The Journey Home

September 28th, 2023

Hello Friends —

Today, my brother and I were able to bring our dad home after four months of being either in the hospital or in a rehabilitation/nursing home. We are so grateful to all who prayed and encouraged us during this time. We have found a wonderful hospice agency to assist us. Guardian Angel. They assisted us with getting all the medical devices and and medications we need. I also want to say a special thank you to “Anew Hospice” as they were our initial support service. A huge shout out to Jacqui and Robyn, they were so awesome to work with and so knowledgeable. I can’t thank them enough. Jacqui not only provide the need and necessary information as we begin our new journey, she was an instant friend and confidant. She sat with dad today and held his hand as dad shared stories with her about mom. She is terrific!

Guardian Angel helped by delivering and setting up a hospital bed, wheelchair, potty chair, oxygen, nebulizer and medications. An RN, came to the house soon after we arrived home from the nursing facility. She completed an intake evaluation and helped me sort out his medications from his old to his new. We are expecting another nursing visit tomorrow and a nursing aid to assist with bathing.

Dad is excited to be home, surrounded by his things and photos of mom. I must mention a dear friend of dads and the family that has been a constant support through prayers and visits. Margaret loves and cares for dad and we are grateful for her support and generosity. Margaret has sat many hours with dad when my brother and I were unable to do so because of our work schedules. Dad’s neighbors were happy to see him home, one in particular, Pam and Mike, they have been helping dad out many times over the years. They have carried in groceries, brought him meals and donated a wheelchair ramp, plus delivered and helped install it. Pam came to visit tonight and will be helping out by sitting with dad when my brother and I have to work.

I am thankful to my coworkers and the company I work for, I qualified for FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) and VLPT (Voluntary Leave Transfer Program). I am currently working on a schedule to provide 24/7 care for my dad. Many family and friends have offered to assist, I will gladly accept!

It is a privilege to care for my dad, he made so many sacrifices to provide a loving home for my brother and I to grow up in. For all the things known and unknown that my dad did for me and my brother, I want to give back. I have no doubt that I have a lot of lessons to learn on this journey, I know God has a plan! One thing I know for certain and I am practicing this, “Be Still and know that I am God.” —Psalm 46:10

Abbey of the Arts

“The ability to welcome all of life and stay present to it is what carves out wisdom in the deepest parts of our being and helps us to come to know the depth of mystery at the heart of things.”

—Christine Valters Paintner, PhD,

Our life is a short opportunity to say yes to God’s love. Our death is a full coming home to that love. Do we desire to come home? It seems that most of our efforts are aimed at delaying this homecoming as long as possible.

Writing to the Christians at Philippi, the apostle Paul shows a radically different attitude. He says: “I want to be gone and be with Christ, and this is by far the stronger desire—and yet for your sake to stay alive in this body is a more urgent need.” Paul’s deepest desire is to be completely united with God through Christ and that desire makes him look at death as a “positive gain.” His other desire, however, is to stay alive in the body and fulfill his mission. That will offer him an opportunity for fruitful work.

We are challenged once again to look at our lives from above. When, indeed, Jesus came to offer us full communion with God, by making us partakers of his death and resurrection, what else can we desire but to leave our mortal bodies and so reach the final goal of our existence? The only reason for staying in this valley of tears can be to continue the mission of Jesus who has sent us into the world as his Father sent him into the world. Looking from above, life is a short, often painful mission, full of occasions to do fruitful work for God’s kingdom, and death is the open door that leads into the hall of celebration where the king himself will serve us.

It all seems such an upside-down way of being! But it’s the way of Jesus and the way for us to follow. There is nothing morbid about it. To the contrary, it’s a joyful vision of life and death.

Thank you for stopping by my blog page, I appreciate your support and I pray that you experience God in real and mighty ways today! You are a beautiful child of God, created with a purpose and a plan!

~Charlotte, Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience.

https://www.anewhosp.com/

https://guardianangelhospice.com/

https://mailchi.mp/abbeyofthearts/daily-nourishment-from-abbey-of-the-arts

https://henrinouwen.org/meditations/