Family means everything to us. We are in this fight for our survival together. We are facing personal hardships, and collectively encountering the effects they have on the rest of the family. I appreciate the well-intentioned professionals who offer resolutions to our difficulties, but they fail to realize we are not like most families. We remain together to see things through, to help one another, and give each other encouragement and love. We don't toss an elderly family member to the care of the state when we are able to care for her with in-home support. We don't kick out our young man who fights off the demons of addiction just because he loses a battle once in a while. We help him up, dust him off, and give him the encouragement he needs to fight the next battle. We know each other's idiosyncrasies, weaknesses, and strengths. We rely on each other for hope, understanding and forgiveness. We can do it. This 94-year-old woman will not go into a respite home, or nursing facility for the time I'm in the hospital having double mastectomies, recovering, and during the long course of treatment which promises to knock me off my feet for a good long while.
We have the Lord to give us strength. He has given us courage and wisdom and love, and has provided for us in very lean times. He will make sure that we are taken care of, as a family, together.
2 comments:
We often don't know how to manifest our true strength until our loved ones need it. Bless you all. Robert
Wow, looking at that photo really made me think. Molly. Molly had some of the best years of her life with you in her end years. She grew extremely devoted to you. You would have never let her go to a "home". When God calls her, than it's her time. Well I was also thinking about all the times I betrayed you and your trust, cost you money, and all that, and you STILL had unconditional love for me. Well...we need to show my grandmother, your mother, that same unconditional love. Period. It's that simple. When we are no longer able to take care of her, then it's a different story, but for now, we owe it to her just like any other member of the family.
Post a Comment