A Mother's Love, Spoken Through the Mountains

Maria was a single mom in her forties with an energetic small bakery that consumed every ounce of her being. Her twelve-year-old son, Joshua, seemed to be struggling in school lately. Not wanting to disappoint his mother, he had grown quiet and withdrawn. Determined to show her son the unconditional love she felt, Maria decided one day to express her heart in a special way.

In exquisite calligraphy, she wrote on the wish banner, "Let Joshua gain strength and find his direction looking up at the mountaintop." For a sacred place for her message, she chose the Olympic Mountains in Washington State.

Explaining why this mountain range became her choice, Maria said, "The mountain is unshakeable, unchanging. It would tell us, in time, everything else would pass.".

The climbing team took off under clear skies, but was suddenly swept by a snowstorm in the middle of the journey to the mountains. Fighting strong gusty winds and icy terrain, the climbers tried to press onward. The camera shot of the Olympic Mountains was dramatic in beauty - pristine white snow juxtaposed with rugged cliffs. After hours of grueling effort, the team reached the summit where they finally unrolled the banner. The words on the banner, full of pathos, sounded in harmony with the pure stillness of the mountain peak, as if embraced by the sacred stillness of the mountain.

The climbers later, upon return, sent photos and a video of placing the banner to Maria. Seated with Joshua, she handed him the video and spoke in a soft voice: "No matter what you go through, I will always be here for you, like this mountain, standing strong by your side." Overwhelmed, Joshua burst into tears, embracing his mother tightly.

A month later, Maria took Joshua to a cabin at the foot of Mount Rainier. They sat by the campfire and talked about their family's happy memories at the mountain's foothills. Joshua looked up to his mother and said, "Mom, I want to try again. I want to be better at math." Maria smiled warmly and nodded, her heart filled with quiet joy.