Article June 16, 2008 Issue

LOVE CARRIES THE CARETAKER, TOO

BY PAULETTE WATKINS

FOR SEVERAL YEARS, my family cherished and looked out for my mom when she was unable to live by herself anymore. When she first came to stay in our house, she was losing her memory, had a crooked back, and looked much older than her years. She was extremely belligerent and frightened. At first, it was tough to get used to the fact that I'd be caring for her, because I'd been harboring resentment for the way she'd parented during my childhood. But I resolved to meet this challenge through prayer.

My husband and I had always liked to travel, but that came to a screeching halt. On a daily basis, my daughter, Yvonne, came over and helped with my mom's personal care, prepared breakfast, and read the Christian Science Bible Lesson out loud.

Each day, I made efforts to prayerfully acknowledge the spiritual qualities of beauty and love my mom expressed through her art. (She'd done all kinds of artwork throughout her life, and continued to do sketches and charcoals through her senior years.) I also took time to appreciate the courage it must have taken to raise me and my six siblings.