There Is Something More Precious Than Money

When my siblings and I were young, we never spent our Hong Bao money. Don't ask me why. We didn't have any discussion not to spend. Neither did mother instruct us not to spend.

Every new year, we opened our Hong Baos with great excitement and counted the money. It was always a small sum but the crisp new notes made us happy. Then we would save the money, each in our own places - until the coming of the next new year.

Then on the evening of the eve of lunar new year, after dinner, my siblings and I would gather with mother in the bedroom where we would take out those crisp new notes, carefully put away for the whole year, and give them to mother. There was a lot of joy as we once again counted the money and then repack them to make Hong Baos for mother to give away.

There is something more precious than money. It is a mother's love and the warmth of a family. My mother is one of the greatest blessings in my life.