Testimony of faith. Three years for eternity
A mother has no age, we would like her to be eternal. But the day my father died alone in his hospital room, when I was only 28 years old, I addressed this request to the Lord: allow me to accompany my dear mother, Henriette, until the end of his life.
Thirty years later, when the doctor tells us that he only has a few months to live, it is very natural that we make the choice, with my husband, to welcome him into our home. She has all her head but moves with difficulty.
I am setting up a quasi-military organization. 6:45 a.m. get up, wash and put on the support bands. My working day as a nursing manager flies by: I am responsible for 120 patients. 4:15 p.m. sharp: my daughter is waiting for me after school. Then I spend the evening with my mother. Before she goes to bed, I help her put on her pajamas and remove the bandages. I repeat the same actions every day. Tirelessly.
This period is stressful: I worry about her all the time. At home, our beloved teenager shows us all the colors. However, mom never complains. She repeats to me: “I will leave when Jesus wants, what matters to me is to die happy, with you. » These words upset me.
One evening, with dark circles under my eyes, on my knees in front of her, I once again removed the restraint bands from her. I feel a deep weariness. A fatigue comes over me. Suddenly, a sentence burst from my heart: “What you do to the least of mine, you do to me.” » Everything becomes clearer. And my prayer bursts out: “By helping mother, it is you, Lord, that I serve. »
Later, when I tell her about this moment of grace, she responds with a disconcerting naturalness: “What you are telling me is wonderful. As I have told you since I was little, without him, we can do nothing. »
I never felt exhausted again. Mom died three and a half years after arriving home. I have wonderful memories of those years. My mother took advantage of this precious time to gently prepare me for her departure. And this made Christ even more present in my daily life.