As we grow older, our roles with our parents seem to reverse. When we are born, we depend on our mothers and fathers to help us grow. As we continue and mature, we take many lessons from their experience. As they grow older, they start to release their leadership and lean upon us, their children. It is a rearrangement we embrace. Sometimes, it isn’t easy to watch the transformation. But, with love, we become protectors of our parents and the caregivers that they once were to us.
Below is a story of a daughter-mother relationship that has served as a reminder that we all are intertwined on the same path to understanding, compassion and love.
Love Them While We Can
They tied our shoes, took us to school, patched our worn-out jeans
They soothed our tears and calmed our fears, and listened to our dreams
Somewhere along their golden years, their hair has lost its sheen
The notes to hymn one hundred ten crackle when they sing
And now they are alone, no children’s voices fill their empty homes
We must love them while we can, we must love them while we can
For time just seems to hurry by, and the days slip into years
And the moments that we have will disappear
So love them while we can
The folks that taught us our first words, still have much to say
The silver secrets of the world, lie beneath those crowns of gray
As they approach the end, we change our role from children to best friend
We must love them while we can, we must love them while we can
For time just seems to hurry by, and the days slip into years
And the moments that we have will disappear
So love them while we can
