Footcare

A memory I cherish from my childhood is that of my great-uncle John helping us children with a bedtime ritual. He and my widowed grandmother lived together out in the country and came to visit us in town once a week. Before we children went to bed (we only had baths on Saturday evening), he took a towel and lovingly washed and dried our feet. I'll never forget his respectful way of handling my dirty feet. 

Growing up as the second of eight children, another memory is that of my mother complaining about how much her feet ached. Small wonder since she was on them most of the day! Mom often spoke of a burning sensation in her feet. She also suffered from bunions (a bone spur at the base of the big toe) which she had inherited from her mother.

In her later years, my mother went to a reflexologist to have her feet massaged. I suspect that it was just as much about actually sitting down and having someone else look after her in a gentle and caring manner as it was about getting treatment for her feet. 

Wikipedia defines reflexology as "a gentle manipulation or pressing on certain parts of the foot to produce an effect elsewhere on the body." It also makes the statement that "there is no convincing evidence that reflexology is effective for any medical condition." Perhaps there isn't. I do, however, remember how much better my Mom felt after one of these reflexology sessions. Elda Rempel, her reflexologist, spoke Mom's heart language (Plautdietsch). She also had a great sense of humor and a very loving and generous heart. After she massaged Mom's feet, she cut Dad's toenails!

I too have the misfortune of having inherited the bunions, and I now know what my mother was talking about. I first began to notice my aching feet when I visited New York City with our middle daughter about 15 years ago. We were on our feet all day long ... and I should have had better footwear.

Today, Hardy and I also go to Elda for reflexology treatments. We always leave her place feeling rejuvenated, relaxed and refreshed. Elda has a way of making people feel that way, and it's not just about the feet! It's also the listening ear, the sense of humor, and the personal touch.

I recently read an article in the Winnipeg Free Press about a nurse, Kirsten Bourque, who volunteers to care for the feet of inner-city street people. 

"Every second Wednesday, she provides basic foot care in a non-judgmental manner to anyone who stops by. She also teaches foot care to people who are at risk of amputations due to diabetic foot complications."

The 36-year-old says, "There are hundreds of people who do volunteer work in the inner city. I just show up, drink coffee ... and cut toenails."

I wish that I could meet more people like Uncle John, Elda, and Kirsten, in the medical profession!

The Bible speaks to us of washing one another's feet:

"On the evening Jesus was betrayed, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him ... . 'Do you understand what I have done for you?' he asked them ... . 'Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.'" (John 13.5,12,14).

I'm inclined to think that if we all took care of each other's feet, this world would become a better place!