Sweating and belching, the young mother rolls into the Emergency Room at precisely one minute before midnight.
The attending physician’s eyebrows take on the appearance of his last patient’s electro-cardiogram a moment before her death.
“What is it this time?” he says.
“My temperature is rising,” she rasps.
“Sweat streams like rushing rivers down my face. My feet burn. I can hardly breathe and my mouth is as dry as the Grand Canyon in August.”
His eyebrows cinch. “Has the stabbing pain in your lungs worsened since last you were here?”
She nods. “It feels like they’ve been stuffed into a wood-chipper when I exhale.”
© Senna, 2012
“Ahhhh.” His lips flat-line. “And what of your heart?”
“It burns,” she groans. “Constantly.”
“I told you the last time you were here. It’s your children. They are the cause of all the stress in your life. Get rid of them and your troubles will be over.”
The mother gasps. “But I love them!”
“If they loved you as much as you love them they would take better care of you, instead of sucking the life from you with all their demands. They are what’s making you sick.”
“Not intentionally, I’m sure,” she quips.
“Nonetheless, from what you’ve shared with me, it is apparent they are selfish little buggers. All they do is take, take, take. You need to stop giving them everything they want. Your resources are finite.”
“But, they need me. Who will feed them? Who will teach them? Who will make a happy, comfortable home for them? They are still so young.”
“Youth is no excuse. Besides, many are smart and old enough to see that you are on the brink of a major breakdown.”
The mother trembles.
“You see what I mean? You are falling apart! The tremors will only worsen if you don’t start thinking of yourself first. ”
“No. I cannot.”
“Then it is time for them to take care of you for a change. You need relief – and you need it today. How many of them are there now?”
“Oh, you know I’m not good with numbers,” she sighs. “Last time I counted, there were seven-billion-one-hundred-ninety-seven-million-four-hundred-seventy-five-thousand-two-hundred-and-six…no, seven-hundred-eleven…seven-hundred-ninety-nine. Ach, it changes so rapidly with their comings and goings, I can’t keep up.”
“Never mind. The issue is not your memory. It’s your health. Look at you! In the 4.54 billion years I have known you, I’ve never seen you in such a state.
“Unless your children take better care of you, your hot flashes will continue to flare up, increase, and become more intense. You will lose all control of your fluids, and your skin will become even more patchy and dry than it is now.
(c) Dreamstime.com
“You have the worst case of climate change I have ever seen. That’s not to say that a good cleanse wouldn’t do you some good.”
“No! There must be something else I can do. What do you suggest?”
“Actually? Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“It is up to them now.”
“But – ”
“No buts! I want to see you again in fifty years for a follow up. And Mother? Don’t look so glum. In time, you will be fine. It’s your children’s health that is now a concern.”
We are all connected, every person, plant, and animal – for every action we take, we effect our surroundings and one another. When I drink water from my tap, which 345 million fellow human beings do not have the luxury of doing, an average of 1200 plastic bottles and their caps will not end up in a landfill, in the oceans’ 5 gyres, or in some one or another albatross’s belly.
Small actions can effect great change. Turn off a light. Plant a tree. Walk to the store. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. I’m sure you have your own ideas for taking better care of our planet and ultimately, ourselves.
If a single grain of sand can create this masterpiece when it joins forces with others,
imagine what we can accomplish together.
(c) Dreamstime.com
❤ HAPPY EARTH DAY ❤
Donna Gwinnell Lambo-Weidner 
Wonderful. Thanks Donna. Keep on sharing your beautiful writing of wisdom. Hug.
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Thank you Henriette…it’s with support like yours that keeps me going. Hug too.
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Love it!
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Great!
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Many thanks!
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This is short, sweet and to the point. Really like it.
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Donna,
I LOVE IT!!!
Nina
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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Keep up the great work! This was beautiful and descriptive. I could practically feel the “hot flashes”…..oh wait a minute….never mind.
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They do have a ripple effect, don’t they?
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big subject Donna! Just found an article at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/llewellyn-vaughanlee/changing-the-story_b_2681252.html
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THANK YOU Sonja!
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Hello Donna…Andrew and I loved it!!!!
xoxo, Corinne
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Many, many thanks!
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there is also a new website:
“Spriritual ecology
– the cry of the earth”
http://www.spiritualecology.org/
the contributers are:
http://www.spiritualecology.org/resources?type=contributor
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Wow! Who would have thought it would end this way, it is always a pleasure reading your posts.! 🙂
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Thanks so much! Yeah, I love surprises.
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Reblogged this on Donna Gwinnell Weidner and commented:
In honor of Earth Day, I decided to re-post this short story. I wish you and yours shiny rainbows today…and always.
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Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. The entire post is fabulous, but I LOVED the opening paragraph the most! Great “inciting incident”. xo
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Thanks Liz!
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I read the story, today. 🙂
Nice one, Donna. . .
The pictures seem strategically well-placed.
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Thank you…it is a subject near and dear to my heart and I am sure that together we can all make a difference in the future of our planet.
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Amazing story mum.
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Thank you son Albert!
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I have to agree with all other comments here! Great story but at the same time sooooo true! Will the children learn? I live in hope…
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If we take action now, we will. I would like to have grandchildren someday and leave them with an even better planet than we have today.
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Merci for the sharing. Amazing. Happy my picture was of service.
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It fit perfectly! Mercie!
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Reblogged this on Cristian Mihai.
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Thank you again, Christian. And good luck with your fundraiser http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/january-fundraiser
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Pingback: MOTHER LOVE – a short story | Of Sunshine, Cartwheels and Jagged Edges
Thank you for reblogging.
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Pingback: MOTHER LOVE – a short story | 2l2phant
Thank you for reblogging!
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Very we’ll written, and so true!
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Nice 🙂
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Reblogged this on The Life of an Incessant Thinker.
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Thanks for reblogging Loren!
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No problem! Thank you for sharing this beautiful short story.
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Wow, great work. Loved it!
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Thank you for the feedback, Kelly.
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Beautiful!
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Many thanks, Louise!
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Simply Fantastic. Short , sweet & refreshing.. really liked it
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Thank you Sachin!
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Reblogged this on quirkywritingcorner and commented:
God created us to take care of this planet. We have failed miserably. I love how this was done, and I’m just a touch sorry I didn’t write it myself.
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Thank you. And there is still time to succeed. We just need to begin…
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This is great and very true
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Thank you Sandra.
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Thank you, Donna. Great great great story, I tried to reblog it also, but I didn’t know how , so I only shared it on my Facebook (at least I hope I did 🙂
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Thank you Vesna. And many, many thanks for reblogging (I see you found the button) and for FaceBooking it too. (Smiley face! so how did you do that?)
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Beats me! :-)))
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Pingback: Kratka priča, nije moja | Vesna Ćuro-Tomić
Reblogged this on LivingstonArts.
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Many thanks friend!
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Donna – – Did I never leave a comment on how remarkable this was? I came back to reread it again. I saw it when it was on Cristian’s site as well. It needs to get Freshly Pressed. So great!
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Many thanks Blogmate. Christian was my very first follower outside my circle of family and friends. That’s when I realized this BlogThang really puts you out there. Nice to have you following too!
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Reblogged this on Red Said What? and commented:
DONNA GWINNELL LAMBO-WEIDNER SAID WHAT?…Mother Love-a short story
Donna is a Writer, Reiki Master, Wisdom Keeper, all around adventuress and everyone’s cheerleader. She loves anything that deals with archery, armor, and swashbuckling and appreciates a good sword.
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Thank you Red! You are the best!
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