"Her door was always opened when you came her way,
and the sheets would be pulled back if you needed to stay."
As soon as I saw this picture I thought of Nan! A humble home, a cat wandering around, and a welcome sign. The only thing missing is, chickens, a goat, and horses roaming in the pasture. I can hear her saying "come on in" to any animal or person that came to her front or back door.
In my book, I Called Her Nan, I mentioned just that kind of welcome in Chapter 2 titled, Time Apart. It was during a time that Jeff and I broke up and I was missing him and the comfort of his home, so I stopped by not even knowing if I was welcomed...
"His mom greeted me at the door with a hug. It was her afternoon reading and nap time, so we laid on her sloshy water bed where she enjoyed reading."
She could have easily not answered the door and certainly not let me in! But she went beyond that, she opened the door smiling and hugged me, then included me in her rest time! It was like a feast of comfort that I did not expect. She didn't ask why I was there, and I didn't feel the need to explain. I certainly didn't feel judged. She saw my tears. Her unconditional love was all this young girl's heart needed at that moment.
What a beautiful reminder..."Time spent with someone is never wasted. God will use it according to His will and in His time."
At times it feels like I still have a young girl's heart that would enjoy laying on her sloshy water bed. Little did I know that one day I'd lay down next to her again during her final days, except this time it was on a little double bed in the guest room. That memory is mentioned in Chapter 5 titled, Stay A Little Longer. "As if she knew what I could not say, I felt her cool hand reach over and rest upon mine. Ever so gently, she patted my hand to bring me comfort with just her touch."
Earlier I mentioned that I missed the comfort of her home, but now I know...It was her I missed that day. I still do. I hope that friends and family can feel that kind of welcome from me when I open my door. To know that they can come as they are and feel loved. I know my mother-in-law wasn't perfect, and neither am I. However, I do know there are life lessons I am still learning along the way from the woman, I Called Nan.
Love,
Cathy
Beautiful!🥰