Nov 25th, Mom's 95th birthday |
I was changing
the sheets on Mom's bed this morning. The grumpy thought that came into my mind was "Does she even notice?"
But immediately following that I
remembered the verse I'm learning this week.
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord,
and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall
receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve
the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23, 24 KJV
(I love other versions to read but still prefer the poetry of the King James version for memorization.)
I felt reminded that on one level the clean sheets were for my mom, but on the true level it was as though I was making the Lord's bed. I know, a bit weird but.....
Then I began to remember. I learned to like clean sheets because that was what my mom did when we were kids. I can remember her commenting she loved getting into clean sheets. And I remembered all the sheets I would take off the clothes line. I loved winter dried sheets. They would come off stiff as cardboard and when I laid them down in the house in seconds they would go super soft and oh, even as a child I LOVED that smell of clean sheets off the line. I do not remember changing the sheets on my bed as a youngster so then I thought - how many times did mom change the sheets on my bed and I never noticed.
Then I remembered that when I was about 11 or 12 thinking mom spent the whole day just reading and enjoying herself. I never acknowledged and doubt ever thanked mom for clean clothes, for food cooked and the dresses she made me. I thought Dick and I did all the work 'cuz on Saturdays I had to wash the floors - on my hands and knees. Mops were not a part of Mom's viewpoint on house keeping. I remember doing dishes and hanging out washed clothes and ironing my own dresses. I seem to have thought I did all the real work. What I felt as all this flashed through my mind was a deep pain in my heart that I had hurt my mom with my, I realize now, what must have been sullen behavior and lack of love for her.
This began to break up one terrible night when I was reading and mom told me I needed to get the dishes done. I cannot believe my words to her. My mom was not someone I EVER sassed. I raged at her, "You only had me to do all the work." I'm sure I said more but that was the essence of what I said. Mom just turned away and left me sitting on the couch reading. It was terrible. I was waiting for her to 'take me out.' I realize now she could have justifiably told me my bad attitude was the real problem and other related things.
Next I heard her doing the dishes. Truth to tell, I didn't read another word. I was stricken and started sobbing. Then after the dishes were finished mom came back and brought me a cup of tea (unheard of) and loved me. This is the mom I was privileged to have. Yes, she expected us kids to do work as a part of growing up and she wasn't a 'singing in the kitchen' type of person. But she was straight and true and honorable in the most real sense of the word.
She taught me so much that I am glad I know. She imparted the ethics of good workmanship. And,one thing more, that only now am I remembering. She didn't go around with a bad attitude about how hard life was on her or how she was not getting a fair deal. I don't remember my mom complaining about the hard things.
I found I had forgotten what a good mom she was in the stress of daily issues.
Mom, thank you for the woman you were, and even now, in a hard place yourself and without the aid of consciousness to direct what you do, you are still a woman of integrity. How blessed I am.
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