At the
end of April my mother-in-law came to our house for a visit. About a week
after her arrival, she had what the doctors termed a series of "mini"
strokes. She was hospitalized for a couple of days, as she was not able
to move the right side of her body and then moved to a rehab center for the
next three weeks. After rehab, she came back to stay with us where she
has been since the end of May. Since that time, my husband and I have
been taking care of her every need. Providing shelter, preparing and
feeding her meals, making and keeping in-home nursing and physical therapy
visits and now more recently, doctors’ visits. Praise God that she is
doing 100% better than when she arrived here from Michigan and praise God that
He kept her and gave us the wisdom to take her to the emergency when things
didn't appear to be right. We had not known that she had suffered one stroke,
let alone a series of strokes... but by the grace of God.
I write
for several reasons today, first to encourage those that are being
caretakers/caregivers to loved ones at home. Having become one and
watching my husband give so much of himself, when so many things are pulling
him in other directions, being a pastor, an entrepreneur, a professor, father
and husband; being a caregiver is selfless loving and it requires a lot of
time, energy and effort that many of us just do not have (or maybe do not want)
to give. And it truly defines and shows you what you have inside of you
and what you are or are not capable of doing. I have a greater respect
and honor for those who have made decisions to do this on a full-time basis and
I pray God's strength for you all. You are special indeed in the eyes of
the Lord for what you have chosen to do in looking after the needs of others,
especially those who are not your own.
I write
also as a release. In the last couple of months God has been doing some
things in me through this experience and quite a few others. He has been
speaking (and not) and revealing Himself in new and different ways. It
has been tough, but I am thankful that the end is near and God shall be
glorified. It has caused me to become quiet and still and to really come
to know the peace of God that passes all understanding. God has shed
light on some of the darker areas in my life and even some of the people that
were a part of it. I believe that I am now experiencing freedom, true
freedom, like Jesus said we ought to have it. Free from hurt, free from
pain, free from condemnation, free from the cares of this world. And get
this, free from people and what they think. God's Word is true and that
continues to be my testimony. No matter the situation we find ourselves
in, there is purpose and there is growth. ALL things work together for
the good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose, to
that purpose.
Lastly,
I wanted to share this, because I believe that it summarizes everything.
Recently my husband and I were out with my mother-in-law walking into a
building. As my husband stood by her side, my mother-in-law walked
leaning on the walker to give her balance, looking steadily at the ground before
her. In a quick moment I saw her glance off in another direction and just
that quick she lost her step. And my husband said to her, "Why do
you keep losing your balance?" And not even thinking I just
responded and told him, "Because she is not focused on the path before
her. She looked over to the right."
And at
that moment the Holy Ghost arrested my thought and made me listen to and hear
what I had just said. SHE LOST BALANCE BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT FOCUSED.
BECAUSE SHE LOST FOCUS ON THE PATH BEFORE HER. SHE LOOKED OVER TO
THE RIGHT.
And this
is what God spoke; so many times we wonder why we are off balance, why things
might feel out of whack, why things just don't seem to be lining up. God
says it's because we have taken our eyes off of our ground. Off of our
course. We have taken our eyes off the path set before us. We have
turned to the right or to the left, and have done exactly what He commanded us
NOT to do.
Part of
our walking with God is staying obedient to His Word, to what He tells us to
do. That is our walker. His Word. How can two walk together
except they be agreed? That's what the Word says. If we are not
walking in agreement with the Word of God, we will take ourselves off of our
path and we WILL lose our balance.
God is
real. Praying that we will keep our balance and stay on the path.
No matter where it takes us.
Be
blessed.
A
servant of the Lord,
Sis. E
"The
Word is my life"
