After three years of saving and borrowing everywhere, my wife and I finally finished building our dream house. The house is spacious and beautiful, but it also leaves a huge burden: a debt of nearly ₱120,000. Every month, interest and principal like a rock weigh on our shoulders, causing both my wife and I to lose food and sleep.

In the most desperate moment, I suddenly remembered my mother-in-law’s land in the suburbs. That land she had not left for a long time, but it was in a prime location, many people asked to buy it at a high price. My wife and I discussed and decided to ask her permission to sell the land to pay off the debt. In order to make the story go smoothly, I told my wife to prepare a hearty meal, full of dishes that my mother-in-law liked, in the hope that she would be satisfied.

The meal took place in an awkward atmosphere. My wife kept hesitating, not knowing how to speak. When she saw her keep her face down, my mother-in-law sighed slightly and said, “Whatever you want to say, just say it, I understand everything.”

Her words were like a lifebuoy, and my wife mustered up all her courage and trembled to say it all. She told me about the huge debt, about the sleepless nights, and about the desire to sell the land to solve the problem. After listening, my mother-in-law fell silent, she didn’t say no, got up and went into the room. My heart tightened, and feelings of disappointment and guilt rose. She must have been angry, I thought.

But a few minutes later, she turned around, and in her hand was something wrapped in red velvet. She didn’t say a word, just threw it directly on the table. My wife and I were startled, and looked at it. The velvet scarf opened, revealing the familiar red notebook.

“Mother for the two of you, do whatever you want.”

Both my wife and I were dumbfounded. My eyes blurred. My wife burst into tears and rushed to hug her. It turned out that she had long intended to give us the name of this land. She knew that our children were hard and difficult, but she wanted us to overcome and grow up on our own. She also knew that the construction of the house had exhausted us, but she still wanted to give us an unexpected joy.

She said, “Sometimes, the elderly don’t know what to do, they just know how to silently watch and help their children when they need it.” That sentence made me choke. The joy, surprise, and even the boundless love of my mother made my wife and I burst into happiness. The debt of ₱120,000 is no longer a burden, but has become a motivation for us to make efforts, live better, worthy of our mother’s heart.