“I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.”
1 Samuel 1:27-28 (NIV)
The words above are the words of Hannah, the mother of Samuel, who was once barren, but became the mother of one of the greatest prophets in ancient Israel. Her words reflect the heart of all mothers, in knowing that a child is a gift from the Lord, and to be dedicated and given back to the Lord, throughout their life.
I was visiting the Nursing Home on Easter weekend, where there are only two other residents, who are around my son’s age. Andy is one, who is 43, whose parents I’ve already met and bonded with. The other man is also 43, who I will call Adam, to protect his privacy.
Last weekend I met Adam’s mom for the first time. Adam has a chronic kidney disease and is currently in kidney failure. He receives dialysis regularly, while hoping for a kidney transplant one day. His mom and I introduced ourselves, making small talk on that Saturday before Easter.
We were having a nice visit, when Adam suddenly became angry at another resident. I could see that his mom was uncomfortable with his behavior, and tried to gently tell him to let it go, but he quickly snapped at her as well. Her eyes and mine met, and without saying a single word, I gave her a look from one mother to another, to let her know that I felt her embarrassment and frustration. She seemed to return the glance, as if she received my empathy and understanding. Words were not needed.
It’s almost mystical how mothers instinctively understand each other, and communicate without words, especially mothers of an adult child with an illness, emotional problem or a mental health issue.
Later that afternoon, when some relatives were visiting Jon, I was telling them about my frustration over his recent behavior, which has regressed for the past few weeks. He’s been agitated, uncooperative, and making the nurses’ jobs very difficult. The doctor is trying to adjust his medications, until he returns to the good progress he started making several weeks earlier.
Adam’s mom must have been listening to me while I expressed myself to those relatives. When it was time to leave, I was walking to my car in the parking lot and Adam’s mom called me over to her car. I thought she was gone, since she left several minutes before me. She told me she wanted to pray for me and Jon, saying that she understood my frustration, from one mother to another.
While I was standing at the rolled down window of her car, she took my hand and prayed for me and Jon, and for Adam and herself as well. It was a blessing since I only just met her a few hours ago. Then we parted and wished each other a happy Easter.
As I drove home, I realized that my whole interaction with Adam’s mom was an Easter gift from God. We just met, yet connected with each other’s inner grief, in a way that is beyond words. When two strangers can share mutual feelings through an unspoken language, it’s nothing other than a blessing from God. We were total strangers, but connected through eye contact, facial expressions, and then concluded it with a prayer.
Every mother gives their child to the Lord, and trusts Him with their life, which doesn’t end in adulthood. Whatever their age, medical history, behavior or diagnoses, mothers still need to dedicate their children to God for a lifetime. Then the Lord comforts us by bringing others across our path to give moral and emotional support.
Lord, whether we are mothers or not, help each reader to commit their children, their loved ones or their close friends to you, trusting that you will bring peace and harmony to every life, through the power of Jesus’ name. Amen
