Looking Upward and Outward

Recently someone, who lives in Farmington, New Mexico and went to church with my mother, reached out to me with this sweet story.  My own comments are in [].

"About four years ago our second son, Will, had routine surgery to remove his tonsils.  He had some somewhat serious complications and had to be admitted to the hospital. It was a hard and scary few days to say the least.  


Unbekownst to us at the time, Ruth was in the hospital at the same time due to continued complications with her feet and was having another portion removed. [She had been battling another infection and had another toe removed.]

In a time when we as a family were looking inward and downward we were strengthened by your mother who was looking upward and outward. 


How easy would it have been to stay up in her room and sulk, or at the least rest from what she had been through. But no, she wheeled herself down to the gift shop and picked out a book and some treats for a little boy she knew might be hurting.  


It took me a few days to truly take in what she did for our family that day. It is now a story that is written in our family journal to help us remember how to be Christlike in all times, in all places, and in all circumstances.  


She had a gift for looking upward and outward."

This post features:

RUTH RASMUSSEN BUCHANAN (1946-2015)

My mother 

me --> Ruth Rasmussen Buchanan