A Life of Stages
Ray and I spent a long and tiring afternoon on Sunday, going through things at my Mother’s house. It’s a job I have dreaded for many years and the time has come.
Then yesterday afternoon Ray and I wanted to go to an event that just wasn’t going to work well for Mother. Mary Evelyn and Nate are always happy to help out in situations like this, but they were going to be at the same event, so that just wouldn’t work. I found a wonderful solution, but it took lots of thought–and nine phone calls.
Something I came across on Sunday afternoon gave me perspective on my predicament. As I was sifting through papers, I came across some things Mother had kept from the fifty years or so that she was in what was once called Home Demonstration Clubs and is now Family and Community Education Clubs. Evidently Mother had participated in a class on goal setting. In my hands was a list of goals in her handwriting. One goal was to have more time for herself; and another read: “Get Martha to stay with Mother.”
Obviously Mother had written those goals during the time that her own mother lived with her. Once upon a time Mother was in the same situation I am in now. Out of the thousands of things I could have touched in Mother’s house on Sunday afternoon, God was kind to lead me to that one!
My brother took Mother visiting while Ray and I shuffled on Sunday afternoon. On Sunday evening, Ray and I took Mother to her home church where she began to worship back in 1957. To our surprise, they were having a devotional followed by a fellowship meal. I hoped we would be invited to stay and we were. I wish you could have seen my mother beam when she saw old friends. People were so kind to ask me how she was doing. It’s nice to know that other people love the people you love.
Like my mother, we women (and our daughters) live through many stages.
I’m here to tell you that each of those stages is good.
For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you,
which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice,
and I am sure that it is in you as well.
2 Timothy 1:5
Thank you for sharing this sweet story of God’s kindness in your life. He really does care about all the small details. It also reminded me that He sees all the seasons and changes we go through…and He is faithful to walk with us and continues to bless us with joy and peace!
And thank you, Shelley!
Your mother looks AMAZING for being a great-grandmamma! I can’t tell you how much I respect and admire you and Ray for keeping her with you, in her old age. Just today, I have been trying to locate the whereabouts of a sweet senior friend, who lived with her daughter and son-in-law, but was recently placed in a nursing care facility because the daughter and her husband “needed a little space.” I realize there may be very good reasons for them having made that decision, but it still fills me with sadness.
I hope you find your friend, Betsy.