LEGACIES of CARING

My mum Mary was an amazing person. So was Peter my dad. Mum had the primary responsibility of caring for six children, so you can only imagine how busy mum was. Periodically our parents arranged for Karitane in-house Nurse care. I have fond memories of Margaret the nurse assigned to us. Margaret had a knack for growling at us and giggling with us when we got up to mischief. Sadly, Margaret died last week. She was 84. Speakers at her funeral all mentioned her devotion to children and her unrelenting love for families. 

At other times, and remember this was the 1960’s, ‘mums to be’ would have free board and lodgings in our home in return for helping to look after us. Long after they had left our family, Mum would continue corresponding with them and inquire after their and their babies health and welfare. 

I also remember mum sponsoring World Vision children around the world. She would show us the letters of thankfulness to her and her reply letters. 

Mum was a talented artist and she spent countless hours teaching maximum security prisoners to paint artworks in her prison ministry work. 

We all experienced unconditional love, kindness and acceptance from them both. I remember dad staying with Chris (my twin brother) for hours and hours holding his hand while he recovered from a hospital operation. Dad’s kindness was often expressed in his thoughtful answers to our many questions and concerns. He never put any pressure on us to be anything we didn’t want to be. 

They were amazing role models to us. Dad and mum adored us and their many grandchildren and great grandchild and always followed our/their interests and talents with genuine enthusiasm. 

If you ever stop in Warkworth, drop into Pete and Mary’s Eatery. A cafe that is named after my parents and owned and managed by my niece and nephew, Suzannah and Tim.

POINTS to PONDER
Our examples and legacy of caring and kindness can have a profound, positive effect on our children, extended family and friends.  

We all leave a legacy of some sort. Let’s choose to make it a good one.