It’s time for one of the two Thursdays of every month where I give a nod to the things that make us stop and say, “There’s something about . . .”
It was 4 am and my son had a stomachache. We’d already been up together for hours trying to find something, anything to help relieve the pain. At 1 and then again at 3:30 we tried warm bath, which temporarily helped, but we couldn’t sleep there. Ice pack only made it worse, a warm rice bag prevented tears, until it cooled . . . and still no sleep. Even vomiting an hour earlier didn’t relieve his tear-filled, curled-in pain.
I sat wedged in a corner, exhausted, cradling my boy’s head, thumb tracing down his face—forehead to nose, forehead to nose. My boy’s eyelids drooped as he whimpered and grabbed my hand. His small hands still dimpled at the knuckles, mine starting to show the ridges of age.
I was struck by the familiar sight. This fusion of old and young is one I’d seen before.
When I close my eyes, I can see my mother’s hands perfectly. They’re knobby, veined, and lined. Calloused from working with wood, caressing my child-sized head, weeding the garden, holding my hand.
A lifetime of brave, steady work. Constant tending.
I can see the tendons running straight from her wrist to knuckle, rippling with the movements of her fingers, making a sandwich for me, or rubbing my head like I was rubbing my son’s.
My mother will never run for office, never likely make the news, but these are the hands that change the world one moment at a time.
A brilliant life isn’t made of a fast-dying, blinding flash, but a steady glow.
Tweet ThisAs a mom myself, I sometimes forget that my consistent pace, my secure presence means more than any brilliant piece I may write or any flashy award I could win.
Today, I choose to be the glow that lasts. The one committed to the long haul, through the shower (which is sprouting mold), through the 3 am wake-up calls, and even beyond the endless rounds of mind-numbing kid games.
I commit to being content to have hands that know how to work and a heart that is focused on others.
To all the mothers and grandmothers out there, to any who cares to stay in the game for someone else’s sake, thank you and glow on.
I can see your mother’s hands in my mind’s eye, too, Janyre. Hands say a lot about a person, for sure.
But I look down to the keyboard and see my mother’s hands with all their wrinkles and veins. When did my hands become my mother’s? and what do my hands say about me?
My hands are very much beginning to look like what my mom’s hands from my childhood memories. That does NOT mean I’m getting old! : ) Seriously I think the wrinkles and veins should be a reminder that we have purpose here on earth, that we have a mission. Each one of us has a different purpose, but wouldn’t the world be amazing if we all pitched in not caring if someone else is watching?
Yes, so true. Thanks for a great blog!
You’re welcome 🙂
Such great encouragement. I love the image of a steady glow. Thank you.
Why thank you, Lisa. It ended mixing a second metaphor in, but it’s something I keep reminding myself in my mom-life especially. Firework kind of lives are exciting and impressive, but they don’t lend much lasting light to the world 🙂
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great.
I don’t know who you are but certainly you are going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already
😉 Cheers!