By Yuan Lin (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-05-28 06:57

On May 11, my son called to wish me a happy Mother's Day. He is a sophomore at the Command College of the Armed Police Forces in Chengdu, which is thousands of miles away from our home.

As I recalled his caring words the next day, I received news of an earthquake in Wenchuan county, Sichuan province. Chengdu, the provincial capital, also experienced strong tremors.

That night, my son sent me a mobile phone message: "Mom, we are urgently preparing supplies and waiting for orders to go to the frontline for rescue and relief work."

Maybe he did not want me to worry too much, but he did not contact me after that.

Upon his departure for the mission, my son sent his aunt a message: "I'm on my way to the frontline. Tell everyone not to worry."

That was the last we heard from him.

As aftershocks continued to threaten lives in Sichuan, I could not close my eyes at night for several days. When I tried to sleep, all I saw was my son running in the debris. I could not withhold tears as I saw roads obstructed, bridges broken, houses collapsed and heavy casualties broadcast on TV. In front of the horrible images, I felt as if a knife was cutting right through my heart.

"Son, where are you? I miss you so much." As I continued to pray for my son's safety, I was also deeply saddened by parents who had lost their children in the disaster.

But I have also been deeply moved by the heroes who put their lives on the line, the quake victims who stand hand in hand as a pledge to rebuild their homes, the increasing amount of donations from those in China and overseas, and my colleagues who care about me.

When they learned that my son has joined the rescue efforts, my colleagues would greet me by asking: "Have you heard from him? Don't worry, he is safe." When I forgot to take my phone with me, they would send it to me, in case I missed a call from my son.

All this helps me feel the presence of a benevolence that fills the world. If only I could get in touch with my son, I must encourage him to do more for the quake victims.

Finally, at 5:12 pm on May 17, I received his call. "Mom, I can't say too much. I'm in Yingxiu. We are the first troops to reach the epicenter after climbing over mountains for 12 hours. Tell dad I'm fine."

I urged him to tell me more about his life in the area. "We did everything - help with the dead, carry the wounded, and distribute relief materials "

"Son, don't be afraid of hardship, do something more for the local people. Take good care of yourself"

He interrupted me. "Mom, say no more. Don't worry. I won't let you down."

I cried again after the call, but the tears were of joy and pride. The call that lasted only 52 seconds wiped away all my worries over the past 120 hours when I had heard nothing from my beloved boy. What is more comforting for me is that my son, who has just turned 20, has matured quickly. He did not sound afraid at all.

I had always thought of him as one of the many pampered youngsters born in the 1980s, growing up "in the honey pot" and enjoying unprecedented attention and material benefits as the only child in their families. Doting parents like myself could never bear the thought of their only child suffering.

But, the deadly earthquake has pushed my son and his whole generation to the frontline for others. He did not panic or hesitate to do his part or look death straight in the eye. Son, mom is proud of you.

The story first appeared in the Beijing Youth Daily

(China Daily 05/28/2008 page20)