A DUTIFUL DAUGHTER

By Wendy Albouy

 

Each night before assisting my mother with her bath I prayed, “Dear Heavenly Father, grant me the strength to care for Mom during her illness.” The role of a caregiver is not easy… but I knew I could depend on the power of prayer to endure adversity.

 

My mother had undergone surgery for breast cancer, so she could not bathe herself properly. When I was a child, Mom had bathed me and prepared me for bed. It was now my turn to help her.

 

I wanted to be a dutiful daughter—to care for her and give her a sense of dignity… yet it was difficult. I remember the first time I saw the burns on her back from radiation treatments. Nothing in my life prepared me for the shock of seeing her bare skin in that condition. Feelings of helplessness and fear urged me to pray more.

 

Many nights I blinked back tears as I leaned over the tub and lathered her weak body. I gained motivation and encouragement when I read the Scripture: “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—“that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth” (Ephesians 6:2-3 NIV).

 

One particular night Mom and I recalled the day’s events and laughed, which lifted our spirits. We had been staying in an unfamiliar area near the hospital and hired a cab to go shopping. I was sure I had given the driver the correct information, but he could not find the store. He inquired at a fire station, but no one there could help. After checking the address again, I realized the store was located in another county! Thankfully, the driver was good-natured and joked with us. That night while leaning over the tub to bathe Mom, I found that I too had a caregiver.... The Lord lathered His comfort upon my back.

 

I learned to experience joy in the midst of painful circumstances. I also connected with my mother in a way many women do not get to experience. God used the hardship as an opportunity for me to bond with Mom. He also used it as an opportunity for me to bond with Him through prayer.

 

~ Is there a difficult or painful task in your life, one you wish you could turn over to someone else? You can turn it over to God, who can take the most unpleasant event in your life and make it into something memorable and uniquely good. Pray and see how God can use your situation to benefit you.

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Wendy Albouy is grateful for the time she spent with her mom, who was a Christian and died of cancer on Mother’s Day of 2002. Wendy holds a special place in her heart for those who are grieving or facing challenges. You may contact Wendy at wendy_albouy5@hotmail.com (underscore _ between her first & last name).

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