When I was six, I was exposed to and came down with the measles. The full blown two weeks being sick variety. I had to stay in bed, no lights on, no reading (a death sentence as far as I was concerned,) no TV, basically all I could do is lay in bed and do nothing. A pretty impossible feat for an active six-year-old. My mom took time off to take care of me and she gave me a bell to ring in case I needed anything so I could ring for her attention. I imagine her goal was to try and get caught up on housework and other things while I (hopefully) slept and got better. A good plan. But…she gave me a bell.
So, being completely bored, I rang the bell. Mom would come and ask me what I needed and then go and bring it back. After what seemed like an eternity to me, but was probably only a few minutes, I would ring the bell again, and mom would come and ask me what I needed and then go bring it to me. This went on a couple times and then I rang the bell, and she brought me what I said I needed but when she left, I noticed the bell was gone too. I recently saw that bell at mom’s and laughed when I saw it. I couldn’t believe she still had it! I asked mom if she remembered when she took the bell away from me. YES! And we both laughed about the memory.
But I have to be honest with you, it also made me a little sad. We are in some ways reversing roles and at the same time we are two women who love each other and trying to figure out the best way to be there for one another. My plate is full to overflowing with things I have to do. I have tried to figure out what I can stop and right now, there isn’t a lot I can stop and that will be true of my life for the next couple years. It gets a little overwhelming at times. There is very little mom can do for me in this season of my life. And mom, she is now legally blind, and my brother and I are working to find the best way to make sure she has the best life. Bill and Linda are buying and remodeling mom’s house, which will include a suite for her. I am Driving Miss Daisy wherever she needs to go, and I am on call for anything she needs until Bill and Linda are able to move in. It is complicated right now but it is also working.
After a recent phone call from my mom, I realized that the phone has become the bell. Anytime she needs anything, she calls. So, when I saw that bell sitting on a shelf in her living room which is currently the staging room for all things construction, I laughed, and I cried. Our roles are reversing and that makes me sad. Because the reality is, while I am 63…soon to be 64, there are times I still need my mom to be my mom.
Peace,
Pastor Beth
Beth's Blog 