A parent’s love is the first shelter a child ever knows, the invisible roof under which life feels safe enough to begin.
It is the embrace that calms every fear, the hand that steadies each step, and the heart that beats with endless devotion. From the moment a child is born, a parent becomes nourisher, protector, friend, guide, and so much more – carrying within them a love that asks for nothing in return.
In Indian scriptures, parents are revered as the very first teachers and divine beings. The Taittiriya Upanishad says:
Matrudevo Bhava, Pitrudevo Bhava
Mother God, Father is God.
For the nourishment, care, and countless sacrifices parents provide, every child carries an unspoken debt of gratitude, one that calls us to honor them with deepest respect and love.
Whatever the nature of our parents, we cannot forget the gift they have already given – bringing us into this world. In many traditions, human birth itself is regarded as a rare blessing.
The sacrifices and compromises a parent makes to let their child grow and shine cannot be underestimated.
A parent will starve so their child can eat. They maybe unwell, but they will continue to cook, clean, and care for their child, acting as if nothing is wrong. They will rise at dawn after sleepless nights, and borrow if needed just to keep the flame of their child’s education alive.
They may be tired, but they will still play ball, drive them to school, and buy them what they dream of – because their love refuses to rest.
They will fold away their own dreams so their child’s can take flight, setting aside their own comfort for the little one they love. Their deepest joy is not in what they gain, but in the sparkle they see in their child’s eyes – a smile, a victory, a small success.
They will save every penny – not for themselves, but to leave behind a future brighter than their own.
And if the child is unwell, they will not sleep. They will sit through the night, eyes heavy with exhaustion but unwilling to close, listening to every breath with a heart full of prayer.
Parents pass down wisdom so their children may grow strong, wise, and independent, carrying with them not just memories, but a compass for life. More than comfort, the greatest gift they leave is discipline and values, given with the hope that their children will grow into good human beings – wise, compassionate, helpful, and rooted in integrity.
Their love is not only sacrifice. Parents also strive to give their children the best opportunities in life.
They move away from comfortable homes so their children can attend better schools or grow up in healthier environments with good friends.
I see this in my own colleague, who, despite a hectic schedule and health struggles, travels across cities and states every month so her daughter can play in soccer tournaments.
Another parent I know chose to move to a far more expensive city, just so her son could stay close to his best friends until he finished school
A mother will happily cook and carry hot, healthy lunches to school, no matter how busy she is. Some mothers set aside their own careers so they can be fully present in every step of their child’s life.
Fathers work harder, always wanting to earn more, so their children can join piano classes, have soccer coaches, and pursue higher studies at whatever college they dream of.
In spite of all this – how many times do we hear parents say, with a sigh, that they could not do enough for their child?
This feeling does not come from a shortage or lack of love – but from the overflow of it.
A love so vast that it keeps asking, Am I giving enough? Am I doing enough?
In this world, there is no love greater than the love of a parent for their child. It is an instinct, a force of nature, a river that never runs dry.
Their love is sacred, for it is like the love of the Divine itself – unconditional, boundless, and ever-flowing.
A parent will cross any boundary, endure any hardship, and go to any length to protect or comfort their child.
Like any other relationship, the bond between parent and child can also carry karmic debts.
At times, these debts surface as conflicts, misunderstandings, or moments of distance. But in truth, conflicts only arise when there is learning meant for both sides. They are lessons in patience, forgiveness, and growth.
Sometimes a parent may lose patience, raise their voice, or refuse something the child asks for.
But even in those moments, their love remains untouched. Behind their imperfections there is still love, expressed in a different way.
These very imperfections are part of the karmic fabric, shaping the child’s growth, strength, and resilience.
None of these imperfections or conflicts can touch or break the ever-flowing, ever-lasting continuum of love that a parent holds for their child.
That love is untouched by moods, unshaken by disagreements, and unbroken by the turning seasons of life.
It is the steady current that carries life forward, the ground on which the child stands.
A parent’s love is not counted in perfect moments, but in the countless ways they show up.
It is the steady hand that holds, the sleepless nights of care, the sacrifices made quietly, the laughter that heals, and the tears they wish they could cry on behalf of their child.
Children, too, come to see that love and sacrifice, sometimes long before they can put it into words.
I remember my mother would often say, ‘I am already full’ or ‘I don’t like it that much’ – just so she could give me her share of a pastry or anything I loved.
Even when she was tired, she would cook without complaint, and never ask for help.
No matter what time of the day, if I was hungry she would readily make something for me to eat.
If I came home exhausted or was buried in study, she would feed me with her own hands, even though I was perfectly able to eat by myself.
If I made a mistake, she would act as though she hadn’t noticed and wait patiently for me to come to her.
If I was angry and threw tantrums, she would still pack my lunch and remind me not to forget it.
And whenever I stepped out of the house, she always made sure I had everything I needed.
That was her way of loving – patient, steady, and endless.
I also remember how she cared in countless little ways: how my water bottle was always filled on my bedside table, how she would set water by my plate before meals, how she tucked food in for me when I traveled far, and how she would quietly lend a hand if she saw me carrying something heavy.
She would remind me to take my medicines, cut fruit with her own hands, and bring it to me so I wouldn’t forget to eat.
It is in these small, ordinary acts that her extraordinary love lived.
And this is why I feel this blog will always remain incomplete.
No matter how many words I write, there will always be more – more gestures, more memories, more ways she showed her love.
A parent’s care cannot be captured fully on a page, because it is carried quietly through the days and years.
And so I dedicate this to my parents.
They are living proof of every word above.
They chose hunger so I could eat. They hid their illnesses so I would not feel burdened.
They sacrificed their dreams so mine could find flight.
They endured countless struggles, yet stood as my shield and strength.
Their greatest joy has always been my joy, their greatest success in my small victories.
They chose the shadows so I could walk in the light.
To my parents, I owe everything.
No words can capture the depth of their love, nor the countless sacrifices they made.
Their love is my foundation, my strength, and my endless source of gratitude.
They were my first shelter, and even now, no matter how far I walk, their love remains the home I carry within me. ❤️
This is for you, Mom and Dad – my greatest blessings.
You chose hunger so I could eat, hid your pain so I could live unburdened, folded away your dreams so mine could take flight.
Every joy of mine has been your joy; every victory of mine, the sparkle in your eyes.
And to everyone reading this – pause for a moment and remember those who gave you your first shelter.
If they are near, tell them.
If they are far, call them.
If they are no longer here, whisper a thank you.
Their love still lives in you.
Synthesis 
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