Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Sunday, May 11, 2008

Martha Armstrong: 'Mother is kind and gentle'

Mom, born 84 years ago on Valentine's Day, is a kind, gentle woman. Her face is etched with lines of age and wisdom. Her hair, once a light brown, has turned to a beautiful silvery-gray luster. Large-veined hands and feet, gnarled with arthritis, extends from a torso that appears muscleless.

The opaque, brown-spotted skin of her small body holds together brittle bones that threaten to break as she slowly shuffles along with the help of a clicking, aluminum walker. Her belly still enlarged from her child-bearing years, jiggles as she laughs with joy at her grandchildren. Yellow-green eyes, covered now with a dull veil of filmy water, watch her children with pride whenever they are around.

Much of her time is spent sitting in her rocking chair in front of a very loud television set. Even with the volume turned on high, she nods off to sleep occasionally, but snaps awake instantly ready to serve anyone entering her domain. She has spent all her life giving of herself, rarely complaining of the pain and sorrow she has endured.

Memories of years long past drift in and out of her mind as she waits patiently for God to take her into His loving arms.

— Martha Armstrong, Holmen, Wis.