Mother's Day, my dad's birthday, anniversary (because people don't say "death date"), and my two youngest children's birthdays all take place within an 8 days. It is a whirl wind of musing during those 8 days. An example of the circle of life taking place each year before my eyes. But now with time I can celebrate the life and joy of it all.
The story I want to share with you started 6 years ago, on May 10. I was several days past my due date with our youngest child. At 42 with 5 other children I was beyond exhausted. I was swept up with an overwhelming need to sleep, which I did, only waking when I received a phone call from my mom. Dad was being rushed to the hospital in Boston. He had requested a DNR (do not resuscitate). They were not sure what was going on. As I sat there listening to my mom I realized that there was no physical way I could make it to the hospital. When I had awoken from my sleep induced coma I knew without a shadow of a doubt that the baby was coming within the next 24 hours, probably sooner. As I hung up the phone I whispered one desperate word into God's ear, "please!" then I fell back to sleep.
Our faith tells us that God answers our prayers in a way that is best for our spiritual growth. They are often not answered in the way we intended, in the time frame we wanted or with the out come we had hoped. Prayers for intentions are not wishing well requests. We don't always understand the outcome of our requests but we trust, in faith, that God know best and some day the whole picture of our lives will be painted for us and we will see what it all means. Until then we trust and pray and at times if we are lucky we get a glimpse of what that painting will look like. When our petitions are answered in such a clear way we eternally grateful because it boosts our faith. For me, God heard that simple yet heartfelt request. Even though I did not know what I was requesting He did and He answered it in such a beautiful way.
I gave birth to our youngest son early the next morning on May 11. Dad was in the hospital. I was recovering from birth. The ability to help my parents was completely out of my control. All I could do was pray.
Fast forward one year. Dad celebrated his 89th birthday in the hospital after a minor surgery that he was predicted to fully recover from. Two days later, on May 10, while I was at the photographers for my soon to be 1 year old's only professional baby picture, my mom called to say Dad was not doing well and they were putting him on hospice care. This was out of the blue and completely confusing. A phone call with the nurses confirmed that Dad was not going to live through the night. My husband was on his way home but I realized that I was not going to make it to my Dad before he died. I gathered my six children around me and explained what was going on. Together we prayed a Divine Mercy Chaplet. My mother called a few minutes after we were done to tell us Dad had passed. Although I was upset because I was not with my mom and dad my children praying with me at the time of their grandfather's passing is one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. I hope for my children it is a solid faith memory.
The next day my then 1 year old and I spent the day with Mom making funeral arrangements. At the end of the day we went home to eat cake and icecream, open presents and sing Happy Birthday. The tears spilled, well flooded, from my eyes. Tears of sorrow but also tears of gratitude. I realized how my simple "please" had been answered. Dad met his youngest grandchild. They had a year together. Although my son would not remember his grandfather he is part of the family memories of him. That year had been a gift to us all.
Like I said we spent Mother's Day at Dad's wake. We didn't think many people would show up because it was Mother's Day and we were understanding about that. We were wrong. Dad filled the place as only he could while Mom and I joked about how he hijacked Mother's Day again. But really, we didn't care. We were surrounded by all the people that loved Dad, including his one year old grandson. What a better Mother's Day gift could we ask for?
May you have a blessed Mother's Day!
