Hailing a mother’s spirit

One of the most heartbreaking, life-altering experiences for a woman is the chronic illness, disability or loss of a child.

Who can forget Shirley MacLaine in the 1988 movie Terms of Endearment as she struggles to deal with her daughter’s life-threatening disease.  Or Mary Tyler Moore in the extraordinary 1980 movie Ordinary People, who can’t come to grips with the death of her son.

My FOF friend, Carol, faces her son’s exteme handicap with grace and strength every single day.  A lawyer, devoted mother to two other children and wonderful wife, she has an indomitable spirit and is as beautiful outside as she is in.

I have never seen Carol down. She never complains. And she always greets me with a warm smile, enthusiasm and kind words . I imagine she aches when she looks at her son, but all I see and hear is her love, affection and encouraging words.

Carol and her son constantly remind me of the power of the human spirit, especially a mother’s.