Valentine's Day isn't just for couples...

I woke up early this morning so Katie and I could drive down to Toronto to take my Nana to church on this Valentine's Day. We don't go to church often these days although all three of my kids attend mass regularly at their Catholic schools. Going to church was something I only ever did with my mom and Nana....a deep memory from my childhood.....my mother trying her best to sing the choir songs while my Nana listened attentively to the sermon...me always fidgeting in the pew trying to relieve my boredom by spying on people and counting how many coughs I heard during the service....anticipating the moment when we could step out of the church but only after Father had walked to the back of the church. Today I stood with my Nana once again as I had done so many times before in childhood taking in the faint smells of candles and listening to the songs of praise...but this time I looked around at the parishioners wondering what life they had that brought them to mass....most in wheelchairs, all veterans as my Nana insists on going to mass at the hospital where Grandpa lived during his Alzheimer years. I think about how quickly time has passed and feel a sense of sadness when I see my Nana with her walker, out of breath and trying to drag her leg with each step. She is an amazing woman who lost her mother as a child but somehow knew how to love her children and grandchildren. This time at mass I am not wanting the time to end but to stand still......looking down at my daughter with my hands on her shoulders just as my mother had gestured to me in church...I realize that she is now playing my childhood role probably hoping that she too can get out quickly and wondering why her mother drags her to mass. Well my darling I am doing so to teach you about love. Love that my Nana showed me all those times she took me to church. Church is a place to remember those in your life, to teach you to be a better person and live each day with kindness. So when my Nana is no longer on this earth...we can go to Church to remember and thank her for giving us such a wonderful gift.