Here are a dozen things taught to me by my mother when I was young; and something which she would say, which still warms my heart:
* Always be aware of the effects of my actions on others.
* Never complain to others about my problems. Everyone has problems and irritation is both contagious and infectious.
* Foul language causes explosions in space; it has the trajectory of a boomerang; and always indicates a low and coarse intelligence.
* Never to raise my hands in anger to a woman.
* Respect is to be given to my father.
* Out walking at night with a woman in a city, always walk on the inside, because a criminal may be lurking in a doorway.
* Never do anything that would deprive a woman of the joy of walking down the aisle in a white dress.
* Be grateful, be solicitous toward others, share deep feelings and be cheerful.
* Try to give of my need and to contain my eternal dissatisfaction.
* Stay awake, be observant, reverence what I see.
* Wisdom is better than any medicine, and one cannot change the composition.
* Guardian angels weep whenever I ignore the heart's whisperings.
Lastly, she often quipped: Where are you going to find a mother like me?
Raphael O'Suna
Haiku
