Life Is A Full Circle
I close my weary eyes in prayer. My tired mind wanders, traveling through the rough and winding paths of my life and dwells on a pretty face, with unpretentious dimpled laughter, twinkling eyes, smooth flawless skin and dark curly tresses falling about her shoulders. I gasp as I whisper her name, ‘Anna’. She literally breezed into our lives.
It was a beautiful and perfect day. My twin girls, just out of their teens and I were on an idyllic beach by the sea. A blissful day! The blue sky, the sparkling sea, the salty wind blowing against our faces, our hair tossed about, and our sun-kissed bodies sprinkled with sand! We teased each other, joked, and laughed uncontrollably for no reason at all. I thought thankfully, ‘My adorable girls bring me much happiness. Being a single parent, life is good’.
Meeting Anna
Suddenly, a gentle gust of breeze, hurled a hat at us and I looked up to see a slim figure, about my age, coming towards us to claim her hat. ‘Hi, I’m Anna, please can I join you? I’m all alone. Looks like you all are having a good time together’ she said. Being an orphan, she added, she never had a family or kids as she had never married. Anna was fun and the girls took to her.
After we returned back home, Anna started coming over very often, showering the girls with expensive clothes and accessories as gifts- a sure way to young girls’ hearts!
Next, on the pretext of teaching them facial makeup tricks, Anna started spending time in the room which the twins shared. Gradually I noticed a change in my children. Suddenly it appeared as if I was always in the wrong. Even my past caring actions were dug up and criticized. Explanations just did not matter. I was wrong and that was that!
Anna even encouraged them not to tell me about the boys they were dating as I would be sizing them up! I decided enough was enough and forbade her from entering our house. My daughters looked at me as if I was an evil stepmother. They went back to their rooms, packed up their bags, and moved out of the house! I caught a glimpse of Anna’s triumphant look, and it hit me, ‘Oh my god! She’s sick. It’s been her diabolical plan all along to isolate me and my girls. She is jealous.’ I wondered how many families she had broken up!
Is this really happening?
I sat there stunned, trying hard to soak in the harsh reality as everything seemed irrational and illogical. To my utter disbelief, I was not even invited to my children’s wedding. It was shattering. The beautiful weddings I had planned for them had gone to the wind !
Helpless, distressed, and defeated, I turned to God for refuge. I cried and prayed incessantly. I clung on to His hands, clutched the hem of His garments tightly, begging Him not to let go of me. My prayers went unanswered. Why? I heard a voice inside me saying, ‘You would never question if you had faith and trust’. Yes, He wanted me to be stronger and wiser with absolute trust and faith in Him! God has molded me to be what HE wanted me to be!
As time went by swiftly, my limbs become weak and my body, frail and tired. I don’t know why I am extremely exhausted today! As I sit sipping my tea, I hear a car pull up on the porch. I continue to sit, feeling weak to get up. The door bursts open and my children enter with their kids, holding orchid potted plants in their hands for me. I am not at all surprised. It feels natural, as though I was expecting them today.
Peace at last!
They rush to hug me saying, “Mom, every day we see you in us as we bring up our children. Everything we do for our kids reminds us of all that you have done for us. Thank you for loving us. We now understand your unconditional love and protective care. We are grateful and thankful for your prayers,” they cry . ‘Last night we had a bad dream. Please mom, never leave us. We want to make up to you , and we love you very much, mom.’
I hug my children, heart rejoicing! I send a silent prayer to God, ‘Lord, I can never be happier, I am ready.’ God answers my prayer and I feel myself peacefully and happily slipping away into oblivion, held lovingly in my children’s arms. I did hold them like that as they entered this world, didn’t I? And now I’m leaving in their arms! A blessing denied to many!
About The Author
Laila, a Christian blogger, empty nester, and mother of three married children is very optimistic person who is always hopeful that difficult days lead to better ones. Believes that nothing is as powerful as a smile, showing compassion and kindness, spreading love and sunshine and to live in peace and harmony.