Enjoying the Nectar
Enjoying the Nectar
We used to have a humming bird feeder on our deck. A particular hummingbird decided that it was his personal feeder. He would hover over it and if any other hummingbirds came close, he would chase them off. He didn’t really have time to enjoy the nectar. He was too busy making sure nobody else enjoyed the nectar.
Mom, especially as her Alzheimer’s progressed, lived her
life like the hummingbird. She would
watch her neighbors suspiciously through the front window trying to catch them
in the act of theft or vandalism rather than greeting them with a kind
word. She would stand on her deck with a
broom so that she could chase away birds before they pooped on her property,
rather than enjoy the color and music they contributed to her view.
After she was moved to a memory care facility, a day that
I’m sure her neighbors celebrated, we began clearing out her home in order to
sell it. We found jewelry and money in
her valances. Her favorite turquoise
dress was wrapped in a paper bag inside the freezer. Gifts we had given her over the years-unopened
high thread count sheets and cushy memory foam house shoes were hidden in nooks
and crannies throughout the house. She
would only use the old scratchy sheets and uncomfortable house shoes.
She never took time to enjoy the nectar.
I know that is part of her disease and she can't help it, but I pray that I can enjoy each day of the rest of my life. That I not waste my time with fretting and hoarding and chasing off others.
My mom to a T. who knew there were 2 of them. She is in the early stages of vascular dementia. Thank you so much for writing this. Everyone wants to talk about "how sweet my mom is" I have no clue about the person they are talking about.
ReplyDeleteAs we continue practicing the presence of God, our enjoyment of life ripples outward from the present, healing our pasts and providing hope of the future.koktale
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