"She...extends her hands to the needy."

My mother spends 40+ hours each week driving all over the Metroplex to visit aged and dying patients, caring for their medical needs, easing their physical and emotional pain, loving on their grieving loved ones, attending deaths, visitations, and funerals, and returning home to spend additional hours catching up on paperwork and phone calls. Being a hospice nurse would have to be draining to any mind, body, and spirit, but my mom does it all in spite of chronic pain and the debilitating effects of rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. With a good attitude and loving heart. This already is a great feat, but it doesn't stop there. She is such a loving mom and friend, and she even makes a bit of time for those granbabies of hers. (I think they're a bit fond of each other, actually.) She's an encouraging friend and looks after neighbors and other family members, as well.

I spent this afternoon with her and watched one of her patients light up as she walked into his home to visit with him and his wife, bring them dinner, and clean their house because, as he put it, "I'd be embarrassed for the pastor to come and visit me right now." She may spend the next two days "paying for" her cleaning spree (I had to get on to her a few times for breaking her rules - that stubborn madre of mine!), but I know she wouldn't have it any other way. Her patients are so at home with her that it felt like visiting family. They open up to her, trust her, and really just need her during this season of their lives. I love and admire my mom. Having been raised by such a loving mother is one of the greatest blessings I've experienced. I appreciate the example my mom has set for me, the mother she is to me, and the "gammaw" my little girl is also blessed to have.

On another blessed-to-have-wonderful-mothers note, I have a pretttty lovely mom-in-law, too! Talk about serving others, working hard, achieving astounding goals, and rich inner/outer beauty! "I luh you mush," both of you!