Shape of a Mother 🌹

A beloved Mother bravely sits up in her bed, propped up by pillows of wished feathery comfort...silently, she bears her pain...uncomplaining. She stares into the unknown void, imagining the last embers of her life flame soon to be extinguished. Around her haven, watching vigilantly, are her children. 🌹

Her life is at a threshold, a mirror of time - where the choices of her younger self echo forward, transforming the sanctuary of youthfulness around her into a thorny reckoning if not tended wisely.🌹

Mother's time is not up quite yet. She still can impart some wisdom to the teary eyes which watch her with hawk-like ferocity and intensity...as if willing her better with bare emotions.🌹

Her diagnosis had come as a shock a year ago. Between tending her flock, hectic work schedules and juggling the family cohesiveness into a near peace-filled existence. She had missed all the signs.

Too late...rest, comfort (as much as is possible) and family are all that is left.

🌹

Her oldest daughter took her hand...squeezing tightly...willing the preservation of her mother.

"Mom, what does it mean the thing you always quote..."If you lay upon roses when young, you'll lie upon thorns when old".

All young sets of ears perked up.

🌹 Mother smiled bravely...every movement a torment, despite the pain medications which left her body a hazy midnight fog.

"Roses when young: Symbolizes ease, indulgence, or a carefree youth filled with pleasure and comfort.

Thorns when old: Suggests hardship, regret, or suffering in later life.

Philosophical implications are that a life of unchecked ease or irresponsibility in youth may lead to consequences or suffering in old age. “Roses” are tempting but fleeting; “thorns” are the price paid later.

It’s a cautionary tale about short-term pleasure vs. long-term wisdom. If one avoids discipline, effort, or foresight early on, they may face the painful results later.

There is also a Moral Undertone , suggesting that virtue, hard work, and restraint in youth are necessary to ensure peace and comfort in old age".

The mother pauses, breathless from the exertion, but with a glint of hope and possibility in her eyes.

"Isn't it the same...or similar sentiments found in sayings like:

"Make hay while the sun shines".

"Youth sows wild oats; age reaps the harvest".

Father, who all this time just sat, observed and listened, felt very proud of his family...he watched realization dawn upon his partner's face.

They had raised a wise bunch of young philosophers.

"Don't worry Mom, you did a great job with us". Arielle, the sixteen year old assured her.

We will take this to heart by understanding that the choices we make now shape our future. If we focus on learning, kindness, and responsibility while young, we'll build a life with fewer regrets and inner peace later on. It’s about planting good seeds now so we don’t face painful thorns later".

Mother exhaled. She saw each decision becoming a brick in the foundation of who they’re becoming.

She could rest now.