Good Evening …
Again …. Friends …
So earlier today, I wrote about how – even as a friend of
Jesus – you can face dark places
I shared some of the concern that I had heading into the
Mother’s Day Weekend.
However, I have to say that I was PLEASANTLY SURPRISED!
I went to church in the morning –
Heard my Pastor preach an amazing message on ‘The Power
to Get Back up’
SO – AFTER CHURCH …
I had a FABULOUS breakfast
made by my oldest son ‘Eggs-Benedict’ … AMAZING!!!!
And then He and I went to go see my Mom.
I was nervous and a bit sad because things have just not
been the same since … ALZHEIMER’s
HOWEVER – All my fears were for naught
We had an absolutely amazing visit with my mom!
She knew who my son was [which she ALWAYS does] …
But she knew who I was as well … BEST MOTHER’S DAY PRESENT EVER!!!
I was even able to show her a picture of my Aunt Mae …
her favorite & only remaining sibling
SHE WAS SO
EXCITED!!! Her face just lit up as she grabbed the phone from my hand and
proceeded to talk at the picture of my aunt, ‘My sister, my sweet sister … I
miss you so much and I love you!’
I was ABSOLUTELY
TICKLED!!!
And as we concluded our visit, I said, ‘MumMum
… I love you!’
And she responded, ‘I love you MORE!’ Just like she always did …
So I went my way … stopped at the SPCA to look at some
adorable puppies and then to enjoy the remainder of my Mother’s Day.
THEN – AT 9:53PM
MY PHONE RANG
“This is Mary [one of the nurses from my mom’s nursing
home], your mom, Ms. Sereta was having trouble breathing and we have called an
ambulance and she’s been taken to the hospital.”
So, I told my
youngest son and bolted out the door.
We had just did this same thing LAST
MONTH! When I got there, they had her on a BiPAP oxygen
machine, had nitro-patch on her chest [her systolic was 196 when she got there]
and her lungs were filled with fluid. Already suffering from congestive heart failure and renal failure, she was experiencing a hypertensive crises and respiratory distress.
Now, you have to understand that he has not seen my mom
in two years.
The last time he saw her, she was ICU and they were
asking us to make a decision about taking her off of life-support. So, we had
called all the grandchildren up to the hospital to say goodbye.
NOW – she obviously
survived that episode. However, my middle son has not been able to bring
himself to visit again her since then ... NOT UNTIL LAST NIGHT/THIS MORNING.
He wanted – as best he could – to remember her
as she was before … the Nana that lived in my home with my sons and I for over
fifteen years … the Nana who used to get on the floor with them and act crazy. That is why him coming to the hospital this morning WAS HUGE!
HE HAD TO FACE HIS FEARS and the sure pain he would
experience seeing her, not only in her diminished capacity because of
Alzheimer’s, but even more fragile due to the numerous issues that landed her
in the ER last night.
BUT HE DID IT …
AND I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE PROUD OF HIM
You see, he is my child that puts on the strongest face
of all my sons. He is a lot like his mom.
Yet, he is
actually a very caring person under that SUPREMELY TOUGH [AND OFTEN TIMES
CYNICAL] EXTERIOR.
AND – when he got to the hospital, wouldn’t you know …
SHE KNEW WHO HE WAS! And her first comment after acknowledging him was, ‘I
HAVEN’T SEEN YOU IN A WHILE!!!’
I LOVE HER!!! SHE
IS SO FEISTY!
He stayed with me until after 3AM – until they got her
situated in her room in ICU
SO WHY SHARE THIS
TONIGHT?
Because I believe there are some people who fall in the
category of my last post:
FRIENDS OF JESUS
FACING SOMETIMES DARK PLACES
But, there are also some people who fall in the category
with my middle son:
INDIVIDUALS WHO
ARE TASKED WITH FACING THEIR FEARS AND CHOOSING TO STEP … FORWARD ... IN FAITH
While this morning
was extremely difficult for my son,
HE WILL NOT LIVE WITH REGRETS
He will not live/exist wishing that he had seen her one
last time, wishing he had said ‘I love you’ one last time AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY
he will not have to live with the regret of letting his fears control his
present and future. He faced that challenge head-on. So, whatever happens with
my mom [whenever it happens], I know he will be alright.
BE ENCOURAGED
TONIGHT –
No matter what your today may look like …
No matter what you have been avoiding up until this point
…
YOU HAVE THE POWER
TO MAKE DECISIONS WHICH WILL CHANGE YOUR PRESENT AND FUTURE
THE HARDEST PART IS MAKING SHIFT IN YOUR THINKING.
DO NOT BE
CONTROLLED BY FEAR
DO NOT LET FEAR OF
WHAT MIGHT/MIGHT NOT HAPPEN ROB YOU OF JOY TODAY
STEP OUT IN FAITH ... NO REGRETS!
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