Trimming Toe Nails and Giving Baths

As I visited with my twin sister this weekend, I realize a connection far beyond any biological similarities. Years ago my mother told us stories about taking care of some of the local folks in our small town. Mom was a nurse and would make house calls with the local doctor. One elderly gentleman in our community lacked the ability to cut his own toe nails. So, my mom would remove his shoes, wash his feet and trim his nails.

Fast forward now some thirty years. My sister lives in Houston, and for some time worked at a hospice for aids patients. She told us a story this weekend about giving a bath to a former prostitute who was dieing from the dreaded disease.

As she recounted the details of the story, I began to think about the gentleman from New Orleans that I met at a church in Jackson, MS. He had been on a bus for some time, and was now preparing to bed down for the night in the activities building at First Baptist Church Jackson, MS. We noticed a not so pleasant smell coming from his direction. Unfortunately, the elderly man had had an accident and needed some extra attention in the shower. He was disabled, so it required three to four of us to get him to the shower, unclothed and bathed. After we got him cleaned up it was time for new clothes. Fortunately, I had a pair of shorts and shirt that were just his size. With great humility I dressed this now homeless man from New Orleans and helped put him to bed. I told him good night and good by. We left the next morning for the gulf to serve the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Parents are best known by what they past down to their children. We have their eyes, all their good or bad habits and if we are lucky just a few of their earthly possessions. However, it is the intangible things that I am most grateful for. Mom taught us that its okay to love and serve others. She taught us how to trim toe nails and give baths.