The Gift
Recently, a nice elderly man told my parents that I was a “gift.” The three of us (me, Mom and Dad) were in a parking lot after finishing up at a doctor’s appointment for my dad. While my dad can walk, his ability is limited because of stamina and dizziness, so he was in a wheelchair and I was loading him in the car. Then I collapsed the wheelchair and lifted it into the trunk. Mom uses a walker, so I was helping her get settled and then loading her walker in the back seat (wheelchair AND walker don’t both fit in the trunk!). This elderly man was walking to his car, which was parked beside ours, when he witnessed this ritual – the reality of our lives. He told them how lucky they were to have a daughter that helped them in their advanced years. My parents readily agreed and I was suitably embarrassed.
He was effusive in his praise to the point that because I was embarrassed, I can’t remember the beautiful words that he said. I do remember thinking, as he was talking, that I wouldn’t do anything differently. These two fine individuals, my parents, raised me in a loving, joyful environment with no expectation of me except that I was happy and had a moral compass. They taught me honesty and to always do the right thing, even when the right thing is hard or when tempted to do wrong. I always felt secure in their love for me, my siblings and each other. There was never, not once, a time in my life that I questioned their love.
It wasn’t until I was a young adult in the working world that I learned that my family was the exception, not the rule. It wasn’t until I was a young adult in the working world that I realized that the fact that we (parents and siblings) all liked each other and enjoyed each other’s company was unusual. It wasn’t until I was a young adult in the working world that I understood that the respect and love my parents had for me and my siblings transcended any hiccups that occurred in our formative years, giving each of us “balance” and the tools to find our own way.
So, to review, the gifts my parents gave me: love, joy, happiness, morals, honesty, security, togetherness, respect. Why wouldn’t I give them back these gifts in their declining years, especially when their need is great? One doesn’t abandon family in their time of need.
I can’t say these past few years have been easy; they haven’t. But, they have been full of love, joy, gratitude and respect.
Love is a gift.
Family is a gift.
Life is a gift.
Not me.
Until Next Time,
Related Posts:
(other posts in The Eldercare Diaries)
Yes, you are a gift to our entire family; and we all love you dearly.
It’s too early in the morning to make me cry! Love you too!