The Circle of Life

Sometimes they just hit you. Life lessons. When you least expect them, they sneak up and snap you out of whatever good or bad routine you’ve got going.

This morning we had some excitement at work. Michael Buble joined the team for the morning. He also brought some family members—including a half-year-old babe.

It was an interesting way to start the day. There was this little guy so dependent on his dad for care. His dad dutifully and happily catered to his every need. Without a thanks or any real compensation except maybe the baby’s fussing stopping.

Just hours removed from that exchange I got to see the other end of the spectrum. I was able to join a number of young girls from my church at a care home as we caroled Christmas songs.

I was really taken aback at how dependent these elderly people were. How their independence had been stripped with age. As powerful, wise, able-bodied and sociable they’d been the majority of their lives, those days were over. Time had erased those qualities. The markings of age left many of them incoherent, crippled, powerless and strangely alone in a crowd.

As harsh as it seems, the care home was full of them. These hollow remains of once productive and fully functioning men and women. I thought of myself now. Before the years have caught up to me. I can have a two-way conversation. I can pick myself out of a chair and walk, run, bend—and not break.

When these dear, elderly people spoke tonight it was unadulterated speech. Pure, innocent and honest words. Not all of them made sense but I knew they were genuine and grateful. The simplest utterances I could understand: Merry Christmas.

The years, age, disease and illness hadn’t stripped away their Christmas spirit. I saw a trend of innocence in the two ends of life’s spectrum. The two times when one’s reigning traits are naïve, trusting, dependent and pure.

Whether straight from Heaven or knocking on Heaven’s door there are commonalities. We must rely on love to survive. Parents, caretakers, family and friends all help us through those most humble stages of life.

I am in awe of every mother and father, guardian and grandparent who ceaselessly cares for babies through infancy and into childhood. Each baby’s arrival in school years is a great miracle of love, charity and endurance. I can’t imagine where I would be without loving and charitable parents who tended to my needs. Night after thankless night.

For those with little ones, I commend you. You are building the future. You are making a difference.

I am also greatly inspired by those who care for strangers and loved ones in the final stages of life. Whether due to illness or age, the care it takes in those final stages is taxing and often unheralded.

For you angels on earth who tend to the needs of the age-stricken and those at end of life, thank you. You are true heroes.