In a sea of change...trying to stay focused on the Lord.
Over
the past couple of weeks, I have written in some of my blog posts about
my Dad’s declining health. He has Parkinson’s disease and it is taking
a toll on Him and my Mom. She doesn’t have Parkinson’s but she is worn
out physically and emotionally from taking care of Daddy.
Two weeks ago, I drove down to see them. I went with Mom and Dad for his neurologist appointment. While there, I talked with one of the young nurses about Mom’s fatigue. As I talked she began to nod in approval with what I was saying and she said “She has caregiver stress.” I had never heard that term before, but that’s exactly what it was.
So, yesterday, November 16, 2010, my dad was placed in a nursing home. It’s kind of weird for me to type that sentence. For 70 years, on the majority of mornings in his life, Daddy has gotten up on Potts road. I say “majority” because there were a few years, early in his life that Daddy sold life insurance and had to travel some.
This whole experience has been different for me. My mind has gone in several different directions as I think about Daddy’s declining health and all that accompanies that. To some degree, I feel like the ground under me is moving. My world is changing. My boys have moved out which leads to the beginning of the empty nest and my dad’s health is declining and his memory is fading. I honestly did not see this coming. But it’s kind of rocked me some.
But, recently,the Lord has reminded me that life changes and time moves on. I know I’m not the first to deal with these things and I won’t be the last. However, although the fact that someone else may have dealt with it may encourage me some, I am still dealing with it.
In the midst of the change around me, I’m being reminded to focus on the Lord. Hebrews 13:8 says “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” My world is changing. Some of the waves are small and some are large. I am being reminded to stay focused on the Lord... sometimes that’s easier said than done but I know it is the answer.
Two weeks ago, I drove down to see them. I went with Mom and Dad for his neurologist appointment. While there, I talked with one of the young nurses about Mom’s fatigue. As I talked she began to nod in approval with what I was saying and she said “She has caregiver stress.” I had never heard that term before, but that’s exactly what it was.
So, yesterday, November 16, 2010, my dad was placed in a nursing home. It’s kind of weird for me to type that sentence. For 70 years, on the majority of mornings in his life, Daddy has gotten up on Potts road. I say “majority” because there were a few years, early in his life that Daddy sold life insurance and had to travel some.
This whole experience has been different for me. My mind has gone in several different directions as I think about Daddy’s declining health and all that accompanies that. To some degree, I feel like the ground under me is moving. My world is changing. My boys have moved out which leads to the beginning of the empty nest and my dad’s health is declining and his memory is fading. I honestly did not see this coming. But it’s kind of rocked me some.
But, recently,the Lord has reminded me that life changes and time moves on. I know I’m not the first to deal with these things and I won’t be the last. However, although the fact that someone else may have dealt with it may encourage me some, I am still dealing with it.
In the midst of the change around me, I’m being reminded to focus on the Lord. Hebrews 13:8 says “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” My world is changing. Some of the waves are small and some are large. I am being reminded to stay focused on the Lord... sometimes that’s easier said than done but I know it is the answer.
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