Apron Strings Devotional for 10/8/03

10/8/03

Good Morning....
Jesus loves You!!

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It's About Love

My dad was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and after prayer and consideration, we decided to bring him home and trust the Lord. Chemo is not really an option because he has so many other health issues. Radiation could promise nothing except maybe some shrinkage and four weeks of time away from his family. He wanted one thing only. He wanted to come home and be with us. I knew that if God helped us care for him this long, we could go further.

God is certainly here. He always has been. He's opening my eyes to so much and showing me what's really important. Suddenly, the busyness of "stuff" no longer matters. Yesterday, I rolled dad's wheelchair to the front door and opened it wide. The weather was so beautiful and the children were playing in front of us. We both just basked and watched them. I was so honored to be a part of watching this man absorb his grandchildren.

After his amputation in April 2001, we just moved to this house and we began to get the building ready. He had four weeks of rehab in the nursing home. The day I was to pick him up I was scared to death. I thought, "How can I do this?" This is a whole new arena for me. Dad sensed my fear and he said to me with such confidence, "Together, we will win." ( He meant us and the Lord ) He was right. Every thing that I worried about was taken care of.

After Ben graduated, he and I became pinch hit caretakers for Dad. The ironic thing is, Dad cared for Ben the first five years of his life while I worked at the phone company, and now Ben is taking care of Dad in his senior years. Only Ben knows how to transfer him to the bed in a way that isn't excruciating. Even when the ambulance drivers come for transport the hospital, we have to get Ben's help. I used to tell people that Ben's future was on hold while we were taking care of Dad. I don't say that anymore. Ben is doing what he's supposed to be doing right now, no matter if people think he should be in college. College will still be there. This is a monumental moment in our lives, and if we are not careful, we could miss it. It's all about loving God with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength and loving others as ourselves. It's about honoring my father and letting him live his life in dignity. It's about absorbing each other and not magnifying the faults. It's about love. I am 41 years old and I finally see that. I hope others don't have to wait that long.

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God Bless you all, and remember:
Jesus loves you and I do too!

In Christ!!
Carol Skipper
Justaservn@aol.com

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