A Torn And Tattered Bill Still Has Value

My mother became a great grandma for the second time this past September. Little Jackson had his christening on Sunday and unfortunately they live 800 miles away so we were were not able to make the trip. Grandma Julie of course wanted to send him a card with a small gift.

I wrote Dear Jackson on top of the card along with a line or two wishing him blessings and then said ok Mom, come here and sign Grandma Julie. She got all upset and said I cant!!. I said of course you can! I directed my finger to the card and she managed to write it. I said see, this will mean much more to Jackson one day having your signature versus mine. I said Mom, none of us can do what we once were able to do.

I told her a story I read a while ago… A lady went to the bank to get two $100. bills to put in a card as a wedding gift she was attending. The teller gave her one crisp brand new one and the second was more torn, dirty and wrinkled. The customer said, I don’t want this one…I have to put it in a card as a gift..the teller shrugged and said fine…even though its torn its still worth $100.

I thought that was such a great way of looking at it. I said Mom, we are all torn and tattered a little but we still are worth a lot. I reminded her of all the things she has taught me since moving in. She taught me appreciation, and how not to be wasteful not to mention I finally learned her delicious barley soup recipe and will be able to try my hand at it for years to come.

Why is cant so easy to say? Why do we feel when we can no longer do something we are not worth anything anymore. When my son was small the word cant was not allowed in any sentence. If he said that four letter word I would say, its ok if your scared, its ok if you don’t want to, its ok if you don’t feel like doing it, or your not interested, etc. but you can try anything you set your mind to. We may not do everything great but we have the ability to try.

He tried that line on the necessary things like homework or throwing out the trash a time or two..I cant Mom and the reason is I dont feel like it…on those days the answer was oh no YOU MUST!!

This morning I woke up with a terrible headache and while lying in bed planning my day thought wow I wish I could call in sick today. We caregivers unfortunately are not able to do that. Just like Sean had to do his homework we must try our best to do our responsibilities. I don’t have to walk 10,000 steps but must do the necessary things. Its ok to feel like we cant sometimes.

We all feel the strain of this from time to time. When those days come realize its ok and we can and will get through the day even if its just doing the necessary thing. On days when you do feel like trying something new dont be afraid. Tell yourself I can do this. I can try this.

Remind your loved one who may be feeling torn and tattered that they still have value despite the illness. I can still talk to you, I can still touch you, I can still love you. My $100. bill said to me the other day man Donna you eat way too fast!!!. Of course my first reaction was I cant help it until I caught myself and said do I?

Mom said your going to have problems with your stomach one day. I said how can I help this and she said chew ten times!. I said see, you’re still giving me valuable lessons mom. She isn’t so torn and tatteredafter all. Give those tattered bills a huge hug this week!

I hope if you do have to say the four letter word that I wrote about today that it is I CAN’T WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE DAY TO SCREAM HOW GREAT IT WAS!!.. I pray everyone reading this hugs a tattered soul at least once this week because it really CAN make a difference in reminding them of their value.