Today is my mother's 96th birthday.
My parents moved in with me in 2005 as daddy's health was failing and mother feared she would not be able to care for him without support.
That was 14 years ago.
When daddy went to Heaven in September 2009, mother was still very strong. She was, of course, aging but did very well. She took trips to see family in Texas and South Carolina. She went to her church's Great Banquet (a weekend of renewal). The two of us traveled to see old friends and my Tampa children on several occasions.
She has spent the past 10 years in a good place.
Yes, she has aged. She has hearing, vision and mobility issues because of diabetic neuropathy.
In 2015 she moved to Brookdale Mandarin Assisted Living and has been happy there.
We have continued to take her to family gatherings and fun times with friends.
Today she has very poor hearing, limited sight and mobility. For the most part, however, she has a good attitude.
I have considered it a privilege to be her principal caregiver. I have wonderful support from my siblings, children and friends. I am so appreciative of that love, concern, and prayer that I experience through times of tears and laughter. I do get tired, frustrated and agitated. It's difficult to deal with the issues of much less communication than what I have known for most of my life.
In a recent devotional, I read: If we're thankful that God has given us the ability to extend care, we'll be more content. If we think about how we're being used by God to touch the life of another person, we will be grateful. If we consider how God is helping us, then we will find the strength to carry on when things get tough.
I changed the word IF to WHEN.
A dear friend suggested that I go to visit my mother suspecting the worse. Then when there are no negative issues, I will be excited even more pleased!
Another person says, "this is just for a season". And I say "this is a LONG season". You know like when our favorite team NEVER wins a game. We think the season will never end.
And yet it is for a season. I am convinced that my mother will live until the needs of EVERY PERSON whose life needs to be reached by her love and care have been met. And I suspect that someday I will say - it wasn't such a long season after all.
May your life be filled with enough Sunshine
to make you appreciated the Shadows
