Roots And Wings

Photo albums turning pages in my mind

Started with their heartbeat before I took my first breath
They chose life for me before I understood death
Sleepless nights when I was crying in the cradle
They sacrificed their dreams to keep me stable

Teaching me to walk when I kept falling down
Picking up the pieces when I hit the ground
Every scraped knee, every broken toy
They turned my tears to laughter, pain to joy

School clothes bought with money they didn't have
Working double shifts just to do the math
Of keeping me fed, clothed, and warm
Sheltering me from every single storm

Homework help at the kitchen table late
Even when they're tired, they never hesitate
To give their time, their energy, their all
Catching me each time I start to fall

Work hard
Stay true
We believe
In you

Roots and wings, that's what they gave to me
Foundation strong and the courage to be free
Every sacrifice they made along the way
Brought me to the man i am today
Honor thy father, honor thy mother
No love on earth like no other
Roots and wings, planted deep and flying high
Their love's the reason i reach for the sky

Mama's hands that held me through the fever nights
Papa's voice that guided me to see the lights
In the darkness when I couldn't find my way
Their wisdom echoes in the words I say

"Treat people right, work for what you earn
Respect is given when respect is learned
Family first, never forget your name
Character matters more than money or fame"

Stories of their childhood, struggles they've known
Showing me the seeds from which I've grown
Immigration journeys, dreams deferred
So mine could flourish with every word

Cultural traditions passed down through years
Recipes for life mixed with joy and tears
Language lessons, heritage, and pride
With their love as my eternal guide

We did our best with what we had
Your best was more than I could ask
Sometimes we made mistakes along the way
Your love made up for every single day
The bond between us never breaks
Through all of life's joys and heartaches

Now I'm older, understanding what it cost
To raise a child when they felt so lost
Bills on the table, stress in their eyes
But they never let me see them cry

Phone calls checking if I'm eating right
Worried texts when I stay out all night
Their love doesn't stop when you turn eighteen
It grows deeper than I've ever seen

Arguments we had when I was young and wild
Now I see they were protecting their child
Rules I hated were their love disguised
Boundaries set with tears in their eyes

When I have children of my own someday
I'll understand in a deeper way
The magnitude of what they gave to me
Unconditional love and loyalty

So I promise to honor their sacrifice
Live my life making them think twice
About every doubt they ever had
Prove to them their love made me glad

To be their son, to carry their name
Through victories and defeats, joy and pain
Their lessons live inside my DNA
Guiding every choice I make each day

When they're old and gray and need my care
I'll be right there, I'll always be there
Returning love they gave so freely
Honoring them completely and really

Teaching my kids about their grandparents' ways
Sharing stories of their younger days
Keeping their memory alive and bright
Passing down their love, their light

Roots and wings, the greatest gift of all
Standing tall because they helped me crawl
Before I walked, before I learned to run
Forever grateful to be their son

Three generations singing in harmony
Love flowing like a river
Respect echoing through time
Family forever