Lola Simpson sat in a wheelchair, admiring the small garden through the window of her room at Big Hearts Nursing Home. Yet another year had passed, but Lola’s life saw no significant changes. Her daughter, Natalie, and son-in-law, Roger, didn’t return her calls and didn’t bother to check on her again that year.

Exactly six years ago, when Lola was 80, her health began failing her. She needed assistance with the most basic tasks and could barely get things done on her own. Lola had always been a lively and cheery woman, but who could beat the effects of aging?

When Natalie realized she’d have to care for her ailing mother, she just kicked her out to live in a nursing home, then settled in her mother’s house with her husband. That time, Natalie very enthusiastically promised Lola that she would visit her often, but year after year, Lola just kept waiting and neither Roger nor Natalie showed up.

One day, Lola was very upset. She had a small family album that she’d brought with her when she was admitted to the nursing home, and as she was looking through the pictures of her and Natalie in them, her tears wouldn’t stop falling.

A young nurse named Mary saw Lola crying and her heart went out to the poor woman.

“Mrs. Simpson,” she said, approaching her. “Can I help you? Are you okay?”

Lola shook her head, wiping her tears. “What do I tell you, darling? This year, my daughter didn’t visit me again. I’ve been waiting for her visit for six years now. Every year, my heart wonders if I’m wasting my time waiting for her. Will she even show up?”

Mary sighed, unsure of how to comfort the older woman. She had heard Lola’s story from the other nurses when she started working at the nursing home. She knew Lola’s daughter and son-in-law had evicted her from her home and had never visited her. She had to do something to cheer up Lola’s mood.

So Mary forced a smile and said, “You see, Mrs. Simpson, they say that patience always bears fruit. I am sure your life will change one day, and you’ll have so much love around you. Plus, crying doesn’t suit a pretty lady like you. Come on, I want to see a smile on that gorgeous face!”

Lola blushed. “Oh, you really have a way with words, darling. I’m sorry for bothering you with all of my troubles. But you know what? I feel a little better. Thank you for listening to me….”

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Simpson. I’m around if you ever need someone to listen to your worries. In exchange, I might just ask you for some beauty tips on how you have such beautiful skin!” she joked and Lola chuckled.

“I don’t think an old soul like me can take any more of that flattery. I was wondering if….” Lola began talking to Mary about the things on her mind, having forgotten all her troubles.

That night at home, Mary couldn’t take Lola out of her head. She was feeling terrible for the woman and had an idea in the back of her mind to help her. But for it to work, she needed to talk to her husband first.

“Josh,” she began while they were having dinner. “I know we have a lot on our plates with a small home and three children to look after, but there’s a woman at the nursing home where I work, and she’s really lonely. I was wondering if we could take her in.”

Josh lowered his fork and pursed his lips. “We can’t, darling,” he flatly refused. “We’re already straining to make ends meet. That would put us under too much stress.”

You can’t sow the seeds of bitterness and expect to grow a plant of love.

“But, honey, her family kicked her out. She has no one to care for her. Of course, the nurses are there, but she longs for a family. I’m not putting any pressure on you, but—”

“What did you say? She was kicked out?”

Mary nodded. “And her son-in-law and daughter never visited her after. She hopes they will come to see her someday. She’s been waiting for 6 years…I doubt they’ll come.”

At that point, Josh regretted refusing Mary. He remembered how his mother was all alone in her final days since he was too busy working to support his family and rarely visited her. Josh couldn’t bear the thought of someone else spending their final days in such grief and misery, so he agreed to Mary’s request.

“Alright,” he sighed. “I guess we’ll somehow manage….”

After the documentation was done and Lola came to Mary’s home, Lola felt like her life had gotten another chance. She loved being around Mary’s kids, who called her grandma, and Josh and Mary loved and respected her so much.

Lola lived in Josh and Mary’s house for several months, and she forgot about her troubles. She was finally happy and Mary was delighted to see her that way.

One morning, Lola received a letter and immediately recognized the sender’s address. “You look really happy, Mrs. Simpson. What is the letter about?” Mary asked her as she saw her running her hand smoothly on the letter’s envelope and smiling.

“Oh, it’s from someone special, darling. Just a minute….”

Lola opened the letter to read it and her tears did not stop. It was a letter notifying her that she had inherited $2.3 million from none other than her older stepbrother, Morgan, who had obtained Mary’s address through Lola’s lawyer.

The thing was, Morgan had promised their mother that he would always look after his younger sister, Lola. Sadly, he was bedridden for a long time, and now that the doctor had told him he only had a few months to live, he decided to leave his money to Lola because he didn’t have his own family.

Word reached Natalie and Roger that Lola had become a millionaire after Lola’s lawyer visited Lola’s home for some formalities, only to learn she was in a nursing facility. The couple decided to take Lola back in, but when they went to the nursing home to get her, they learned Lola had left the facility several months ago.

“But where did she go?” Natalie asked the receptionist, confused.

The receptionist slid a slip toward her and said, “She’s somewhere she deserves to be. I’m giving you this address so that you learn that your mother doesn’t need you to be happy!”

When Natalie and Roger arrived at Mary’s house, they pretended to be the lovely relatives they weren’t. But Lola was having none of it and slammed the door in their face. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know you,” she told them. “My daughter and son-in-law don’t let strangers in, so please leave….”

In the end, Natalie and Roger got what they deserved, and so did Lola. Through Mary, she received a priceless treasure: a loving family. In gratitude, Lola decided to leave her riches to Mary’s family after her death. Meanwhile, she sued Natalie and Roger, claiming her right to her house, and though the lawsuit took time, she won.

As of now, Lola doesn’t know where Natalie and Roger are and she doesn’t care either. When Morgan left for his heavenly abode, Mary and Josh took care of his funeral arrangements. Lola’s health is doing much better and she is happy with the family she got in Mary, Josh, and their children.

What can we learn from this story?

• Family doesn’t always mean blood. Mary’s heart went out to Lola, and although she was struggling, she took her in while Lola’s biological daughter kicked her out to live in a nursing facility.
• You can’t sow the seeds of bitterness and expect to grow a plant of love. Natalie and Roger believed they could reclaim Lola’s heart after all the disrespect and neglect they had shown her over the years. They were wrong and got what they deserved.

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