My Most Treasured Birthday Card Ever! - SMALL THINGS, BIG STORIES (Week#147)

If I were to be asked whether I’ve ever valued everything given to me, regardless of how big or small it is, my answer would be: it depends! (Maybe because I’m getting older and tend to forget things, but not my name! 😂 Just kidding!)

Greetings to all my fellow ASEAN members here on Hive, especially to our @aseanhive community!

I’m the kind of person who isn’t very careful with things, and I sometimes forget about stuff, whether it’s something I bought or something given to me. 😂 Maybe this is what they call a sign of aging, haha! But there’s one small thing I’ll never forget for almost 8 years, because it carries such a big story behind it.

It’s a birthday card that my younger sister gave me when we were still studying that was around 2017, during my final year in college. I’m not the type who’s showy or expressive even if I truly love my sister. When I talk to them, it’s like I’m speaking across a mountain with matching eye-rolls, haha! I don’t mean to be that way, but somehow my mouth and eyes 👀 doesn’t always cooperate. Which is my biggest problem to myself and behavior. 😔

At that time, my sibling was in junior high school, and sometimes I would be the one giving her allowance. We weren’t rich kid and we only relied on my scholarship allowance and the small amount our parents could ever give. By God’s grace, we somehow managed to make it and finished our studies.

It so happened that it was my birthday, but I was busy with school activities because I was the SSC President, so I often came home late to our boarding house specially if there is a student activities coming. One morning, when I woke up, there was a mug and a card placed on my desk I wonder what it was and I opened it and that’s when I realized it was my birthday!

What's inside the card wasn’t money but something far more valuable than anything else. It was a heartfelt letter from my sister, filled with love and care. When you read it, you can’t help but cry because every word touches your heart deeply. And during that time I was a single mom and I was still studying.

Until now that I have my own family, I still open and read that same card every birthday. I put it on my photo album so that it will not fade. It’s the only birthday card I’ve ever received from my family and the first time I feel loved by one of my siblings. And whenever I start missing them since we were far from each other, I read that piece of paper again, and somehow it eases my longing for them.

I know that for others, it might seem worthless because it's just an old piece of paper that they would probably throw away. But for me, it’s been eight years, and it’s still here, treasured and still looking almost brand new. Though, the mug is already gone haha!

That’s my SMALL THINGS, BIG STORY and I can’t wait to read yours too.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my entry. I really appreciate your time and support

Always remember to keep smiling! Mabuhay!