The ‘M’ word

She had left all things familiar and went into the unknown all to give her family a better life and joined our home 8 years ago and has now become a part of the family. It’s amazing how someone not related to you in anyway can come to have such an impact on your life.

Having lived with her day in and day out, I never noticed the small things I do now.

Waking up at the crack of dawn to get the family’s first meal of the day together, to tirelessly working around the house, with almost every instruction obeyed( the other times were just a slip of the mind) to giving up her one day of the week off in exchange for another and all with a smile, to serving friends of the master and mistress with politeness, I began to realize behind those simple working clothes there stood a woman of worth, loyalty and commitment.

A new born enters this very household and she continues to win my admiration of tirelessly serving the family and lending more than a helping hand to the new mum treating the child as her very own.

Children coming straight from heaven, it was indeed no surprise to see how she and the child bonded for the child could sense the tireless dedication in keeping him as comfortable as possible. Every time he heard her voice, he’d look for her, every time she passed by, he’d strain his neck to see where she would go. One would think a mother to be jealous by this unspeakable bond and mind you initially she was, only to understand and learn she too could share the same bond with her child and so she watched and learned.

What stood out the most was patience and calm that no matter how tiring or overworked she somedays was, she never allowed him to feel the strain rather, she stopped to offer a smile and sometimes even a hand to play with him.
She did exactly as a mother would, giving up her afternoon naps because he’d be so eager to play with her to finishing her chores as quickly and as flawlessly as she could because when the clock struck 4.30 pm it was strictly their play time at the park.
Upon return, a shower beckoned, followed by his dinner and bed time. But that didn’t mean her bed time was anywhere near, rather, once again she gathered the strength and the smile to help wrap the family’s last meal of the day before she could even think of switching off the lights in this household.

Having seen her after 5 months and running a house of my own without her, I came to understand first hand what efforts it takes to keep the house a home and there was so much one could learn - the strength, the tireless service, the obedience to the master and mistress of the house and all but with a smile. She rarely ever answered back and it just makes one think what strength it takes to keep quiet even though sometimes she may not even be wrong.
She is the ‘Maid’, a word I absolutely refuse to call her because she’s come to be my own and because she so doesn’t deserve that title.

It’s people like her that are a gentle reminder of how coming from different social strata they can still teach us lessons in humility, service with a smile and effortless dedication.

Picture Source : Pixabay