For my mom…

The smell was just too strong for me. I had no idea how this aging couple handled it or how the nurses that came to their home could sit through their required visits or why in the world I agreed to accompany my mom on her home health visit to the strongest smelling house I had ever stepped foot in. I sat on the couple’s Lay-Z-Boy, covered with dog hair from some tiny poodle that had the run of the house, and almost gagged from the stench of urine and sickness that seemed to hang in the air. My mind began counting down the minutes until we could leave.

As I sat there, trying to keep my annoyance under control, the most beautiful scene began to play out before me. I watched as my mom showed a sick and dying man and his worn-out wife more love and honor than I could imagine. She didn’t flinch at the pungent smell, didn’t rush through her home health visit. She sat down on the spare, dog-hair-covered chair and leaned in to speak with the old man. My mom not only asked how he was feeling (in order to obtain the facts she needed to write in her chart), but she genuinely cared about his life. When his tired wife came into the room my mom offered to assist her with whatever she needed. And as the filth & smells remained strong, my mom stayed engaged – asking them about the years gone by, looking at old photo albums, and caring about what they shared with her. By the time we were wrapping up our visit I was almost in tears. I had never seen something quite so beautiful.

I heard a radio dj this week ask the question “what is something your mom has taught you?” I instantly thought of the scene above, which happened almost 4 years ago, and how it was just one example of how my mom has taught me to show compassion and love to those in need. She taught me that it doesn’t matter how comfortable I am in a situation, what matters is the people on the other side of the room, the people who have genuine needs. She taught me that enduring someone’s smelly house is worth it in order to be Christ’s hands and feet. She taught me that everyone deserves love and honor. She taught me how to love “the least of these.” She taught me that love endures all things.

Throughout the years I’ve watched her love and serve others in a way that is so Christ-like and so rare…. I’ve watched her serve people without complaint despite imperfect circumstances and lack of recognition. So today, on Mother’s Day, I wanted to say thank you Mom. Thank you for teaching me more than you know! Thank you for being my Mom! May you be blessed in abundance today and always. I love you.

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