Walking with My Shadow

Three weeks ago, my husband and I decided to take a walk after dinner. Since I am recuperating from a bad fall, we decided to take a short walk around a nearby track. The sun was beautiful that evening. It felt warm on my face, as I walked into the sun and warm on my back, as the sun followed me.

My sister was right……..

When I started my walk, my shadow was in front of me. As I took each step, there was something familiar about the black shape. Every step filled my curiosity with questions. Why am I walking like an older person?  Is this how I look to other people?  And, why do I feel as if I know my shadow?

Soon, I rounded the far end of the track, and my shadow was behind me. My mind was racing, trying to figure out who my shadow resembled.  Then in a flash, I remembered my sister, Donna telling me that I walked like Mom. When Donna said that to me, I kind of brushed it off, and hadn’t thought about it after that.   Although I am always being told that I look a lot like Mom,  I never imagine that I walked liked her too.

I continued walking a bit faster until my shadow was once again in front of me. I slowed down and watched each step my shadow took. I gasped as I realized that my sister was right! I really do walk like Mom.

Step by step…..

I could not help but smile, as I thought about my precious Mother with each step I took.

What my shadow taught me……

It is extraordinary how things happen in our daily lives, that remind us of a loved one. A precious loved one who made their journey to Heaven but is always present in our minds and hearts.

My shadow did just that on a warm spring evening, with birds singing, and children playing nearby.

When my shadow was in front of me, I felt Mom leading the way. As I followed her, it was as if I was on a path, a path of memories, a path of learning, and a path of love. The memories came fast that night. I thought about the time, Mom would take us on walks to pick raspberries, always leading the way.  We would pick the berries and put them gently into a bucket, Mom held letting us each eat a few, as we walked to find some more.

Just then, my shadow was gone, but not that far away.  It was behind me. While the sun- warmed my face, my shadow was following me and once again, the memories came flooding back.  This time,  I felt like my shadow was encouraging me, to keep going,  just like Mom always did. She would say, ” You can do it! Don’t give up!”  I felt her smile as her blue eyes twinkled. I felt her love that night not just for me but for all her children. She was proud of us. I believe she smiles down from Heaven when beautiful things happen to each of us and cries when she sees her children, sick or hurting.

As I took my last lap and the sun lowered in the sky, I felt light-hearted. Memories have an excellent way of connecting our hearts to the souls of our loved ones.  I cannot help to think that Mom felt the connection too.

My heartfelt thoughts…….

First, it is a beautiful privilege to look like Mom and walk like her too!  Going to the track that night, filled my heart with gratitude and love for God. Because of Him, I had the Mother that He planned for me. Through His love, he not only blessed Mom and Dad with three more children but gave me two loving sisters and a brother that I cherish.

So dear readers; do you look like your mother? How about her walk?  Or maybe you look like your father or walk like him.  Check out your shadow the next time you take a walk. You never know what memories will fill your heart with everlasting love for those mom’s and dad’s that are still here and those who live in heaven.