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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: The Reader (04/15/10)
Little House On The Prairie was on and a beautiful scene was playing out. It was the episode where Mary had gone blind and Adam, her new teacher had taught her to read people’s faces to know what they look like. In this scene she has just found out Adam has never seen her either and he is gently reading her face. With tears in my eyes I turned to my mother and asked, “Did you ever do that?”

“No, not really.”

I didn’t doubt her. I’d known for some time that Mom saw people differently. The Painted Picture revealed this fact to me. The Painted Picture is a song Mom wrote in 1960 for her college reader. Mom needed a reader because by this time she had gone completely blind. The song talked about seeing a smile in a person’s words and actions.

Mom didn’t care whether her eyes were blue, or brown or green. She didn’t care if her hair was long or short. She didn’t know if she was overweight or under. What Mom looked at was the color of her heart.

It’s a pattern Mom continued throughout her life. She looked at the color and size of a person’s heart. She saw if they were long on patience or short-tempered. She cared if they were overwhelmed or undervalued.

When she painted that picture in her mind of her reader it was one of caring and compassion and kindness. I’m not sure what colors she chose for those but I’m pretty sure she used a lot of yellow. She called yellow the color of light and said it reminded her of Jesus who is the light of Heaven.

In her mind, her reader must’ve been a beautiful picture. I hope that, especially in her last days, she painted a similar picture of me. Her reader sparked a few simple lines and one profound thought: I hope Mom painted two yellow hearts. Hearts of light. The hearts of Jesus and me surrounding her with our caring, compassion and kindness.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Mildred Sheldon
04/22/10
Whoa, is about all I can say right now. Too many tears. What a beautiful and tender story. Who says the blind cannot see? They see with their hearts.
Anita van der Elst
04/22/10
Enjoyed going with you on your reminiscence. Nicely written. Fit the topic well.

In regards to your hopes about the picture your mom had in her mind of you, I'm pretty sure she did!
angelos2 wark
04/23/10
Beautifully written.
It never ceases to amaze me what a blind person is able to see with the eyes of the heart.
Kate Oliver Webb
04/23/10
If your writing is any indication, I believe your mother taught you to see with eyes of the heart, as well. Very well done piece, and I'm thankful I was able to read it.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
04/25/10
Ahh what a beautiful tribute to your mother. Well done