Amelia was eager to meet her newborn grandson, but when her son Mark refused to pick her up, she decided to walk to his house, even though it was a long journey and she needed a walker. After hours of walking, Amelia arrived at Mark’s house, but instead of a warm welcome, he refused to let her inside. What happened next was unexpected.
Mark had told Amelia over the phone that he couldn’t pick her up. “I can’t pick you up, Mom. I have to run some errands for Camilla, and other people are coming. We’ll set a time for you to see the baby,” he explained. Amelia tried to persuade him. “Are you sure? It’s pretty quick by car,” she said, but Mark cut her off. “Some other time, Mom. I have to go. See you later!” He hung up, leaving her disheartened.
Amelia was hurt by Mark’s behavior, which had become distant, especially after his marriage to Camilla. While Mark had grown up in modest circumstances with Amelia as a single mother, his new life with Camilla—whose wealthy family gifted them a large house—seemed to make him ashamed of his roots.
Determined to see her grandson, Amelia decided to make the long journey to Mark’s house on foot, relying on her walker. She packed a bag with gifts and set out. It was a slow, grueling walk that took hours. When she finally arrived, exhausted but hopeful, Mark was shocked to see her.
“Mom?” he exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”
Amelia tried to stay cheerful despite her fatigue. “Surprise!” she said. But Mark’s reaction was far from welcoming. He stepped outside and shut the door behind him, forcing her back. “Mom, I told you you would meet the baby some other time. You can’t come in right now!” he said angrily.
Amelia, confused and hurt, explained, “I just walked almost five hours to see my grandson, Mark, and I brought—”
“I don’t care what you brought! I don’t want you here right now. You need to go immediately!” Mark interrupted, shutting the door in her face.
Devastated, Amelia placed the gift bag she had brought outside his door and began the long walk back home. Fortunately, a kind neighbor, Mrs. Cassavetes, noticed her struggling and gave her a ride. Once home, Amelia collapsed from exhaustion. Her legs were swollen and inflamed, but she managed to tend to herself and rest on the couch.
That evening, after Mark’s guests left, he noticed the bag his mother had left. Inside, he found his childhood toys—treasures from his modest upbringing that held deep sentimental value. Overwhelmed with guilt, Mark broke down in tears.
When Camilla asked what was wrong, Mark confessed everything. He admitted that he had distanced himself from his mother out of shame for their humble background. “I can’t believe I was so horrible to her!” he lamented.
Determined to make amends, Mark drove to his mother’s house. Using his spare key, he entered and found her asleep on the couch, cold compresses on her legs. He gently woke her and carried her to bed, ensuring she was comfortable. He prepared food for her and stayed by her side, apologizing profusely for his actions and explaining his feelings of shame.
Amelia, ever the forgiving mother, reassured him. “I had a feeling you were ashamed, but I’m glad you came here right away to apologize. That’s what I taught you. When you do something wrong, you have to make things right.”
The next day, Mark took Amelia to his home to meet her grandson, Hans. Camilla also apologized for not realizing what had happened. They spent a joyful day together, with Amelia offering advice about caring for a newborn.
Eventually, Mark asked Amelia to move in with them, as they had plenty of space and he didn’t want her to be alone anymore.
What can we learn from this story?
- Never be ashamed of your parents. Mark’s embarrassment about his humble upbringing caused him to hurt his mother, something he deeply regretted.
- Make things right when you’ve made a mistake. Once Mark realized how wrong he had been, he immediately worked to repair his relationship with his mother.
Share this story with others—it may brighten their day or inspire them to cherish their loved ones.