Caddy Back

By Lisa Livezey

My lord, thou knowest that I have with me tender children.
—Genesis 33:13 (DRB)

Outside Mom’s house sat three vehicles. There was the 26-foot camper parked near the patio, the old gray Buick Century Sedan that Dad had used around town and kept running with duct tape and spit, and finally the tenth-generation beige Cadillac de Ville— reserved for more dignified occasions.

Soon after Dad died, my son—savvy with Craigslist—helped sell the Buick for several hundred bucks. As for the camper, winter wasn’t the best time to sell. Plus, I lacked the time and energy just then to clean and empty it out. Then there was the Caddy which offered a quiet, padded ride—like sitting in the lounge of a fancy hotel.

Despite the Cadillac’s availability, we had been chauffeuring Mom to daily activities in my car or that of her aide. But when riding shotgun, Mom was tense and frequently burst forth with exclamations of dismay at the mere passing of another car.

I discovered that if Mom sat in the middle of the Cadillac’s backseat, she would ride contentedly along in peace. Thus, I didn’t sell the Cadillac and began driving Mom around in the vehicle where she felt most comfortable. It was Mom’s car, after all, and hers to enjoy.

Lord, we are but weak children. Thank you for Your provision of tender care.

Reflect: Is there something in your loved one’s life that provides physical comfort? Is there a tangible way in which God shows His tender care for you? Take a moment to thank the Lord for His provisions.

The above selection is Entry #17 in Part II: Weathering Winter of Minding Mom: A Caregiver’s Devotional Story by Lisa Livezey (© 2024, En Route Books and Media)

Minding Mom: A Caregiver’s Devotional Story by Lisa Livezey | En Route Books and Media