Not a Bother

 September 10, 2020

She was quietly weeping as I came down the stairs to check on her following her mid-day nap. “I’m such a bother,” she sobbed. “You come all this way to see me, and all I do is sleep.” I sat and listened. It must be hard not to feel that way when your world has contracted to a couple rooms, a hospital bed, and a recliner. Mom can’t see to read, has trouble hearing even with aids, and can barely shuffle from her bed to her chair and back. She’s old and tired.

My words of affirmation probably rang a bit hollow as I told her we were here because we love her. I read to her the words of A.A. Milne:

It occurred to Pooh and Piglet that they hadn't heard from Eeyore for several days, so they put on their hats and coats and trotted across the Hundred Acre Wood to Eeyore's stick house. Inside the house was Eeyore.

"Hello Eeyore," said Pooh. 

"Hello Pooh. Hello Piglet "said Eeyore, in a Glum Sounding Voice. 

"We just thought we'd check in on you," said Piglet, "because we hadn't heard from you, and so we wanted to know if you were okay."

Eeyore was silent for a moment. "Am I okay?" he asked, eventually. "Well, I don't know, to be honest. Are any of us really okay? That's what I ask myself. All I can tell you, Pooh and Piglet, is that right now I feel really rather Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun To Be Around At All. 

Which is why I haven't bothered you. Because you wouldn't want to waste your time hanging out with someone who is Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun To Be Around At All, would you now."

Pooh looked and Piglet, and Piglet looked at Pooh, and they both sat down, one on either side of Eeyore in his stick house.

Eeyore looked at them in surprise. "What are you doing?"

"We're sitting here with you," said Pooh, "because we are your friends. And true friends don't care if someone is feeling Sad, or Alone, or Not Much Fun To Be Around At All. True friends are there for you anyway. And so here we are." 

"Oh," said Eeyore. "Oh." And the three of them sat there in silence, and while Pooh and Piglet said nothing at all; somehow, almost imperceptibly, Eeyore started to feel a very tiny little bit better. 

Because Pooh and Piglet were There.

No more; no less. 

Earlier when she wasn’t looking, I took a photo. The woman whose world has shrunk sat with eyes tightly closed, praying. Bother? Not even close. It’s those prayers that often stood between me and disaster, that unknowingly bolstered a sagging spirit, stiffened resistance to sin, sowed the seeds of wisdom, patience, and compassion in my soul. 

We talked, and before long, dimmed eyes were brighter, laughter chuckled up from deep within, and I sat with one more reason to give thanks tonight.