Sometimes we meet people and know we are in the presence of greatness actualized. Being with Jim Simpson is like that. Sitting having a coffee with him, I know I am in the presence of a man whose heart is open in love, joy, compassion, humility. Him is a man with a vision. A man taking action to make a difference in the world by creating community, creating opportunity for people to come together and share their gifts.

Today, Jim shares a story about the source of his compassion and love. Today, he shares a story of his mother that pierces the heart with its aching beauty and honesty.

Thank you Jim for sharing your gifts and showing us how in loving life we must also let life love us back.

Helping Mom

Written by Jim Simpson

The scene remains crystal clear in my mind although many years have now passed. I am a young boy of 10 or 11. We are in the front hall of our home. It’s a home from the 1940’s where space and size is not what we experience today. The entry hall is just stepping in from the front door. The hallway runs the length of the house with my parent’s bedroom door off one side and the living room door off the other, further down the hall is a bathroom, my sister’s bedroom and the kitchen. A couple of years ago, my parents were excited because we got wall-to-wall carpet. It’s green and Mom talked with all her friends about it. Behind the front door are the three hooks where my parent’s or their grown up visitors hang their coats. My sister and I use a closet by the back door.

My Mom and I are heading out to walk to the store. The grocery store is two blocks away. At the store there will be a candy counter and I usually get to pick out a treat. But the getting ready to go part can be hard. Mom struggles to get her coat on. Ever since she was in hospital last year, for what seemed like forever, life has been different.

Mom’s left side no longer works like it did before. I’ve heard Dad say that Mom had a stroke and other words I don’t really understand. I wonder if it will ever go back to how it was before.

On her left leg, there are two metal rods attached to her shoe that go up as far as her knee. She can’t walk at all without it but even with it on, it’s not like before. With it on, she swings her left leg forward; steps normally with her right leg and with a cane in her right hand can walk for a few blocks but really not that far. Not like before.

But at least we can get to the store and back.

Stairs are harder too now especially without a railing. Like down to our basement. She has to bump down on her bottom. Sometimes we have races to see who can bump down faster. I can still win. We can still laugh.

I can tell she is getting upset trying to get her coat on. It’s hard. Her left arm hangs limp all the time. There seems to be no way for her to move it at all. So putting on a coat is hard. I look up at her and I want to help her but I am just a little boy. I think if I stood on my tiptoes I could stretch and reach her coat up that arm, I am sure I could help her. I could make a difference for her. But I know she likes to do things on her own. Proving that she can still do things on her own and that the stroke hasn’t robbed her of everything.

Our eyes will meet. She will see in my face a young boy scared of the changes that have happened so suddenly to his world. She suddenly wonders if her drive to try and prove to herself that she can still do it all might be pushing away a little boy who just wants to help his Mom. Who wants to say it’s okay Mom let me help you – I know I can. So she stops and says, “Can you help with me my coat? It will mean we can get going quicker to the store and we can see what the candy counter holds today.”

So now as I look through eyes that are older than my Mom was back then, I remember that letting people help me is as important as when I want to help them.

Sometimes you need to let people make a difference in your life.

I hold her memory so dear to me because she taught me how to help and be helped.

How to love all that life can bring you and let life love you back. No matter what shape the package or where the road may take you, life and love are there for all. For loving life and the people you walk with is the value of life. Helping and being helped allows us to be in community together and celebrate the value in all of us.

Making a difference and allowing others to make a difference in your life is how the community thrives.

Written by:  Jim Simpson