I love looking at old photographs and albums, especially those of our childhood days. What fun and what times were those! I'm sure if you are reading this, you can relate to feeling I describe. It's a nostalgic feeling.I have albums with pictures which are slowly fading, some of them are stuck to the albums, they have turned slightly yellowish and brown on the corners and when you look at those pictures I find myself unbelievable ridiculous looking that what I am today.Funny hairstyle,frilly frocks with funny laces,some funny pose,weird sense of fashion I guess? Do you feel that way when you look at old pics?

And today how much have we all have changed! I often look at old pictures and remember the occasion when the photo was taken. Sometimes I don't recollect anything at all. But one thing is for sure, in all the pictures and videos I have seen that belong to my childhood, I do not have one picture that reminds me of the worries of those days.

Probably that's why these pictures are nostalgic. No worries at all. The biggest question of the day would be "Do I really have to go to school?" or "what's for lunch?"...life was so simple then. No plans for the future...I didn't even understand at that point that I had a future.When my parents used to admonish me for my studies, I always used to think, "Why are they so worked up?If I don't get through, I still have another chance" (so simple).

But for parents, it was an entirely different ball game. I never realized ever, how much effort it took for my parents to provide for us an environment full of resources which were at our finger tips. We were secure and happy and tension-free, but not our parents. They took a lot of stress to ensure that our school fees was paid off so that school goes uninterrupted. They used to work shifts through out the week so that we could get all the resources like tuition and school books etc.Not to mention our other abrupt demands like school picnics, excursions and some other competitions we might want to participate in.

I remember that my mother had to go to extra lengths once to get some specimens for my Biology assignment so that I could score more! How oblivious I was of the hard work that was involved to provide a secure yet stable environment for us.And once we are capable to stand on our own, we are ready to take charge of things are fend for ourselves, our parents might take a sigh of relief momentarily as we work our way out.They then give us the space to learn from our mistakes, why? So that when we learn and experience life, not only will we stand on our own, we can also support each other and start our own family one day.

I had a friend once who claimed, no matter how old we grow,our parents will always be parents. And they would be there for us no matter what!But that doesn't mean we have to depend on them forever, we should be able to take care of then when time comes...It was nice to know that someone valued the hard effort put in by their elders; probably that was their reward and a fruitful result of the blood and sweat they shed all the years-Fine children with good values!

And then I had this other friend, who once told me that if parents put in so much effort and spent so much on us, it's not a favor; every parent has to do that. What ???? I was zapped for a minute at his theory and waited with a starring gaze in silence, hoping that he might hear what he said and find every bit of his sentence as absurd as I felt it to be at that moment. But no! He looked at me and said, "O stop staring, you know what I'm saying is true."

Well I did stop staring at him and told him that I didn't agree with him at all. And I really pitied his parents at that moment for I knew this act of rebellion is not only to tell that he doesn't care, it also showed that he never noticed all the laborious work his parents had put in.Sad, I thought...I never would wanted my child to say such things to me.

And I stopped to think for a moment, our earthly parents have provided everything in their capacity to make us what we are.In order to establish us, they might have lost sleep and would have had a million plans chalked out so that one day in the distant future, we would be stable. I never have once come across any parent who has said that I have done so much for you, so now you take care of me! But deep down I know they would appreciate it and would be proud if we made that choice on our very own.

I am grateful that God gave me parents who loved me, they provided for me. I realize that God also had plans where He provided for my parents in times of need in miraculous ways.I have witnessed His love especially when my father passed away and we were two sisters alone with our mother not knowing the ways of the world. Moreover, we didn't have anyone to guide us or tell us what is best education wise. All my relatives gave only one suggestion at that time, "Get them married". But my mother stood her ground and believed God to provide for the best and by God's grace, Jesus has never failed us.

Now that I am married and am ready to start a family, that is when I realize about all the worries my parents would have gone through. If you already are a parent then you would realize this even better.It is better to thank and acknowledge their love by being considerate when they are with us, instead of remembering the good things when they would be gone.

This article I write today, is dedicated to our parents because of whom I recall wonderful bliss when I see my childhood photographs and do not remember a single bit of worry then. Because of whom I had peaceful nights when I was child, because of whom I could dream big and try and achieve what ever I could till date.I am thankful to God who gave me wonderful parents who let me learn life.I thank God that He never left us in times when my father passed away.

If you are reading this article, and also have the same nostalgic feelings of the wonderful days which are memories now. If you look at those pale, slightly brownish,faded and  funny childhood photographs you have in your closet somewhere, then don't forget to thank your parents for all they have done. If your parents are not around anymore then pray to God and thank him for giving them in your life. No matter what happens, spare sometime and convey your love to them so that they know what a fine job they've done with you!