Ever since October 31, momma & I have ridden to our early, no EARLY, Saturday morning Bible study meeting together. Having spent hours together everyday this fall, Saturday became our stay connected time. Some Saturdays we sat together, especially those first months. It was a necessity for both us. The strength provided in sitting in even the most loving of circles didn't compare to the strength I gained in her gentle hand on my back when we would sing "In Christ Alone" or a question would strike particularly close to home. As time moved on, God began to strengthen us enough that we could sit apart, even across the circle from one another at times. After all, there would always be the ride home.
But it was always more than just a simple ride home. To be completely honest, most Saturdays neither of us really needed anything from the grocery store, it was just an excuse to spend more time together alone. Without fail, every week we ended up at of all places, Walmart. I am my mother's daughter in that "shopping" means groceries and I'm perfectly ok with that.
When caring for Gma P moved to the next level, our time together had an extended purpose. Most Saturdays looked like a morning begun with singing & prayer, sharing & listening, followed by a trip to Walmart, Kroger & Gma P's. Breakfast at 5am wouldn't last until 3 or 4pm so a solution had to be found.
I picked up a package of these totally amazing, totally greasy, totally comfort food salami cheese wraps. Mom grabbed the equally healthy donuts or zingers. When we were done shopping & loading the car, she'd toss me the hand sanitizer & a napkin. I'd open our second breakfast while she put the shopping cart away. She'd talk. I'd listen. Then I would talk & she would listen. In the middle of all of the chaos of life, a new tradition, one meant for just the two of us, was born. There was no question in my mind this week as to what I would offer this amazing woman as a small, but extremely meaningful, gift on Mother's Day.
You see, tomorrow night is our last night of our Revelation Bible study. I won't miss the 430am incessant beeping that came from my alarm. But I will miss the ladies who carried us through this fall with their texts, emails & prayers. I will miss my seniors, especially since I won't be their leader next year. I will miss spending Saturday afternoons with momma & Gma P alone. Most of all though, I'll miss spending practically all day with my momma. For those few short hours every week, I had her undivided attention & she had mine.
It was in those hours that such wisdom & kindness was spoken. There was a kindred bond made in knowing we were equally invested in the tasks the week would unfold before us. Schedules were synced & plans of attack made. In love. With grace.
So if you call one Saturday morning & can't get ahold of either of us, please don't panic. We're probably on a back porch somewhere, with our phones turned off, playing the cd that Gma hummed along with until she went to sleep, syncing our schedules, making plans of attack, enjoying our salami, cheese & donuts, and talking about Jesus. Because I don't care how old I get, I'll always need time alone with my momma.
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