“Your mother is dying.” My mind understood the doctor’s words, but my heart refused to believe them. Only a few days prior, my ninety-four-year old mother had taken a day trip to Reno with my husband. How could she be dying? Why now, God? This was supposed to be the weekend I would put the…
In my father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:12 “I’m afraid to die.” I’ve heard this comment from more than one older person. And all are professing Christians. What is going on? Christians have an abiding belief…
Aging and isolation, helping elders cope with seclusion when they start losing loved ones. I met Alene when she lived with her son, Greg and his wife. She is another elderly woman who struggled with loss and loneliness, but her story is different. When Alene became too frail for Greg and his wife to provide…
As we look to a brand new year, it brings to mind new beginnings. A fresh start. Maybe do things differently this year. Here are some resolutions I’ve made to make 2017 better than 2016 in my role as caregiver for my ninety-three-year-old mother: Give more grace. I need to remind myself that she’s 93,…
Caregiving can be a thankless, exhausting thing to do. Or it can be rewarding and fulfilling. Sometimes it’s both. There is hope. I’ve written a book called “The Caregiving Season: Finding Grace to Honor Your Aging Parent.” My prayer as you read is that you’ll find hope and grace, as I have, in my…
They have ears, but they hear not. Psalm 135:17 I recently had a conversation with my mother that went something like this: Me: Mike and I are going to a movie this weekend. Mom: What? You’re moving? Me: No, we’re going to a MOVIE. Mom: Oh, what are you going to see? Me: Saturn Rising.…
“What happened to your parents’ garage?” Mike asked over dinner one night. “What do you mean?” I twirled spaghetti noodles around my fork, wondering where this was going. “The side is kind of splintered, like something ran into it.” After dinner, I hiked down the alley separating our two homes to…