HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM

Today my mother turned ninety years old. I wish I could have been with her to celebrate. She lives far away in Seattle, so I don’t see her very often. I did however; see her a few weeks ago. I didn’t want to make that visit, but I am so glad I did. My last visit with my mom was not pleasant. You see my mom has dementia caused by sensory deprivation. Her eyes barely see and her ears barely hear. Sleep is a good way to avoid dealing with a world that is difficult to see and hear. And, that is what she likes to do the most. I was afraid if I visited her again, we would have a repeat of our last visit…she not only didn’t recognize me but didn’t even want to be bothered. It can be disheartening to say the least. However, when the Spirit speaks I try to listen, especially when the Spirit speaks in the Temple. So, with fear of rejection we went to visit with my mom in March.

I decided that I needed to wake up some Mom’s other senses, so I brought cucumber melon scented hand lotion, and I rubbed her hands. It’s amazing how something as simple as rubbing someone’s hands could turn into such a spiritual experience. But it did. As I rubbed those old, wrinkled hands my thoughts turned to all the things those hands had done for me through the years. As I continued to rub her hands my thoughts turned to the Saviors hands, pierced for me. Then my thoughts turned to “our” hands, and how we serve one another and then “our” hands become the Savior hands on earth. When I was done rubbing her hands, I gently brought them up to her nose. She then said, “So nice, thank you very much” in a very slow quiet voice. Then she kept bringing her own hands up to her nose and repeating “So nice, thank you very much”. It was so touching. I was so happy to be able to provide a simple little service for her that made her life happy. During our visit, she was mostly quiet, but she didn’t shoo me away. At one point I was just looking right into her face, with a big smile and she said, “What a beautiful smile!”. She never mentioned my name but I felt like those blind eyes were looking right into my soul. I hope she knows that it was me.
My desire is that my mom knows that I love her with all her heart. I’m so grateful for the life she gave me and for her love.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM