北加州中文學校聯合會為慶祝母親節，由中華航空公司資助所舉辦的徵文比賽，成績揭曉。萬佛聖城「培德中學」男校學生蔡宗達得 A 組（十三歲以上）第一名，高健陞得佳作獎。以下為蔡宗達得獎作。
「慈母像大地，嚴父配於天，覆載恩同等，父娘恩亦然。不憎無怒目，不嫌手足孿，誕腹親生子，終日惜兼憐。」已經十六個年頭了！十六年的歲月使我不再是個幼稚的孩子了。時常佇立在鏡子前，看看自己改變了多少？暗暗的慶幸自己的幸福。我曾是一棵脆小的苗，賴於如大地般母親的滋潤，與如紅日般父親的照耀下，得己茁壯成為社稷的棟樑。
在依稀的記憶中，我擁有一個非常美麗的童年。雖然那時的家境並不好。父親總是早出晚歸，為著家庭的生計打拼著。母親您便常在窗旁，依著柔風，用您那一雙巧手，為孩子做捕丁。而您也常牽著我的小手，穿梭在青翠的竹林間，順著小溪，踱步在鄉間小路上，與大自然融於一體。
我擁有正直、風趣又帶點嚴肅的父親。父親的樸實與正直，從小就深深的影響著我。為了家庭富裕起來，我的父親便在六年前隻身到中國大陸工作。而您就在這種情況下，扮演著嚴父與慈母的雙重角色。我的父親是個幸福的男人，因為他擁有一位忠實的伴侶。在他情緒最低落，事業最不如意時與他共享榮辱、同共甘苦。我的父親也是一個幸運的男人，因為他有個淑慧的賢內助，能在他隻身出國時，沒有家庭的後顧之憂，他能全心全力的為自己的理想與事業打拼。
然而母親您則是一位稱職的演員。當母親披上風衣，提著公事包，騎著機車上班時，是個公司裡的好幹部，與父親分擔家計；當母親卸下了一身樸素風塵，又搖身變成一位家庭主婦。每當您握著鍋鏟，又搖身變成一位大廚師，為一家大小調理一席美味佳肴；當母親您穿上縵衣，誦念佛經時，您又是一位虔誠的佛教徒，為世界祈求和平……。
「本是芙蓉質，精神健且豐，眉分新柳碧，臉色奪蓮紅；恩深擁玉貌，洗濯損盤龍，只為憐子女，慈母改容顏。」十六年的時光轉瞬間過了。歲月在母親慈祥的面孔留下了深深的記號。讀著母親額上的紋路，彷彿是陶醉在母親一生的喜、怒、哀、樂中。最喜歡看著母親您在縫紉機前的背影了。在柔和的光中，母親彷彿用您熟悉的技巧，把您與孩子們的心，交織在一起了。而您一生的勞累就像在燃燒自己，照亮我們，培養我們，關心我們呀！
我們都是非常幸福的一代，在慈母細心的培育下，得己茁壯。我們都是幸運的一代，因為我們擁有一對關愛我們的父母啊！所謂：「母年一百歲，常憂八十兒；欲知恩愛斷，命盡始分離。」不正是很好的此照嗎？
所謂：「父母恩情重，恩深報實難，子苦願代受，兒勞母不安。」沒錯！父母的愛如山高，似海樣深！豈是我們一句話，一個動作，或是幾個血汗錢可以回報的呢？烏鴉知反哺，羔羊亦知跪乳，如果我們不孝順父母的話，不就連禽獸也不如了嗎？所謂：「樹欲靜而風不止，子欲養而親不待。」所以我們更該及時行孝啊！
媽媽我想對您說：「謝謝您！」，雖然我時常惹您生氣，也常常令您擔心的吃不下飯，睡不著覺。媽媽我想對您說：「我要孝順您！」，雖然我很少幫忙作家事，成天忙著打球，也交不出漂亮的成績單。但是媽媽，我想對您說：「我愛您！」我要永遠陪著親愛的媽媽，一生一世的孝順您。 |
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In order to celebrate Mother's Day, the Chinese Schools of Northern California conducted a Chinese Essay Contest sponsored by China Airlines. When the winners of the contest were announced, Jim Tsai of Developing Virtue Boys School at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas won the first prize of group A (from 13 years of age and above). Gao Jianshen was a runner-up. What follows is the prize-winning composition written by Jim Tsai.
