The trump card

For many years I took it upon myself to carry the responsibility of the parents on my head.My sisters had either got married or were living abroad so it never occured to me that I should ask them.It was just taken for granted that I would do the honours.
During the course of many years I asked my sisters for help at regular intervals.The second one always turned up to help ,the eldest was always too busy and we stoped asking after a while.
There are many times when I resented what I thought was complete disregard on her part,and irresponsibility as I saw it but like they say there is a time and place for everything.
The last one month has been the worst crisis of our lives.With the father in hospital and a mother (not in the best of health) at home my elder sister arrived and rose to the occassion.I am writing this four days after my father passed away when grief is still a very real emotion but it would have been impossible for me to deal with it if it hadnt been for her.She turned out to be the trump card.It was almost like saving the best for the last.
I look at her and wonder what it is that makes her the pillar of strength and then I discover that its her practical side,her understanding of my parents in ways that only an eldest daughter can understand.Her way of dealing with my mother,be it breaking bad news or ensuring that she eats on time despite everything else...only she could have done it.
Nothing hassels her,she can sing through most things,read her bible,give out practical advice and make endless cups of tea(she is a tea addict but will not accept it)she would always know what to do.When my husband insisted that she stay to hold my hand and my mothers we didnt have any great expectations but she managed to help us handle death,sorrow and grief all the time being the sane one,the person who got things done,the person who spoke to everyone with out breaking down.Her mantra in life is to leave things to god and today I understand why it makes so much sense.
The one month that she stayed gives takes me back to a time when she was my representative in the family.Being the youngest,I hung on to her skirts all the time.if I was hungry I told her,all requests were processed through her.I never went to my parents directly.When she got married I was heartbroken.I had to deal with my mother and father directly(wasnt easy).Then for years I didnt have much to do with her children(I always felt that they had taken away all the attention form me and it wasnt something I was going to forgive so easily).Today when she left to go back home with a promise to come back I realised why she wasnt there for us all those many years.,I think God was saving her up for the worst time in our lives.She is his trumpcard.