White Canvas

Mother's Day was recently celebrated across the globe and it was refreshing to see how people took time to appreciate their moms. For me this was my first Mother's Day as a wife and for my mum her first with a "son-in-love" as she calls him. As we spent time together I began to feel a deep sense of admiration swell up in my heart as she told us about the different chapters that shaped her life. Later that evening I pondered over her words and realized how privileged I was to be a brush stroke on her white canvas.

We spend nine months growing in their wombs afterwards we are born and each get a white canvas. They nurture, care, provide and protect us the best way they know and all these moments form the various brushes on our canvas'. As we get older we discover colors, paint brushes, erasers and pencils that inspire us to draw on our own. Each new experience is marked by a brush stroke; happy times are characterized by distinct, clean and steady strokes while the sad times appear as thick blobs of paint on the canvas. On my canvas the neutral colors represent the moments my mum has comforted, reassured and helped me draw especially during those times I felt I knew better.

It's been slightly over two decades now since I got my white canvas. With a glance i notice strokes that were painted without putting much thought; others that began with a dream that guided me through the strokes and few outstanding pieces appear that were inspired by the lives of others. Each of these strokes fill my mind with the events and memories that lead up to their existence. A broad smile stretches across my face when I remember my courtship days which have now formed an outstanding piece on my canvas.

The wedding planning was tiresome and had some frustrating moments but it was also the only time I saw so many friends and family joyfully come together to celebrate me. This kind of love and concern easily carries one to utopia. Honeymoon gateways add to the utopia feeling but as life has it, this too comes to an end. With her arms stretched wide open, reality awaits to embrace and welcome you from utopia. Her embrace for me was gentle and my reality came in a special way with a white canvas at the door for my footprints to symbolize my entry into my new home. Once inside my hubby says, "baby paint whatever you want this is ours".

Life only gives us one white canvas. DON'T let fear and uncertainties stop you from painting, dream and surround yourself with all kinds of stationery. Keep mum close as you'll need her to soften the
blobs of paint and allow yourself to learn from others....wisdom is in the streets!!!