Never in my life have I needed my mom as much as I did last week. I called crying nearly every day begging for the illness to be taken away from me, which is not something I would ever do. I’m a tough little thing and quite good at taking care of myself, but something about my family being so far away makes getting terribly sick so much harder to deal with.
When you were little, I’m sure your mother cleaned up whenever you got sick and couldn’t make it to the bathroom, she laid out carefully measured medications and brought you water and crackers to combat the awful aftertaste, and she missed days of work to stay by your side and ensure that you could reach full health once again. You grew up a little and she no longer skipped work, but still picked up medicine on her way home, made you chicken soup, and tended to your needs as frequently as possible. It’s an instinct in all women. I can say that at 19 years old, I have a highly developed motherly instinct for anyone around me, and when someone else has to use their mom skills on me, something is wrong.
Some of us are closer to home than others, making it an easy trip; others, like me, are so far that nothing can be done. In this case, friends step in. If you are blessed enough to have a roommate who will wake up at 6:30am and carry you into the ER as if you’re Hazel Grace Lancaster, take you home and help you back into bed, go out and get whatever medicine you need and other things to speed up your recovery, all before attending class – you are extremely blessed and should love and appreciate your roommate and always be willing to do the same for them. If you are blessed enough to be with someone who is willing to do whatever they can to make you feel better, be that cooking you food, staying close by in case you fall in the shower, holding your hand while you cry begging to be healthy again, and checking in on you even when they are up to their neck in school work – again, be grateful and appreciate the mountains they have/are willing to climb for you. And if you are blessed enough to have family and friends miles away texting, calling or messaging you to make sure that you are going to be okay while they let you know that they are continuously praying for you – appreciate these people and thank them again and again for their thoughts and support.
It isn’t every day we get so sick we can’t leave our beds, and it isn’t every day we find ourselves surrounded by some of the most beautiful people on the planet who go above and beyond to get you back to being yourself. Letting these gestures, condolences and comforts go unnoticed is completely absurd. Nobody has to do anything for anybody. Our choices to be there for others and provide them with tender love and care when they most need it are the choices that shape us as empathetic beings. If you’re on the receiving end, be humbled by the fact that you are in good hands. If you are giving, be humbled in your health and your ability to use it for the betterment of a friend, lover or family member. Health is a gift. Run for those who can’t, eat wholly and plentifully for those who are restricted, be strong for those who can’t move a muscle, and love heavily for those who have none left to give.
