Mother's Day

"Never leave a guy while he is down, that's just cruel", my Mother has been saying this as long as I can remember. Now she gracefully living it.

"Walk and roll" has become a frequent occurrence. My parents both love to get out of the house. It is Covid season and there's not a lot of visitors at the moment. My Mom helps my Dad with every step of getting ready. If you can imagine yourself getting ready for the day, then, imagine that you cannot do ANY of it by yourself anymore. Mom helps with all of it. The socks at the end of getting ready are sometimes more than she can handle, if they're skipped Dad doesn't say anything. Eventually my Dad is ready. Then, he uses his strength to get in his wheelchair and it begins. The "walk and roll". They can use the beautiful, fancy wooden ramp in their garage to get out of the house and then they're free. You know free to go wherever there are sidewalks with wheelchair curbs and not too many cracks in the sidewalk that can really jostle my Dad who is using just a seat belt to keep him in his chair. There are speeds to adjust on the wheelchair to navigate the awful quality sidewalks.
During a recent "walk and roll" my Dad's hat flew off in the middle of one of the busiest intersections in our city. Mom heroically rescued the hat and they continued the trip.

 It wasn't always like this. My parents have enjoyed good health most of their lives. They have stayed active and have had healthy habits and that helps a lot. Then, after about 45 years of marriage, my Father was diagnosed with ALS. It's one of those degenerative diseases. So, he is slowly losing control of his body and will die from the disease when the time is right.

Who complains the most about ALS? Do you think it's my Dad who can't do the things he's always been able to do? Or do you think it's my Mom who is the primary caregiver and literally helps Dad with everything he does?

I only hear their gratitude. They are grateful to still be together. They are grateful that Dad can still eat. They are grateful that he can still get into his wheelchair. They are grateful that he can still talk. They are grateful that my Dad doesn't fall. They are grateful he can bless the sacrament in their home while church is suspended due to Covid. They are literally grateful that he can still breathe. They are grateful to be married in a way that they know is an eternal marriage that continues after my Father dies. They are grateful that he, like all of us, will be resurrected and will no longer need a wheelchair in heaven.

Guess what? I'm grateful too. I'm especially grateful on this Mother's Day to have such a lovely Mom who can handle life's uncertainties so gracefully. I'm also grateful for a patient Father who can handle ALS so manly. I love you both. Happy Mother's Day.

One more short story: A long while back I was at my parent's house, while a lot was happening. My Dad asked my Mother hopefully for a glass of orange juice which he cannot get by himself anymore. She wanted to get him one but quickly got distracted and didn't get to it. My Dad waited patiently for some time. Eventually after a long while the situation was brought to my Mother's attention and she remembered the juice and got some for him. I loved the patience of my Father.