“This is my call.
This is my vocation.
This is my witness to the world.”
Recently
a friend, a young mother, encouraged me to go to work, to do
something meaningful and important with my life. She caught me in
one of my sleep deprived states. I could barely string a coherent
sentence together, much less give her a reasoned defense of my choice
to quit work and care for my husband after his second stroke and
recently, to move closer to my Mother and care for her as well.
I know my heart. I know this is where
I am supposed to be right now. I know I'm doing exactly what I'm
supposed to be doing. Explaining it is another matter. No matter
how I try, the end result sounds “holier than thou.” That is
definitely something that I'm not. My faults and failings are all
too obvious.
Melanie simply, succinctly and humbly
said just what I felt and had been unable to verbalize. At this
point in my life I am called to care for my husband and my mother. I
am very grateful to be able to do so. This truly is my vocation.
This is my witness to the world. It isn't a flashy or popular
decision. It probably doesn't look like a particularly smart move
to many people. I won't be accomplishing great things or moving
mountains. Instead, as Mother Teresa said, “In this life we cannot
do great things. We can only do small things with great love.”
These small things imperfectly done, but done with love are my
witness to the world. Usually it's just a quiet, invisible
witness...but it's the one I'm called to make.
Join Jenni in her Blog Every Day in May Challenge. Join also with The Sunday Community, Spiritual Sundays, Sabbath Moments and Hear It On Sunday, Use It On Monday for more wonderful posts.
Join Jenni in her Blog Every Day in May Challenge. Join also with The Sunday Community, Spiritual Sundays, Sabbath Moments and Hear It On Sunday, Use It On Monday for more wonderful posts.
Bless you dear. You are doing what God has asked of you.
ReplyDeleteExcept you are doing great things and moving mountains. You're exercising stewardship over that which God has given you -- your home, your husband, and your mother who you care for expertly. Perhaps you will eventually have a job in the outside world but for right now, you are where you need to be and what you write has the potential to help so many people dealing with stroke and dementia patients. I know that I would totally pass your blog along to any caretakers I know.
ReplyDeleteI am close to tears- thank goodness there ARE mothers who are like me.
ReplyDeleteAs Mother Theresa also said, "You want to work for world peace? Go home and love your family"
Love and prayers,
melanie