Gramps

I have a very dear friend who has devoted the last six years of her life to helping, and then taking care of, her grandfather. Gramps was in hospice care for a little over a month before crossing the rainbow bridge a little over a week ago.

While I've always admired her ability to juggle Gramps, finances, children, a hundred other things and time on the computer so she could tell those of us who don't live near enough to her to know what's going on, I always thought of her as a caregiver first. I knew she had children. I knew she loved them dearly, but I never thought about them unless we were having particular discussions about either.

The night Gramps left this earth, I found her status on facebook. In it I read peace, grief, rest, and confusion, but most importantly, I read love. Love, not only for her departed, but for her children.

I read how they helped both her and Gramps. I read the pride that shone in their mother's eyes as she wrote. Her fingertips sent glowing streaks of joy and utter amazement at her children's actions through the internet to shine in the computer screens of her friends around the world.

I was stunned. Not by the actions of her children, I knew they would be wonderful, but by her reaction to them. She seemed so overwhelmed at their actions. So amazed that these young adults were her children. That she was fortunate enough, not only to know them, but to have the blessing of them calling her, "Mom".

That's the kind of mother I pray to be. One who knows her children are gifts. One who loves them and makes them a priority no matter what else is going on around her. And one who not only is proud of them, but stands in awe as they exceed her expectations. It's been said that children are the most accurate reflection of their parents, and I pray that my child will reflect Christ's love as strongly as her's did that night, and every night.

God bless and see you soon,

Joelle