Take the Courage to Trouble Someone Loving You

My mom, who’s in her mid seventies, lives alone after my stepfather passed away. Several days ago, she had a bad fall, and the injury made her unable to walk without assistance. She called my brother, who lived within 10 minutes driving distance from her, saying that she was being OKAY, luckily.

I buried myself in work and housework as usual until my mom left a message after she went to see the doctor, who said she would recover in 3 months with rehabilitation. I later found that one of her neighbors had driven her to the hospital and offered some timely help. My mom was thoughtful and afraid to cause the inconvenience of adjusting my schedule, which she thought would trouble me. I always projected an image of busyness taking my job. Plus, I forgot she was not the tough and strong mother in her prime when she brought fatherless kids up, which was more of a blessing than a burden to her. She often said, “Parental love is like endless river water; a child’s love for his parents dew on the grass.”

I appreciated my mom’s thoughtfulness, yet I wish she could have “bothered” me sometimes. It’s like offering me an opportunity to love her. Love is not all about sacrifice; it takes both sides to love and learn. I want to love her as she loves us. I want her not only to love but also to enjoy being loved.

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4: 18).