Let Go and Let God

I stopped by the nursing home to visit Mom. She smiled and I gave her a hug. “Sharon, I’m glad to see you. I got a package from Ellen today. Can you open it?”

My sister. She never visited or offered to help with Mom. I opened the package. A bottle of supplements fell out, along with a letter from Ellen telling Mom the pills would work wonders. I felt my blood pressure rising. “Mom, you’re on a LOT of medicine right now. You can’t take this without asking your doctor. It could interact with something you’re already taking!”

I took the pills in to Mom’s doctor. The internist read over the label, and shook her head. “Your mother can’t take these.” My frustration with my sister boiled over. “Doctor, my sister thinks she’s being a big help by sending ‘medicine.’ What I really need is hands-on help with Mom!”

The doctor responded, “Sharon, what you’re experiencing is the norm. It’s a rare family where everyone pitches in to help with an aging parent. It usually falls to one person. I see it all the time. Your mom is lucky to have you.”

As I drove home, I realized I was wasting time being resentful. When I was angry, my mood spilled over and affected those closest to me. Mom didn’t need that.