A Time for Everything!

A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

  a time to be born and a time to die,…

   a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,…

    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

(Ecclesiastes 3 verses 1-8)

            On September 12^th I travelled to New England to help my 98 year old mom through her illness. It was a roller coaster ride full of peaks and valleys that turned out to be her end of life experience. You need to know that it was sad but certainly not bad. In total the six week excursion can only be described as wonderful.

            On Sunday morning mom was transported to the ER in Clinton Mass. She was in tough shape-we were in a valley, maybe the valley of the shadow of death. On the Thursday, she had made a recovery and was transferred to a rehab facility! This was a tense peak, she felt good and felt that somehow I had blocked her return home. She figured out that we were on her side and worked hard at rehab.

            The following Thursday she accepted a temporary slot at a great assisted living facility near her home. We, June and I, had lunch with her there and took her for a ride to view the fall colors. It was a glorious day full of optimism and hope. In fact, we had a truck scheduled for nine in the morning to bring her bedroom set to her new apartment so it would seem like home.

            On Friday morning mom had a heart attack and was transported to the ER in Leominster. That ended the thought of assisted living; we were back in that valley again. But, by Tuesday she was bright, being walked in the halls and heading for Rahab again! In fact, she had such a great time with the visitors that I think they were the most fun days she has had for a long time. Yes, another optimistic peak.

            Tuesday evening she experienced a devastating stroke. She lost effective use of her left side and could not eat solid foods but was still mentally sharp. It was a sad week as we all, including mom, realized there would be no more going home. The spiritual and loving part had begun.

            It was Thursday evening when my mom asked June and I to pray with her. We held hands, June, I and mom, and prayed. We did that several times until that last Tuesday night when we prayed before going home for the night. Mom left us early Wednesday morning

. There was no better way to say good-by

Thought for the Week:  There is a time for everything… a time to be born and a time to die.

Prayer for the Week: Heavenly father, today we deal with the terror around the world; Kenya, Lebanon and Paris. We pray for understanding and for peace.