We visited my mother a few weeks ago near Rock Island, Illinois, a visit made easier by our recent move to the Chicago area. It was a wonderful family gathering to the rural home by the river where Mom has been for a couple of years, with caregivers who guide her and a handful of others whose years and ailments render them unable to care for themselves.
When we visited in June, it was the second time for 3 1/2 year old Payton and 1 1/2 year old Caroline, and the first that Payton may remember. On both visits young Caroline interacted with Grandma freely and they seemed to enjoy each other’s contrasting skin textures and details of clothing and hair and even smiling faces. Last year, Payton was apprehensive, even a little afraid of aging Grandma, whose decade-plus battle with Parkinsons has left her bent and feebled, and sadly unable to communicate clearly or even make it possible to know what she understands and processes. Last month, Payton was still guarded, but a little more interested in Grandma Jewell.
But a few days after we returned to our home in Batavia, Payton said matter-of-factly: “I want to make a card for Grandma Jewell. I love Grandma Jewell.” (Who she has decided is “sick.”) Little Caroline wanted to join in, so Debbie put them to work with construction paper and finger paints outside on a table, and a sweet card was made. Debbie took a picture of the girls at work. We sent the card and photo to my sister Barb, who shepherded Mom at her home in recent years until a special place could be found, and still visits Mom frequently. Barb took the card and picture to Mom one day this week, and send this message to us:
Thank you so much for the beautiful card that Payton and Caroline made for “Grandma Jewell” and also for the sweet little heart that thought to make her a card. I took the card and the picture to her today, and she really seemed to understand my explanation and enjoy the beautiful painting. I put it on the wall under Dad’s picture.
Barb attached a picture of Grandma with the card and picture of the girls work on the wall behind her.
How important it is to encourage contact between our little ones in the sunrise of their days and the aged saints in their sunset years. What richness and blessing.
