The Lunch Box I Never Noticed

For almost three years, a lunch box was waiting for me on the kitchen table every morning. I put it in my bag without thinking and ate it at school while talking with my friends. Sometimes I even complained when there was something I didn't like in it. I never asked who got up early to make it, or how long it took.

Last month, my mother had to stay in the hospital for a week, so I decided to make my own lunch. I got up at six, but by the time I had cooked the rice and made a simple omelet, it was almost seven. The kitchen was a mess, and I nearly missed my train. That was the moment I realized how much work my mother had been doing every single day.

For the rest of the week, I made my lunch every morning. Each day it got a little easier, but it never became easy. I also had to think about what to buy, wash the lunch box after school, and plan the next day's menu at night. My lunches were not as colorful as my mother's, and once I forgot to put in the chopsticks.

I think many of us do not appreciate the things people do for us every day. Because they are always there, they start to feel normal, and we stop seeing the effort behind them. We usually notice their value only after we lose them, even for a short time.

When my mother came home, I told her, "Thank you for all the lunches. I really appreciate them." She looked surprised and laughed, but I could tell she was happy. Since then, I have tried to show my appreciation more often, not only to my family but also to friends and teachers. It only takes a few words, but those words can mean a lot to someone.