A Mother's Heart

Summertime in Clare, Nova Scotia means family comes to visit; literally from around the world.  So, when Theo and Cecilé were here, along with other family members, off we went to La Cuisine Robichaud for a meal.  Mom was very happy to be with people; she was not altogether sure who all the people were.

Sitting on her left was Theo- her youngest son.  I said: “Mom, that young man is your son, Theo,” pointing to him.

Mom: “Oh, really?”  Looking at me, she asked: “Is he married?”

I replied: “Yes, the lady across the table is his wife, Cecilé.”

Mom: “I see.”

And that was that; sort of like reading an interesting news article.  I felt like a door had begun to open and then got slammed shut.  Mom had forgotten her youngest son and even with him sitting right next to her, she didn’t ‘see’ him.  Ach!  ‘Twas a sad moment in time.  Hard as it was to enjoy this family gathering, I admired the courage it took for Theo and Cecilé to embrace this moment, even though all of us had eyes that betrayed our grief; pools of tears remained bottled-up for the time being.

Fast-forward three months later.  Chatting with Mom, I mentioned that Theo and Cecilé were now living close to Carmenne, my youngest sister, and Jared, her son.

Mom: “Oh, he is my youngest son, you know!”

Me: “Yes he is, Mom.”

Mom: “Is he married?”

Me: “Yes.”

Mom: “Is he happy?

Tears welled up in me as I smiled and said: “Yes, he is very happily married to Cecilé.”

Upon hearing this Mom clapped her hands with a child-like delight and said: “That is wonderful!  I am so glad!”  And then, unexpectedly, Mom burst into tears.  Happy tears, thankful tears, and without a doubt I believe they were tears of relief, as she no doubt was remembering some of the difficult years she spent with Dad.  Needless to say, a dam broke within me and my own tears mingled with hers as we embraced each other.

Who can fathom the depths of a mother’s love?

Who can draw back the grey curtain of dementia?

Only God.  “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).  Sitting there, I was so thankful for God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  This triune God is a communicating and loving God- planting love deep within a mother’s heart; a love that will not let us go.