Sometimes we don’t realise what we have until something else is taken away. In this story, a young woman from Zimbabwe looks back on loss, family, and the moment she finally saw the blessing that had been beside her all along.
Life Lessons & Key Themes From This Story
- We often take loved ones for granted without realising it. Loss can narrow our focus and blind us to the people who are still present.
- Appreciating what you have changes how you live. Awareness can reshape priorities and deepen care for others.
- Strength is often shown through everyday responsibility. Quiet sacrifice and consistency are powerful forms of courage.
- Time with loved ones is not guaranteed. Relationships deserve attention now, not only in hindsight.
- Seeing differently can turn pain into growth. Awareness allows grief to become a guide, not just a weight.
📍 From Zimbabwe: One of many inspiring stories shared from around the world, reminding us that every season of life carries its own gifts.
I didn’t realise how often I had taken my mother for granted until life opened my eyes. For a long time, I was blinded by my own pain, unable to see the love and strength of the person standing right beside me.
I was a young girl who lost her father a week after my twelfth birthday. He had been sick and admitted to hospital while my mom was pregnant with my little sister. We all thought he was recovering when he came home.
Then one night after supper, we went to bed. Minutes later, my mom knocked, screaming for us to open the door. My father had collapsed.
A neighbour took us in for the night, but my heart would not rest. Soon my mom’s friend shared the news of his passing. I felt a short sharp pain through my heart. I could not comprehend what I was feeling. I could not even cry.
When we returned home, people were crying inside the house. I thought of my mom and ran to her. She was sitting on the floor, swimming in her own pool of tears. I hugged her tightly. I was only twelve, but I swear I could feel her pain.
There is a kind of silent understanding between people who have gone through such loss. It does not ask your age or who you are. It simply knows the weight that settles in your chest when life breaks you open.
I felt a short sharp pain through my heart. I could not comprehend what I was feeling. I could not even cry.
Taking Mum for Granted
My father was and is my first love. He always knew what I needed, even when I didn’t understand myself. He used to call me his beautiful onyinye, meaning “God’s gift,” and it made me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world.
We would prepare for my quiz competitions together. His love and support gave me confidence to pursue my dreams. He once said I had given him the greatest gift of all: fatherhood. His passing left me reeling in shock and grief.
As I navigated grief, I held onto so much pain and anger. Everyone was focused on my mom after my dad passed, and that made me feel alone and insignificant. I was so wrapped in my own sadness that I did not see hers. I did not see the heaviness she carried every single day.
I did not see how she held our home together when her own heart was breaking. I did not see her strength or how deeply she loved us.
Appreciating My Mother for the First Time
Until the day I finally stopped and noticed my mother as if for the first time. She returned home after teaching all day. Instead of resting, she walked around neighbouring villages, farms and mines selling clothes, blankets and shoes so she could provide for us. Her eyes were tired, her steps slow, yet she still came home with a smile. She worked tirelessly for her three children, carrying burdens none of us truly saw.
Realising her dedication as a mother made me reevaluate my priorities. I understood then that if I ever needed to look for a hero in my life, it was her. My mother showed true heroism in everyday acts of love and courage. She had been my blessing all along, even when I was blinded by my own pain.
This newfound appreciation made me a more caring daughter and a responsible older sister to my younger siblings. I began to understand that life is a series of choices, and I chose to appreciate what I have and live with purpose. Many of my peers take their loved ones for granted, wishing for more instead of appreciating what they already have. I no longer live that way.
Someone once asked me what my biggest fear is. I said, “I have already lost half of myself with my father’s passing. I am now left with one parent. Losing her would be losing myself.”
Learning to Appreciate What I Have Right Now
This understanding reminded me of the preciousness of time and life. It opened my eyes to appreciate what I have now. My mother has been my blessing all along, teaching me through her courage, her love and her everyday sacrifices. She showed me that even in the hardest moments, there is hope and the possibility for growth.
Losing my father may have broken me, but my mother’s courage helped me rise. She is the reason I choose to live with purpose, cherish the people beside me and find the strength to move forward.
Meet our Storyteller Ruvarashe Chapfiwa
My name is Ruvarashe Chapfiwa . I am a determined and ambitious young girl raised by a single mother. I am a smart and outspoken individual who is not afraid to speak my mind and stand up for what l believe in.
Beyond my bold exterior , l am also an adventurer and curious person who loves exploring new ideas, places and experiences. I am driven and always striving to achieve my goals and push beyond my limits.
READ ANOTHER STORY | Found in a trash-can in the backstreets of South Korea, then adopted out to an American family where she faced abuse ...
to becoming an international empowerment coach and motivational speaker; Sasha takes you on a powerful journey of reframing her adoption story.
