Lola was sitting in a wheelchair at the nursing home, looking out the window at the little garden. There had been no notable changes for another year. Her son-in-law, Roger, and daughter, Natalie, failed to check in with her or return her calls.
Lola’s health began to deteriorate at the age of 80 six years ago. She could hardly do simple things on her own and needed assistance. Lola, who was once vivacious and upbeat, was unable to overcome the consequences of aging.
Natalie moved in with her husband and put Lola in a nursing home after realizing she would have to take care of her mother. Lola waited year after year without receiving the many visits Natalie promised.
After receiving a letter one morning, Lola was able to identify the address of the sender. “You appear content, Lola. What’s in the letter? As Lola ran her hand over the envelope with a smile, Mary questioned.
Oh, sweetie, it’s from a particular someone. Give it a minute.
Lola started crying as soon as she opened the letter. She inherited $2.3 million from her older stepbrother, Morgan, who used Lola’s attorney to locate Mary’s address.
Morgan had vowed to always take care of Lola for their mother. He was informed he had just months to live and was bedridden for a long period. Since he had no relatives, he chose to give his money to Lola.
Natalie and Roger soon learned of Lola’s fortune. Not just among the immediate family, but also among distant relatives and friends who suddenly remembered Lola’s existence, the news spread like wildfire. Natalie and Roger showed up at the nursing home a few days later with flowers and fake smiles that even Lola’s seasoned eyes could not see.
“Mum! “We’ve been really concerned about you,” Natalie exclaimed as she set the bouquet on the bedside table. “What prevented you from informing us about this earlier?”
Lola looked up. “Tell you what? That most of the time I sit here by myself? Or that years ago, your calls ceased to come?
Natalie had a restless twitch. “Mom, we were rather busy. Life becomes challenging.
In an attempt to move the discussion toward more useful topics, Roger added his voice. “So, what are we doing about the inheritance? Are you having trouble with it?
Lola reclined on her chair, intently examining them both. They’d been ignoring her for six years. As if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. It hurt more than she wanted to acknowledge.
She answered simply, unwilling to commit, “I’ll think about it.”
Visitors flooded into the nursing home over the course of the following two weeks, including old neighbors who claimed they had always intended to stop by, cousins Lola hadn’t seen in decades, and even former coworkers who sent gifts. They all appeared eager to get back in touch, but it was easy to figure out why.
Mary, Lola’s best friend at the assisted living facility, laughed as she observed all of this. While crocheting at the window one day, she quipped, “Looks like you’re the belle of the ball now.”
Lola laughed quietly. “I find it amusing that having money can make people forget how lonely I have been.”
But in the midst of the commotion of the attention, something unexpected occurred. Clara, a young woman, started to come by frequently. Clara was Morgan’s caretaker in his last months; unlike the others, she was unrelated to Lola. She brought with her pictures, anecdotes, and fond recollections of Morgan, creating a striking portrait of the brother Lola had grown distant from over the years.
One occasion, Clara remarked, “He talked about you a lot.” “He wanted you to know how much he loved you and that he wished he had stayed nearer.”
The eyes of Lola filled with tears. She felt appreciated for the first time in years, not because of her wealth but because of who she was.
Lola’s irritation with Natalie and Roger’s persistent demands to access the inheritance increased over the course of the following few weeks. The suggestion they made was to transfer her from the nursing home to a “better” facility—one that was actually closer to them. However, Lola was wiser. Their flimsy attempts to manage her money were obvious to her.
Natalie showed in unexpectedly one day with a pile of documents. “Everything is set up, Mom. With the use of these documents, the money will be moved into our account for your management.
Disbelieving, Lola gazed at her daughter. “Why should I do that?”
“To keep you safe, of course!” Exasperated, Natalie exclaimed. “You don’t have the health to manage that much money.”
Lola thought for a second about caving in. She was exhausted after all, and handling millions sounded like too much to handle. However, she then recalled Mary, whose relationship had remained strong despite having nothing to gain, and Clara, who came without expecting anything in return. A change occurred within her.
“No,” Lola firmly stated. “I’ll take care of my own affairs, but I appreciate your concern.”
Natalie stumbled, obviously unprepared for opposition. “However, Mom—”
That’s sufficient,” Lola said. “You wouldn’t have visited until the money came along if you truly cared about me. I will now choose who is worthy of my trust.
Lola’s decision was swiftly publicized. The influx of tourists slowed down nearly immediately. Clara, Mary, and a gentle nurse named Sam, who had always shown Lola real affection, were the only people who kept stopping by.
Lola, with Clara’s assistance, engaged a financial advisor that Morgan’s attorney had suggested. Together, they devised a strategy for making prudent use of the bequest. A portion of it was used to make the nursing home better and give everyone there greater care. Another part went toward scholarships for students interested in a career in elder care, which was a subject that was very important to Lola.
The months went by, and Lola blossomed. She started writing letters to local schools about the value of respecting elders, joined activities she had previously avoided, and made new acquaintances. Once characterized by loneliness, her life now had a lot of meaning.
Clara came one bright afternoon with a surprise. She smiled and replied, “You know what?” “The scholarship fund—the Lola Harper Elder Care Scholarship—is formally named in your honor.”
Lola’s eyes began to well up with tears. Following me? “Why?”
“Because you made it possible,” Clara answered. Numerous lives have already been impacted by your kindness. We’re only getting started.
Lola thought about everything that had changed as she gazed out at the garden that night, which was filled with golden light. Her issues had not been solved by money; rather, it had only shown her who really cared. It also provided her the confidence to take charge of her life once more.
Life Lesson: Material gain and convenience are not the foundations of true relationships. Their foundations are genuineness, love, and respect. When things go tough, be with people who appreciate you for who you are, not what you have.
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