“Hey, Mom, I’m working at an emergency shelter for homeless COVID-19 patients.”
I was shocked to hear these words. I have to admit that my initial thoughts were, “What? Don’t put yourself at risk! Can’t you help people some other way?” But, thankfully, I held my tongue. I reminded myself that my daughter is an adult, making her own decisions, and has been for quite some time.
In hindsight, I realized that my motherly instincts were kicking in, trying to protect my precious offspring from possible harm. And yet, that is not my duty any longer. I am challenged to trust that she is in our Lord’s hands.
My husband and I taught our children to be generous to others with their time, to use their gifts, talents, and abilities to honor God, to tithe and to donate to charitable causes. Am I truly upset that these lessons are being exemplified in their adult lives? Of course not. I am humbled by my daughter’s act of love and faith.
The tables have turned. Concerned that their father and I, in our sixties and in the high-risk population for coronavirus poor outcomes, were going to the grocery store in the early days of the pandemic, our adult children admonished us to use curbside pickup. OK, OK, we said. And then our daughter sewed some facemasks and mailed them to us from her home in Santa Fe.
I guess I am in the Lord’s hands, too.
By Brenda O’Reilly
Well done mom and dad!
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Really nice concept, Brenda. And since there’s no evidence of those working with these patients succumbing to the illness more than anyone else, your daughter will probably be fine.
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