uong nuoc nho nguon
Drink Water Remember Source
This is a Vietnamese proverb. But it’s so much more than that.
We met a woman today who has lived in Vietnam for 8 years. She shared with us her passion for digging into the idioms and proverbs of a country.
The meaning behind them reveals the deep rooted belief of the culture.
Think of all the American ones we use… most place emphasis on efficiency, performance, or value, as those are the things our culture values and it is the driving heart of our daily lives.
This particular proverb represents the deeper cultural value of worshipping ancestors and viewing the past is all that is before us and the future is all that is behind us.
As they do a daily task — one that keeps them alive and is necessary for survival —remember those who came before you for without them you would not exist.
Never forget that you are here because your parents and theirs before them made a sacrifice of their own life to bring you into the world. Honor that sacrifice. Honor them.
Their word for ‘remember’ also is their word for ‘miss.’ I find this beautiful. For what does it mean to miss someone if not to remember them?
I found myself remembering my grandfathers yesterday. I missed them beyond belief. I include my great-grandfather in this as I was blessed to have known him.
As I drink water today, I remember the source.
My ultimate source is God. The God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.
But my earthly sources have made lasting impacts on me.
From GreatGrandpa Turner I got my love of blueberry pancakes, my excitement for conversations where people share with me their passions, and making family a priority in life.
From Grandpop I got a passion for learning and international education, my love of reading while curled up on a comfy chair, and my love of ice cream and laughter.
From Granddaddy Jimmy I got my love of cultures and travel, my commitment to animated story-telling, and my enjoyment of history.
From Grandpa Wesley I got my need for speed, my introverted spirit that loves connection, and my willingness to try new crazy things.
These four amazing men taught me more than I could write in a single post. And nho (remembering/missing) them is always accompanied by a laugh and tears or a watery smile. I thank God I got the chance to be loved by them and that I have memories to look back on.
For one of my favorite American Idioms is “It’s better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all.”
