smiles and hugs and all that make a day sunshiney and beautiful. Not the easiest things to be—a wife and mom has its own challenges, that’s for sure. But I realize that to be these is to be fulfilled, and blessed.
It’s all by God’s watch, His perfect timing, where I’ll be placed in terms of making music and writing in full force like in the past, but for now, He’s still opening doors and making sure my life is colorful with steady opportunities to enjoy my passions and earning from these. For that I do feel happy and grateful. Little and big things involving my writing and music are always something to share with my husband and child. They’re involved in every little thing that I do.
Thank you dear Lord, for your grace, for blessing me with a great example to follow (my Mama) and for the privilege to be a wife and a mother. And Kudos to all moms and dads, and loving hearts, everywhere!!! 
3 Responses to “A Hot Breakfast and Being Thankful”
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beautiful entry on such a wonderful insight!
so true, that being in our position now makes me ever so much more thankful to my mom also — it’s not that we never were thankful, but seeing it in the same perspective now, as a mother and a homemaker, makes the connection that much more special 
sharing this lovely quote to you, may it encourage you even more in this lovely season we’re in!
“Thank God, O women, for the quietude of your home, and that you are queen it it. Men come at eventide to the home; but all day long you are there, beautifying it, sanctifying it, adorning it, blessing it. Better be there than wear a queen’s coronet. Better be there than carry the purse of a princess. It may be a very humble home. There may be no carpet on the floor. There may be no pictures on the wall. There may be no silks in the wardrobe; but, by your faith in God, and your cheerful demeanor, you may garniture that place with more splendor than the upholsterer’s hand ever kindled.” — Reverend T. DeWitt Talmage, D.D
I love this quote. It’s beautiful and it encapsulates the incomparable gratitude I feel in being a wife and mom. Thank you for your wonderful thoughts and insights. Keep them coming, my dear!
Thanks so much for this beautiful quote! and for your encouraging comments!