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| Home or Nursing Home? |
I consider these days precious as I am here for my husband at our home, aided by Hospice. In an insightful book written to Christians, When People Are Big and God is Small, Edward Welch writes, Our goal is to love people more than need them. (p.179) To love my husband is to be the best helpmeet for him despite the fact that I know where this dementia is going. Yes it is hard, but the LORD is right here. I am learning to leave other distractions behind--to let them go.
One godly woman, N. H. L., shared this on Facebook:
"Father, if You are willing,
please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine!" Luke 22:42
True love to God . . .produces sweet submission to His will, does not rebel at His difficult dispensations, does not resist the appointments of His wise and holy providence, will not permit us to call into question any part of His government,will not indulge a doubt respecting the rectitude of His proceedings.
True love to God says, "This trial, this affliction, this bereavement, this piercing cross--has been arranged by my Father in Heaven! He is infinitely wise, and infinitely good--He does all things well--I submit."
Like Job, it says, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave--and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." Job 1:21
(William Nicholson, "Love to God, and the Divine Approbation" 1862)
"Father, if You are willing,
please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine!" Luke 22:42
True love to God . . .produces sweet submission to His will, does not rebel at His difficult dispensations, does not resist the appointments of His wise and holy providence, will not permit us to call into question any part of His government,will not indulge a doubt respecting the rectitude of His proceedings.
True love to God says, "This trial, this affliction, this bereavement, this piercing cross--has been arranged by my Father in Heaven! He is infinitely wise, and infinitely good--He does all things well--I submit."
Like Job, it says, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave--and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." Job 1:21
(William Nicholson, "Love to God, and the Divine Approbation" 1862)
Carol, I read you blog often. I will add you and your husband to my prayer list if that is okay. A big hug from Washington State.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karen. I appreciate this. It's amazing how prayers are answered, and not always in the way we expect.
DeleteYou also do quilts I see. Check out the ones on here by going to labels and clicking quilts.
What a beautiful quote! Oh that my heart always responded as such! Your husband is blessed to have a godly wife who seeks to love him more than herself! Thank you Lord for your Spirit within Carol that gives her the grace to do your will.
ReplyDeleteYou are always a godly example to me, Georgene!
DeleteI like your attitude here, Carol, trying to be the best help mate you can be for your husband during this time and God's faithfulness with you through this journey. I just know from experience how tasking care giving can be (I care gave for my daughter, long story) and how weary one can get. I think you are trying to get a good support system in for you to help you; I think that's the key to make sure one takes care of themselves while they are care taking for someone else.
ReplyDeletebetty
Humor. Hubby is also my support system. We laughed this morning. I tell him how he wouldn't eat at 6 pm, but was hungry at 10 pm last night and so I stayed awake with him until after midnight while he had his dinner. Then I somehow didn't get up for his 4 am meds. Lovely Hospice aide is here as I write this and no bed sores. One day at a time.
DeleteI think my weariness comes out, however. Maybe I can write a humorous post about silly me when I am flustered.
I am praying for you, your husband, and your hospice support aides. God bless and keep you.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda. The Hospice personnel read this blog and my husband's nurse mentioned the Scripture that I put up here.
DeleteCongratulations on your new book. What is it called again for the readers here?
The book is called Beautiful in Each Season: Devotions for You. It's available in eBook format at Amazon and will be published in paperback soon. Caregivers can read the devotions to their loved ones then press the hyperlink to navigate to the recommended familiar hymn at hymn time.com/tch. Music sometimes will elicit a response even for those who have stopped using spoken language. Thanks Carol.
ReplyDeleteSuch a good idea. It occurs to me that I should ask my pastor to come and serve communion to my husband. Glad to hear about that hymn link also. I will tell the Hospice chaplain about your book.
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