It had been a long, difficult, stress-filled week. One in which I felt invisible and undervalued. Oddly, by Friday, I actually looked forward to going to the nursing home.
Visiting with my mother-in-law since she’s had her stroke has provided much joy to my husband and I, as we listen to her reminisce. My stress melts away. She regales us with memories from her childhood, family weddings, her first tube of lipstick, and her rogue disobedient puppy. Odd little memories that help reconnect her brain synapses as she finds her way back to the here and now.
But this visit was different. Mom was confused and disoriented. She was convinced someone had moved her during the night, playing a horrible joke on her. We tried our best to calm her, softly talking to her and assuring her she is exactly where she has always been and is supposed to be.
The frown between her eyes refused to go away. Mom worried and fussed about getting back to the nursing home, who had tricked her, where are her meds, she needs help! But the ultimate thought that drove her to tears was Mary. You see, Mom thought it was Easter.
In one breath, Mom was fidgety and anxious about where she was. In the next breath, she was feeling Mary’s anguish at having to watch Jesus crucified. “Oh, it must have been so hard for Mary to watch her Son’s death on the cross…That must have been so hard for her!”
Pondering Mom’s thoughts, it wasn’t just Mary whose heart was broken. God must have felt this same pain, sending Jesus to die for us. How heart wrenching for Him to send His only Son to earth for us. Why? Because He loves us. We are held hostage to sin. God would pay any amount of ransom to free us, even His own child’s death. He’s our Daddy, and we are precious to Him (Isaiah 43:4).
For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 1 Peter 1:18-19, NLT
[tweetthis]God values us enough to pay for our freedom with the precious blood of Jesus. A priceless gift worth more than gold[/tweetthis].
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We eventually quieted Mom. As I was smoothing her bed sheets, making her comfortable, Mom looked steadily into my eyes. She was calm, settled.
“You’re a good daughter-in-law, Ellen,” she said to me.
For the first time that week, I felt valued.
Grace be with you,
Love you! Wish we could have coffee some time and I could hug your neck!! XO
Awww, love you too! And SOOOO miss you!
What a blessed memory that lucid statement will be for you in the years to come! God is so good to provide those precious moments for us. Your blog has reminded me of when Chuck’s mom was in those final months…
Mom would retreat to the bedroom whenever family was there. But whenever everyone was gone but Chuck and I, she would come join us in the front room. I rarely spoke during those precious times, just remained silent, unless asked a question directly, and went about my knitting. I treasure those moments we shared because she found peace in our presence. It provides a comfort to know she wanted to spend time with BOTH of us. You see, I know this to be true because I always offered to leave too (and go to my parents) but she always wanted me to stay with them… To have been included during those precious times brings so much comfort to me now!
Thanks for the memories and for reminding us of how much the Father loves us… Oh, to be loved so much by Him!!
Ah, precious memories Debbie! To know that your presence brought peace to her must have made you heart glad!
Oh sweet friend you are valued. I love your heart and this post brought tears as memories of my Mom in a nursing home for several years and when those same things happened to her.
Those memories are so precious when they are gone. Mom shared so much from that nursing home bed I had never heard. I’m so glad she did and wish she were here so I could hear more of those precious stories and those moments.
Tears rolling down my face!
Love this!
Oh, Debbie, those memories are priceless, aren’t they? And I so love the stories! Thank you for stopping by today and sharing your heart! Love you my friend!