Saturday, June 13, 2009

She Showed Me Happiness

I stood there for a moment, in the doorway of the hospital room where my aileenmother laid staring at the ceiling. The medal brace that was holding her neck in place, looked so confining. I had never seen her so still. I remember looking at dad as if to say How is she going to possibly get through this? How are you going to get through this?” Holding back the tears, I walked over to her bedside, and gently touched her hand. “Mom, how are you doing?” I asked. “Oh, honey, I’m alright” she said.

Soon after my arrival, the doctor stopped by with the news. He explained that the first two vertebra's in her neck had been broken and that it was a miracle she was walking. He proceeded to instructed us on how to care for her and made it a point to let us know that the road to recovery would be a long one. With a confidence in his voice he made this statement “She’ll be wearing this neck brace for year or so.” Knowing mom, I’m sure she was thinking…but I know the Great Physician and in His time I will be healed.

( She was completely heal after 8 months and no brace was needed!)

Mom had been home about a month after the accident when I noticed that she seemed to be depressed, which had never been a part of her life. There was a sadness in her eyes, sadness I’d never seen, so I asked her what’s wrong. “You seem so unhappy, it’s not like you, mom”. That’s when she looked at me with tears in her eyes and with a broken voice replied “I can’t read my bible because of this brace.” I immediately jumped up and went looking for her bible. There it laid, right next to her rocking chair were she had left it before the accident. Returning to the table, I sat down and began reading God’s Word to her. In a instant, her smile had returned. I could see the tears being replaced with joy and the darkness had disappeared .

It didn’t take long for us to figure a way to place the bible in front of her, so that she could spend time with her Father. Reading His Word was a daily lifeline for her. Every morning she would sit in her chair with her bible and devotions in her lap to learn more about our wonderful Creator. Then she would bow her head and begin her conversation with Abba Father.

I’m not sure why God blessed me with this wonderful mother, but I will be forever grateful. I learned on that day what my mother already knew; happiness doesn’t come by the way you feel but by Who you know.

11 comments:

Lisa said...

What a testimony! What a legacy you have been given of faith and love. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Blessings ~ Lisa

Karen said...

That was beautiful...such precious memories...

Lelia Chealey said...

I love this story. You shared it in a different post before and it was one I called my Mom and through tears read it to her.
And I love the picture!!! Sitting and knitting is exactly what I picture when people call me Grandma! :) lol...she is so sweet looking Tammy.

LOVE, MERCY AND GRACE...GOD'S GRACE said...

What a great story, very touching and moving!

~Beth

Beth in NC said...

That is so precious Tammy!

Marsha said...

Tammy, this is truly touching. Simply a beautiful tribute.

Blessings to you this day.

Kelly said...

This is such an amazing story. Your mom is an inspiration!

Edie said...

Your mom sounds like an incredible woman Tammy. With an incredible God. :)

Much love!!

Paula V said...

I remember reading this before and was touched again as I was then. What love for a woman to be so depressed because she couldn't read the Bible. Not depressed over her health or her limitations but not being able to read her Father's words. That is gold. That is precious, indeed.

LisaShaw said...

O Tammy this is so special. How precious.

Crown of Beauty said...

Hi Tammy I'm new on your blog, so I've been browsing around. I love this post about your mom, it is so heartwarming, and her faith lifts me up!

What a treasure she is to you.

Thank you for this lovely post. It blessed my heart today.