I had the blessing of having a wonderful mother-in-law. She treated me like her own daughter.  Although we did not have the same faith, she never opposed her only son coming to church with me.  She did tell me one time that she was asked about it and she replied, "He's not coming to church now, so why should I say anything." She planned gatherings around our going to church and never made us feel like we had to choose. I admired her for this and John's coming soon lead him to being baptized and a servant for our Lord.   

Later in life she was diagnosed with Alzheimer.  Until having to live in a nursing home, she stayed between her two daughter's homes and ours.  Grandma's job while with us was folding the clothes.  Our job was finding them. If we found clothing that belong to someone else that piece of clothing could be held for ransom until the clothing, you wanted was found.

She would sing to us at two o'clock in the morning before waking up our children for school.  Destini, Damon, or Dustin would gently tell her it wasn't time yet and guide her back to bed.

If Grandma's teeth weren't in her container or in her mouth, we were all on "teeth alert."  She was very clever in where she placed her teeth -- in beds, shoes, Kleenex boxes.

One day I had gone outside to the mailbox, not realizing the door had locked and my mother-in-law was inside by herself.  I went to the front window, knocked on it and she waved at me. I did this to every window and she waved at every window until eventually we got to the kitchen door.  A journey that seemed like hours. Finally, between pointing to the door knob and repeating several times to open it she did. Once inside she told me someone was knocking at our door. I told her, "I'll get it." From that point on I became a latchkey child and hid keys everywhere.

Occasionally I could see the sadness and fear in her eyes when she would realize what was happening to her.  Fortunately, these moments were far and few in between.  From those short moments came this song. 

FINGERS OF HER HANDS

She walks through the house and touches her life with the fingers of her hands.

Picks up a picture and holds it to her heart

To remember if she can... to remember if she can.

In the spring of her life when all is new

A young bride she becomes.

In the spring of her heart when all is new

She has two daughters and a son.

She walks through the house and touches her life with the fingers of her hands.

Picks up a picture and holds it to her heart

To remember if she can... to remember if she can.

In the summer of her life when all is bright

With her children, she does play.

In the summer of her life when all is bright

She shows them how to pray.

She walks through the house and touches her life with the fingers of her hands.

Picks up a picture and holds it to her heart

To remember if she can... to remember if she can.

In the autumn of her life when all is secured

Grandma she is called.

In the autumn of her life when all is secured

She watches them grow tall.

She walks through the house and touches her life with the fingers of her hands.

Picks up a picture and holds it to her heart

To remember if she can... to remember if she can.

In the winter of her life there are shades of gray and her mind it grows slow.

She walks through the house and touches her life with the fingers of her hands.

Picks up a picture and holds it to her heart

To remember if she can... to remember if she can.

The seasons of her life they were full

From beginning to the end.

The seasons of her life they were full

This mother, this friend.

She walks through the house and touches her life with the fingers of her hands.

Picks up a picture and holds it to her heart

To remember if she can... to remember if she can.

In the winter of her life there are shades of gray and her memories let go.