From birth to death-
From diapers to depends-
From childhood to adulthood-
From kindergarten to Master’s degree-
From working to retirement-
From marriage to divorce or death-
From caring for children to be cared for by your children-
From a sound mind to dementia or worse-
From falling down as a toddler learning to walk to falling down from an unsteady gate-
From thinking for yourself to having someone else think for you-
John 21:18
My mom is 96 years young and has journeyed through each one of these seasons in "the Circle of her Life."
My heart aches as I care for her and observe her surrendering to each new season.
She has now grown accustomed to acceptance and compliance.
Mom has figuritivey waved the white flag of surrender that ended her battle to regain her independence.
She can still be a little Italian spit fire of a woman when her feathers get ruffled but for the most part my mom is now easy to care for. She eats anything I put in front of her, still dresses herself, participates (for the most part) in the activities of daily living for herself, can see and sometimes she can hear me, can still communicate and still knows who I am.
She occupies the large majority of her days off of day care by sleeping and coloring. She can color for hours and giggles at her masterpiece as she diligently turns a colorless drawing into her own creation. She is very proud of her art work!
She seems happy and feels loved and cared for and is always greatful for everything.
Mom was a professional manicurist most of her life and never had the pleasure of having long beautiful nails, but now, every 6 weeks she gets pampered with a maniure and once a month we go to massage envy for a well deserved and delightfully relaxing massage.
I often wonder, if she is their oldest client!
Caring for mom hasn't always been easy and there are days of frustration for both of us but mom is a happy lady, proud lady, a beautiful lady, a gracious and sweet lady.
I am blessed to have her still here with me. She tells me she wants to live to be 100! So far she is doing great and seems as though, she just might accomplish that feat.
I pray that God will give me the love, compassion, kindness, gentleness
and wisdom I need to continue to care for her as she deserves.
Until God calls her home.
From this world and this life to her heavenly home and her eternal life...
To care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honors. Tia Walker
Www.Mymarymartha.com/26206