Mama's Way | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Mama's Way | Previous Challenge Entry
By
01/11/06
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES

“I’ll be going home this week”. Her chipper voice belied the pain that had held her prisoner in the green antiseptic smelling room for weeks. The doctor smiled, “A positive attitude can do wonders for the body”. She gave a little nod as she continued her daily reading. “Mother, what you don’t seem to realize is that…” Her mother laid her hand on her daughter’s arm, the way she used to when she was younger and wanted her to stop talking. She then gently placed the book back on the stand next to her bed and reaffirmed, “I will be going home”. She looked to her physician for confirmation. “Dr. Abbott, is it true that you are releasing me this week”? He glanced up from her chart, “Yes that appears to be the consensus”. She gave a satisfied smile. “Well then, home is the logical place for me to go”. He laughed, “You can’t argue with that”. Her daughter was prepared to argue and as soon as the opportunity presented itself she brought it up with the doctor.

“Dr. Abbott, have you forgotten that my mother will not be returning to her cottage at the senior complex”? “No I haven’t forgotten that your mother’s precarious balance and this subsequent injury were serious enough for you and your sister to warrant putting her in the nursing home”. She grimaced, “Please don’t call it a nursing home. It’s an assisted living center”. “Forgive me; I keep forgetting how archaic that term is nowadays”. She continued, “So if you remember then why do you insist on maintaining this illusion that she’ll be going home”? To her annoyance he answered her question with his own. “Have you spoken to your sister about this”? “No I haven’t. Why”? He explained that he’d had a long talk with her sibling and she revealed some insights about their mother that were rather enlightening. “You might not be aware of them, which is why you should talk to her and find out where your mother’s confidence stems from”.

Overcome with curiosity she called her sister and arranged to meet her for coffee that afternoon. She bit her tongue until they were seated and had their orders taken and then she pounced. “Why does Mom think she’s going home”? Her sister was a bit taken aback, “You always did cut right to the chase. Do you remember all those moves we made when we were growing up”? "Of course I do. What do they have to do with anything”? “Just hear me out. Do you remember what the last item was that Mama always unpacked after every move”? Their coffee arrived while the oldest sister was still thinking about it. Suddenly it dawned on her. “I do remember”. Her eyes held a faraway look as a smile played across her face. “She would carefully lift it out of its special box and gently place it on the nightstand and then say…” Her sister reached for her hand and in unison they repeated their mother’s words, ‘There, now we’re home’.

Still holding her sister’s hand the youngest one explained, “You know that saying ‘Home is where the heart is’? Well, Jesus was first and foremost in Mama’s heart”. Her sister nodded in understanding, “To her that item represented Jesus”. “Exactly. Wherever He was that’s where home was”. “Is that what you told Dr. Abbott”? “Yes”. “I sure hope she still feels that way”. “She will. That’s Mama’s way”.

Both daughters showed up the day she was released. The patient waved like the queen herself as her wheelchair was pushed towards freedom. “My daughters have come to take me home”! She called gaily to everyone she passed. In spite of what the doctor and her sister believed the oldest was certain that their mother wouldn’t take the news in her usual gracious fashion.

There were no objections when her sister drove past the cottages or when they pulled up to the assisted living center and were greeted by a nurse with a wheelchair. Their mother chatted with the staff as they admitted her and showed her to her room.

Even when they were alone there were no histrionics or recriminations. Their mother quietly unpacked her belongings until she came to the last item. They held their breath as she opened the box, carefully lifted her Bible out and gently placed it on the nightstand. Then she smiled at her eldest daughter. “There, I told you I was going home”.

PREVIOUS ENTRY | NEXT ENTRY
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.