She Bought a Red Motor Scooter

She Bought a Red Motor Scooter

Theology in the Trenches

By Kathleen Kjolhaug

Odd it was, or so I thought, that mom took to the highway in order to buy my younger brother a little red motor scooter. He was maybe sixteen or seventeen at the time, and she was fifty-five. I remember because that’s how old mom was when she died.

In her final months, she mustered energy aplenty. In the months prior to her death, she made another major purchase by plopping down some earnest money on a cabin. It was the cabin she and dad had always dreamed of owning. But, she wasn’t fooling anyone because everyone knew she’d never be around to enjoy it.

She bought that cabin with the wisdom of Saul…knowing full well…dad would need something to look forward to once she was gone. Her words were plain enough as she faced her death that final season of her life. “We always wanted one of these and by cracky, now we got one!”

She chuckled as her sense of humor, still in full swing, took the final swing by giving back as she always did. That was her gift; she gave to others.

Now back to the beginning. What did my little brother want at his stage in life? Apparently, he desired a red scooter to get around town, and she wanted to make sure he had what he needed. Off they went to Bemidji, some six hours from where they lived, just to purchase that scooter. I remember the excitement as they unloaded it. I remember her enjoyment of watching him enjoy what she was able to give.

Mom stood by, quite sick, smiling her way through the episode. I remember the urgency she had in achieving this goal as if it would seal her love for him by letting him know how much she desired to move him along in life even if she would not be able to be there. She knew alright, yet put herself last even in her pain while putting others first. I suppose that’s how a mama loves…at least this mama of ours.

She even managed to replace the carpet in the house for dad before she died because what she wanted more than anything else was for everyone else to keep on living. She wouldn’t be a part of it all this side of Heaven, but she gave in the only way she could in her final days by caring for those whom she loved.

Arriving at the hospital for her final night here on earth, she was able to give one last gift to dad. She told him to go back home to get a good night’s sleep. As it was a mere two blocks away from where she lay, he agreed. Once gone, she knew she’d done all she could do for others and went to be with the One she’d spent her whole life in prayer with…Jesus.

She knew Him well, and gave accordingly. He worked through her, and as she often stated, “I offer my whole day up as a prayer.”

When you add that up day to day, it soon becomes weeks, months, and years. Her years of prayers were never wasted when she spent her moments serving those around her in love.

John 15:13-14, 16-17 says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends…Do whatsoever I command you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit…These things I command you, that ye love one another.”  Amen.