Afternoon view from Mom’s window
She brings her index finger to her tongue, licks it and points it toward the wall. Her finger quivers, and I think of E.T.
“What are you doing, Mom?”
“Magic,” she says.
Later they come to reposition her. “We’re going to move you up in bed now.”
They grasp the green pad on either side, and Nurse Sheryl breaks into song. “Up on the housetop . . .”
Mom speaks.
They bend closer to hear.
“Why do Santa’s whiskers stay so white when he comes down the chimney late at night?”
What?
What?
And then they understand.
“I…I don’t know,” stutters Nurse Sheryl.
Mom says something else.
They lean low.
What?
What?
“Google it.”
Huh?
What?
“You know, the research site.”
And Nurse Sheryl collapses on Mom’s shoulder.
Mom is much weaker now. And Sheryl comes and bends low. “I googled it,” she whispers in her ear. “I know the answer.”
We lean in to hear.
“It’s magic.”
Nurse Sheryl keeps watch
There is no surprise more magical than the surprise of being loved: It is God’s finger on man’s shoulder. ~Attributed to Charles Morgan
I’ll be right here. ~E.T.
Surprise us with love at daybreak; then we’ll skip and dance all the day long. ~Psalm 90:14
This touches such a deep place in my heart. The hard, the good, the strange little gifts.
It is magic.
Love to you. Love and grace and the nearness of our tender Lord.
Jeanne
Sandy.
Would that I could meet this mother of yours.
Thanks for this piece. Trusting you’re in the midst of His peace.
Love you.
This reminds me of the last days I spent with my mom. You will have some difficult but precious memories from these experiences. Continued prayer for you and your family. .
Sara
I do believe you are in the midst of angels … now I have to find a Kleenix.
Magic exists when we believe in it… Some people make it sound as if it’s a terrible thing or un-Christian… but magic is something so much bigger than that. It’s the beauty in the nature, it’s what God does best surprising us every single second with His creations.
We will have much to remember and treasure these days even moreso as this time passes into history. So much that only you and I have had the opportunity to see and hear. So glad you have been here and that you are sharing our mother and her uniqueness with so many. We’ll need to write a book! I love you!
A book. Yes, please, write us a book to share more of your exquisite mother with us.
My heart is right there with you in that holy space, in this sacred time.
Magic…oh Sandy. He is so very much – even magical. You are so much on my heart. Praying for grace and strength.
Sandra, these loving nurses, aides, doctors, etc that take care of our loved ones are just priceless. Glad they are there with you. Praying that you receive double measure of all that was given to me.
You are your mother’s child. Such wisdom and wit.
Remaining prayerful for all of you during these sacred moments.
“There is no surprise more magical than the surprise of being loved: It is God’s finger on man’s shoulder.” (Attributed to Charles Morgan) Wow!
May you feel not only God’s finger but His entire arm around your shoulder, my dear friend, as you stand on this holy ground.
LYI!
Precious moments like this are indeed magic! I know you are treasuring them and are blessed by them.
Keeping you and your mom in my prayers.
Lifting you up, Sandra and your mom. From out here in the somewheres we are holding this burden with you in the smallest way but praying you know it BIG.
It’s such a child’s question.
thank you for sharing this.
this process of death reminds me a little of the process of birth.
coming from one place and going through to another.
from one family to the next.
God bless you.
I am keeping watch with you, Sandy. Sending you so much love. And a little bit of magic.
I am finally getting a chance to catch up on my reading. This is a beautiful post, Sandy. Your mom is a very special person. Magic. What a beautiful image to dwell on. Life can be magic. It is all in our perception.