In relationships – whether it's between a husband and wife, a child and his parent, between friends or amongst relatives – there are often things left unsaid. Things we wish we had said or done and realise the importance of only after it is too late.
For Grace Ramirez, a receptionist-and-secretary in Sharjah, the death of her father two years ago brought home the enormity of just how much he meant to her and the depth of his wisdom and love.
"As children, teenagers, and even as young adults, few realise the real worth of their parents," admits Grace.
"Of course we all love them and want to shine in their eyes, but seldom do we realise the true meaning of what it actually takes to be a parent – the decisions they have to make along the way as we grow up and the sacrifices they make to ensure that we can enjoy a happy future.
"I can never think of Papa without the word 'sacrifice'. For me, Papa personified the word. "I grew up in a middle-class Manila family in the Philippines. Mama was a homemaker and Papa left for Saudi Arabia to earn a living when I was still a little girl.
There were three boys and a girl to take care of. Bringing up four children couldn't have been an easy task. Papa worked in a construction company for 20 years, and today I realise how hard life must have been.
"What made it an even more difficult task for my father was that he wasn't interested in making sure that we simply grew up right; he wanted us to recieve the best education possible as well. He wanted us to go to university and graduate with pride.
"Ever since I can remember, my dad would talk to us about the importance of a good education. Whenever he came home on holiday (which was for a month every year), he would chat to us and create opportunities which helped us realise the importance of studies. In each and every monthly letter that he sent to us for 20 years, there would be a reminder about what he called the 'Best Medicine': Education.
"Now when I think back, I realise Papa believed in the phrase 'Education is the best medicine' because he wanted us to have the treasure he himself could not possess. For Papa, education was the medicine that would cure poverty, the medicine that would cure ignorance, which would remove many barriers in life… and it was the stuff that would give you the strength to live with your family in a healthy state of mind.
"We didn't realise it then, but being away for 20 years from your family – that's almost a lifetime – would have been Papa's greatest sacrifice, because he loved us all so very much.
"And Papa never complained. During the holidays he would spend with us I don't recall him complaining about his living conditions or how hard he had to work to put us through school.
"Mama had a big role to play in our lives as well. She was our caregiver and our source of strength. Our bond was stronger with Mama while growing up, because we only saw Papa once a year.
"After all his hard work, I made Papa proud five years ago when I graduated from the Fapps College in Manila with a Bachelor of Science in Tourism degree, majoring in Airline Operations.
"Papa couldn't be there for my graduation, but as I went up on to the stage to receive my certificate, in my mind, I could see him all around me.
And I remembered his words that a good education is the best gift he could give me, and the best gift I could give myself. "Two years ago, at the age of 55, Papa passed away.
It has been the saddest, most trying time of my life. Only after I came to the UAE – four years back – did I realise the true worth of his presence in my life. Only when I tasted the bitterness of being away from my family – even for this short a time – did I realise the significance of his sacrifice.
"I have no regrets in life, but if I had a chance to live my life all over again, I would take every opportunity to thank Papa for his gift of life to me. For his advice, his sacrifice and, more than anything, for the 'Best Medicine'.''
