02 “Why Does Dad Cherish Mom?”
/02 “Why Does Dad Cherish Mom?”
*Reina was a twelve-year-old girl.
/*Reina was a twelve-year-old girl.
Whenever she came home from school, she felt the warm atmosphere in the house.
/Whenever she came home from school, she felt the warm atmosphere in the house.
One day, *Reina noticed something.
/One day, *Reina noticed something.
Even though Dad must be tired from work every day, he always says “Thank you for today” to Mom as soon as he gets home.
/Even though Dad must be tired from work every day, he always says “Thank you for today” to Mom as soon as he gets home.
And Mom replies with a smile, “Good job today.”
/And Mom replies with a smile, “Good job today.”
That night, *Reina asked her dad.
/That night, *Reina asked her dad.
“Hey Dad, why do you always say ‘thank you’ to Mom?”
/“Hey Dad, why do you always say ‘thank you’ to Mom?”
Dad thought for a moment, then patted *Reina’s head and said,
/Dad thought for a moment, then patted *Reina’s head and said,
“It’s because Mom works hard every day to take care of the house. When you show care, it eases worries.”
/“It’s because Mom works hard every day to take care of the house. When you show care, it eases worries.”
“What does it mean to show care?”
/“What does it mean to show care?”
“For example, asking ‘Are you okay?’ when someone is tired, or saying ‘Thank you’ when someone does something for you. That lightens the heart.”
/“For example, asking ‘Are you okay?’ when someone is tired, or saying ‘Thank you’ when someone does something for you. That lightens the heart.”
*Reina nodded.
/*Reina nodded.
The next day, while Mom was making dinner in the kitchen, *Reina quietly approached her and said,
/The next day, while Mom was making dinner in the kitchen, *Reina quietly approached her and said,
“Mom, thank you always. I’m looking forward to dinner!”
/“Mom, thank you always. I’m looking forward to dinner!”
Mom looked surprised, then smiled warmly.
/Mom looked surprised, then smiled warmly.
“*Reina, I’m so happy you said that.”
/“*Reina, I’m so happy you said that.”
That night, Mom took out a letter from her desk drawer.
/That night, Mom took out a letter from her desk drawer.
It was a thank-you letter she gives to Dad every year.
/It was a thank-you letter she gives to Dad every year.
“I give this letter to Dad every year, so we don’t forget to care for each other.”
/“I give this letter to Dad every year, so we don’t forget to care for each other.”
Looking at the letter, *Reina felt a warm feeling in her chest.
/Looking at the letter, *Reina felt a warm feeling in her chest.
“Dad and Mom are amazing. They always cherish each other.”
/“Dad and Mom are amazing. They always cherish each other.”
Mom nodded.
/Mom nodded.
“Being a family isn’t just about being together. It’s about living with kindness.”
/“Being a family isn’t just about being together. It’s about living with kindness.”
Hearing those words, *Reina thought to herself,
/Hearing those words, *Reina thought to herself,
“I want to be someone who cherishes my family too.”
/“I want to be someone who cherishes my family too.”
From then on, *Reina started saying “Thank you” every day.
/From then on, *Reina started saying “Thank you” every day.
When Dad took out the trash, and when Mom brushed her hair.
/When Dad took out the trash, and when Mom brushed her hair.
One day, Dad said to *Reina,
/One day, Dad said to *Reina,
“*Reina, you’ve become so kind lately. I’m really happy.”
/“*Reina, you’ve become so kind lately. I’m really happy.”
*Reina smiled and said,
/*Reina smiled and said,
“When you show care, it eases worries, right?”
/“When you show care, it eases worries, right?”
Dad and Mom looked at each other and laughed.
/Dad and Mom looked at each other and laughed.
That night, the house was filled with even warmer air than usual.
/That night, the house was filled with even warmer air than usual.
Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
/Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
Q1. What did *Reina’s dad say to Mom every day?
/Q1. What did *Reina’s dad say to Mom every day?
A. “Is dinner ready?”
/A. “Is dinner ready?”
B. “Thank you for today.”
/B. “Thank you for today.”
C. “Hurry up.”
/C. “Hurry up.”
Q2. What did Mom give to Dad every year?
/Q2. What did Mom give to Dad every year?
A. A lunchbox
/A. A lunchbox
B. A present
/B. A present
C. A thank-you letter
/C. A thank-you letter
Let’s Think!
/Let’s Think!
What kinds of care do you see in your home? How does it make you feel?
/What kinds of care do you see in your home? How does it make you feel?
Have you ever said “Thank you” to your family like *Reina did? What kind of reaction did you get?
/Have you ever said “Thank you” to your family like *Reina did? What kind of reaction did you get?
