Today I Am A Little Girl Again

It's Mother's Day and today, if only for today, I am a little girl again.

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Mama keeps telling me I have a good voice and have been talking me into joining the amateur singing contest in our neighborhood. It's almost the annual fiesta in our small GKK (Gagmay'ng Kristohanong Katilingban or Small Ecclesial Community) and the singing contest is one of the activities.

"Why don't you join? God might take that talent away from you if you don't use it", she would then add.

"I am terrible at singing Ma!" I would then reply. "My voice is too soft for people to hear. And besides, I croak like a toad!"

"Of course you don't sound like a toad! Just do lots of practice singing loudly! That should do it."

After some more convincing from her, I finally give in and signed up for the Amateur Singing Contest. Oh well, I guess mothers are like that - proud of their children.

I got through the preliminaries. Could it be that Mama is right, that I can really sing? Then Feast Day came and it was already the Grand Finals.

I couldn't help myself from feeling too nervous. The judges were already there and the other contestants were pretty good. Then it was time for me to sing my piece. My voice was shaking. My palms were wet. I felt cold sweat. And then I started to cry while I was singing my piece, Wind Beneath My Wings.

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The lyrics and the melody of the song are still very clear to me, until today. I sang the song to Samantha last night and found myself in tears. Memories of my childhood, with my Mama as the center of it, came rushing back like a flashflood. I was awashed with sweet memories and the realization that I might not have thanked her enough for all the sacrifice, the unconditional love and caring, the guidance and understanding, and the patience that she has shown me all these years. And so from the bottom of my heart, I sing this song again for my Mama.

It must have been cold there in my shadow,
to never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that's your way,
you always walked a step behind.So I was the one with all the glory,
while you were the one with all the strength.
A beautiful face without a name -- for so long,
a beautiful smile to hide the pain.

Chorus
Did you ever know that you're my hero,
and ev'rything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
but I've got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it,
I would be nothing with out you.

Chorus
Did you ever know that you're my hero,
and ev'rything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

Fly, fly, fly away,
you let me fly so high.
Oh, fly, fly,
so high against the sky, so high I almost touch the sky.
Thank you, thank you, thank God for you,
the wind beneath my wings.

Happy Mother's Day Ma. I love you.

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