Dear Praying friends,
January 15, 2009. My mom’s 72nd birthday. The day I dreaded for 3 years. The day, after Dad spending 10 days in the hospital, we were forced to place our beloved father and my mother’s sweetheart of more than 50 years in a dementia unit at a skilled nursing facility. My brothers and our families were together last night to support each other, cry and pray. I was honestly quite surprised at how hard everyone was taking it. I thought I was the only one grieving! I am learning that although Dad’s body is still with us and occasionally we see glimpses of the generous man that he was (“how much money do you need for gas?” he asked me at the hospital in a lucid moment ), he is fading quickly and slipping away to a place where none of us can reach him.
I am reminded this morning that Dad is never out of the reach of God’s loving hands. And although we are seeing the dreadful effects of sin and death ravaged upon this man, the victory in all of this is that God reigns!
“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10
Please continue to uphold us in prayer. I would ask for continued strength for Mom (and the rest of us) and peace for Dad’s mind, body and spirit. And also for wisdom for Peter and me as we help our children through this journey. They love their Poppy very much!
Here are the words of the chorus to Dad’s favorite hymn, its truth brings me comfort…
No one ever cared for me like Jesus,
There’s no other friend so kind as He;
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me—
O how much he cares for me!
No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus
by: Charles F. Weigle
