Hey God, what’s up?
I had lunch with my mom, dad, sister and the kids today. As we all sat down and began to enjoy our meal, I glanced over at my mom intently engaged in conversation, catching up with the kids. It was at that moment… that I began to imagine things 25 years in the future… when I’m my moms age. Having lunch with my children and my grandchildren. Laughing and carrying on conversations of every day life. Learning about what happened at school or a funny dream someone had.
My face will be wrinkled a bit but my laugh lines will surely be a testament of all the smiles I’ve smiled… all the giggles … the belly laughs… all the times when tears of laughter rained down upon my soft cheeks.
I will be attentive to each long drawn out story about their day to day lives… and give that over-the-brow look when they try to talk over each other so excited to tell their tale. Just as my mom does now, and her mother did before her, I’ll be very careful to make each one feel just as important as the other and give an unstated affirmation that the special place they hold in my heart belongs to only them.
The twinkle in my eyes will reflect the genuine deep love and affection I have for those sharing the day. I’ll get up a little slower or need to slow my pace just a bit, but I’m soaking in the generations that I’ve created and storing this day into the scrapbook of my mind, amidst the beautifully kept pages decorated with warm thoughts of those that came before me. They would have savored this moment in time.
My daydream suddenly reverts to the present as a tender touch taps my arm, “Gramma? Are you listening” “Yes, I’ve heard every word sweetie” and I smile a smile that settles deep within my core and strengthens the deep crevice of my beautiful laugh lines. I will gaze at my daughters and my son and feel such a sense of accomplishment. Of peace, of joy. The sounds of the moment will come through only muffled. The conversation in the distance as I gaze into the twinkling eyes of my grandbabies. I will carry this moment home.
God, it is my wish today that everyone reading this takes just a moment to remember their mom. To create a smile. To close their eyes and enjoy the scrapbook in their own mind. To be thankful for those still with them and to be thankful for those they’ll be reunited with on the other side. Lunches are special. Whether in reality or a memory.
Love,
Sheila
