For the past 15 years since my parents passed, a friend of theirs has sent me a picture of the Christmas wreath she’s placed on their graves in Bath, Ohio. This has always touched me deeply because it reminds me of the sweetness of friendships unbound by distance or circumstances.
I’m sharing a story from her Christmas letter because it’s a message for all times, especially these times.
“One of our dear friends was moving to a nursing home since the loss of her mate and failing strength. After meeting her in the lobby of her new facility, she smiled sweetly when we were advised that her room was ready. As she maneuvered her walker down the hall, I provided a description of her room, including the curtains I had made for her windows. Even though she is legally blind, she said “I love it!” I said, “You haven’t seen the room yet… we are almost there.” Her response is one I am going to spend 2019 trying to live into.
“Seeing the room doesn’t have anything to do with it. Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged, it’s how I arrange my mind. I have already decided to love it. I have a choice: I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Old age is like a bank account … you withdraw from what you’ve put in. Thank you for your part in filling my “memory bank’ and for your sewing and arranging my move which I count as memory gifts.”
“This dear soul has taught me five simple gifts toward happiness: #1 Free your heart from hatred. #2 Free your mind from worries. #3 Live simply. #4 Give more. #5 Expect less.”
My wish for you and yours throughout the year is for an abundance of Memory Gifts, given and received.
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Enjoy the holidays.
Camille
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