Stepping Aside

Last night I came back to Charlotte after 11 days with my parents. Today I find myself experiencing quite a "disconnect" from my house, from my obligations, from pretty much everything - which I imagine is normal under the circumstances. The world according to hospital can be very absorbing and acclimating back to the real world can take a little effort!

Since I wrote last, dad has completed four more days of rehab. He is able to even get in the shower now, which felt quite good to him, I'm sure! Yesterday, Sunday, he actually came home for a little while. Mom went down and picked him up around noon, had to sign her life away to get him out, and then brought him to their house. I cooked lunch, Michelle helped me clean up, and Jeff was putting the finishing touches on the brand new, one-of-a-kind lift that dad's brother built for him. What a blessing! So, we clapped and watched as dad maneuvered into his electric wheelchair and was lifted into the house. At first, he still had that "been in the hospital" too long gaze, but as he and Jeff went around the house looking for problem areas and learning to get around on that wheelchair, he warmed up and relaxed. He even was able to slide onto his bed - and said he wished he could have stayed there! :) Jeff did take off two doors going into their bathroom which will make it easier for him to get around that room.

We had a nice lunch with a warm breeze blowing off Lennon Lake and just enjoyed being together as family! It did my heart good to see him do so well around the house, and it was mainly because of that, I decided that I would not come back down this week, but would instead go with Jeff to a missions conference in Virginia. I had been struggling with what to do about this week when dad would be released from rehab. Should I be there with them or not?

Mom took dad back to rehab about 4:00 p.m., and the rest of us started cleaning up and packing up for our trip back to Charlotte. I was the last one out of the house and just took a minute to walk around praying for my mom, for God to give her supernatural strength and grace for the days to come, and for my dad that God would keep his mind renewed and stayed on Him, and give him the physical strength to maintain a good quality lifestyle after he came home. Tears ran down my cheek as I walked around the home of my parents, and I experienced a momentary twinge of guilt for leaving them. But, I know, too, that is a normal feeling. Many of my friends have told me of their stories about caring for parents and all the emotions that are embedded into that care.

So, I have stepped aside for now. Back to the ministry to which I was called many years ago - when my parents were young and healthy. Now, they are older, but not helpless. They have not come to the point where they need my constant care....though they love how I am able to pop in for days at a time and do just that! So until that time when it becomes evident they need that constancy of care, I will continue asking God to give me great wisdom as to when I go and stay with them and when I step aside.

I am so proud of my dad for his endurance and hard work - and the testimony he has been to many! My mom is an amazing lady with a very strong faith though physically she struggles. I believe that God will empower both of them with exactly what they need for this week and the following ones!

Your prayers and encouragement has been wonderful these past two weeks. These days have taken a physical and emotional toll on me that I am just now assessing. I do ask that you continue to pray for all of us. Now, I need to make a phone call and see how my sweet parents are doing......