It is said, "The kind mother is like the great earth, the stern father is like the all-encompassing heaven; one covers from above; the other supports from below, The kindness of parents is such that they know no hatred or anger toward their offspring, and are not displeased, even if the child is born crippled. After the mother carries the child in her womb and gives birth to it, the parents care for and protect it together until the end of their days."
I am already 16, not naive anymore. Now looking at myself in the mirror I can see how much I have changed, a change for the better. Before I was like a little sprout; Mom, you were like the earth giving me all the nutrients. Father was like the sun shining on me. Therefore I have grown into a tall tree to become a pillar for my country.
In distant memories, I recall a wonderful childhood. Our family was not rich and father had to work from early morning until late at night in order to support the family. Mom, you always sat by the window in the breeze, mending our clothes. And you held my little hand as we walked through the bright green bamboo to the little creek along the small path. We became one with nature.
I have a dad who is upright, humorous and sometimes stern. He showed me two qualities: to be thrifty and straightforward.
In order to make more money, dad took a job in mainland China and so, you had two roles, the stern father and the kind mother. Dad was a lucky man to have such faithful companion like you. Dad was sometimes depressed when his job wasn't going too well.You shared both his happiness and his sorrow. Father was very fortunate when he had to leave the country, because you were such a wonderful wife and he didn't have to worry about us. Thus dad could work single-mindedly on both his ideas and career.
Mom, you are a dedicated actress. When you wear your overcoat, carrying your briefcase and riding your motor scooter to work, you are truly a good company employee. You share the family burden with Dad. When you arrive home, you dust off your coat and transform yourself into a homemaker. Whenever you work in the kitchen you transform yourself into a wonderful chef as you prepare a tableful of delicacies for the whole family. Mother, when you don your precept robe and recite Buddhist sutras you suddenly become a pious Buddhist, praying for world peace.
It is also said, "Originally she had a pretty face and a beautiful body, her spirit was strong and vibrant. Her eyebrows were like fresh green willows. And her complexion would have put a red rose to shame. But her kindness is so deep she will forgo a beautiful face, although washing away the baby's filth injures her constitution, the kind mother acts solely for the sake of her sons and daughters. And willingly allows her beauty to fade."
Sixteen years have gone by in the wink of an eye. Age has left its mark on your face. The wrinkles on your forehead seem to tell a story of joy, anger, happiness, and sorrow. I will never forget the picture of you seated at the sewing machine under the soft light of a lamp. It seems you were using you wonderful skills to weave your heart and our hearts together. You were toiling and burning yourself away to nurture us with your loving care. We are a fortunate generation because we are able to grow up under your devotion and care. We are a lucky lot because we have caring parents. There is an old saying which goes like this, "Even though the mother grows to be one hundred years old, she still always worries about her eighty-year-old son. If you want to know when she will stop worrying that will be when she is on her death bed.” Is that not a perfect description of you, mom?
It is true that the parents shower great loving kindness on their children, and it is very difficult for children to repay that kindness. The parents are willing to bear the sufferings of their children. And they are never at ease when they see their children toil and labor to earn a living. Parental love is as high as a mountain and as deep as the ocean. We can never fully repay it with words, actions or money. Even the crow knows to feed the old crows that can no longer fend for themselves. And the baby goat kneels to drink its mother's milk. If we don't know how to show filial piety, we are worse than animals. It is indeed difficult for a tree to stay still when the wind blows. Likewise it is difficult for the children who long to take care of their parents when their parents are no longer in the world. Therefore we must waste no time in fulfilling our filial piety while we still have the chance.
Mom, I wish to say thank you. Even though I often make you angry, anxious to the point that you cannot enjoy meals and even have sleepless nights. Dear Mom, I just want to say, "I want to repay your kindness." I seldom help out with chores around the, home, rather I spend the whole day playing basketball. And to make matters worse, I don't have good academic results to show you. Above all, I want to say, "Mom, I LOVE YOU." I want to always be with and take care of you for the rest of my life. |
