My parents believed in helping their neighbor. Neighbor could be defined as the family next door, the nursing home across town, or a need presented by the church.
There was a blind couple that my mother would visit on the north edge of town. They were elderly and to the best of my knowledge had no children to help them. Since I never had a babysitter, I always got to have a front seat experience to Mother’s visits with them.
Walking into their home, laden down with food my mother had prepared, I was wide-eyed. After all, these were the BLIND PEOPLE. Everyone in town knew them. Their TV was always blaring, just to the right of the front door, I’m sure it was ongoing company for them. But the most fascinating thing to me was the web of rope that criss-crosssed across their ceiling. These folks, to survive and live independently in their home, maneuvered by reaching up and following the ropes from room to room. The floor beneath the webbed pattern was clear of clutter, which allowed them to move relatively quickly about the home. Except for the cleared paths, the house was messy. After all, they couldn’t see the mess.
Once we arrived, I was assigned to sit on the sofa, watching television while Mother put away the food we brought and prepared their dinner plates. While in the kitchen she’d clean the kitchen counters and check the refrigerator for spoiled food.
After some time, Mother would be finished and come out to the living room to retrieve me. Before we’d say our final farewell, I’d often be asked to sing a song for them to brighten their day. Then we were off to our own home. A home that was tidy and neat with no web, no lingering odors of ‘oldness.’
Lesson Learned: Don’t turn a blind eye to the needs of those you encounter. If you look closely, you’ll see and recognize the needs.
