Lily of the valley is blooming in my backyard. I saw the delicate bell shaped flowers when I returned from a visit with my mother. She was placed in a nursing home last week.
The transition to the nursing home is a huge change. New environment. New people. Changing shifts for caregivers. Physical therapy. Occupational therapy. It is not surprising that she is exhausted.
On Sunday morning I wheeled her to the hymn sing taking place in the activity room. We joined a circle of wheel chairs. Favorite hymns were played on the sound system and the words to the lyrics appeared on a large screen. At first Mom was nodding off.
I took her hand and clasped it in mine. Her hand was cool and soft. Gradually she returned the clasp. She looked up and began to softly song the words to hymns that she remembered. One of the hymns was “The Lily of the Valley” by Charles W. Fry (1881).
I have found a friend in Jesus, He’s everything to me,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see
All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay;
He tells me every care on Him to roll.
He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
I have a vase filled with stems of lily of the valley on my kitchen table. This song continues to play in my heart as I pray for Mom.
These verses in Revelation give hope and comfort. Jesus is the Bright and Morning Star.
Behold, I am coming soon . . .
I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the root and offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star. Revelation 22: 12a, 16
Linking with Thought Provoking Thursday, Us, Coffee & Jesus, Let Us Grow, Word of God Speak, A Little R & R and Whole Hearted Wednesday
So nice to “meet” you Carol as I visit you here today. The flowers in your post are beautiful! Now when I hear that song I will have a reference point of how beautiful a flower it is. I also want to say a prayer for you and your mother as she goes through the adjustment period. We will have to probably put my father in a home soon due to his Alzheimer’sand we are not looking forward to that adjustment but God will bring us through. Thank you for sharing this lovely post today. May God continue to richly bless you and yours as you seek to live for Him!
Thank-you for your visit, Horace, and your prayers. I am pausing to pray for your family & father. God be with you!
I am praying for your mom as she transitions to a new home. How difficult this must be for you. I’m glad the Lord gave you and her the song. Love the flower and the smell–wonderful. Growing up, my mother use to wear this scent in a cream lotion!
Thank-you for your prayers. Have a great day!
What a beautiful flower! And to have them in your own backyard!
I empathize with placing your mother in a nursing home. I cared for my daddy here at our home for two years before he passed, and he did some recovery in a nursing home. I pray God’s strength for you both.
Your tender act of holding her hand, blessed me.
And thank you kindly for stopping by my blog and leaving kind words. Bless you!
Such a sweet little flower! One of my favorites, actually. This hymn is perfect for the flower as well as reminding me who I am to look to, lean on, and kneel before. Thank you for sharing it as well as the reason you were singing it. I am so sorry about you mother’s circumstances. My dear Mama took a terrible fall at age 93 and ended up living in the NH for 5 years. Along with the many caregivers there and at the assisted living, I cared for her for 15 years. I lift you both in prayer, Carol. I understand.
Linda, thank-you for your prayers! Have a blessed weekend.
That’s a beautiful hymn. I’m glad it gave comfort to you and your Mom.
Oh, that must’ve been a hard transition for you too, Carol, to move your mother to a nursing home. How lovely you both found comfort in the words of a favorite hymn. Blessings to you!
Yes, a harder transition than I imagined. Have a blessed weekend, Carrie. Thank-you for hosting Let Us Grow.