The Words I Was Longing to Hear

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him. 1 John 4:16

I mentioned in a post about a month ago that I felt that since my dad's health is declining that I wanted to ask him more about his faith. He would only share a limited amount, since he feels this is a very personal thing and doesn't appreciate people prying into these matters.

At that point, my dad gave me a yes and a no about his faith that Jesus is our Savior. Of course, this was extremely concerning to me, since this is the what our Salvation is based on. At that point, Christ let me know that it was counterproductive to continue to pursue the topic, at that point.

Fortunately for me, God always knows the perfect timing. We were out of state visiting family and were in our hotel room. I had read something that a person had written into the Bible about sharing your faith with others-definitely not one of my strong points. You might find that a little funny in that I write five different Christian blogs. Well, I feel Christ gives us each special talents to do His will. In the past, it's been more productive for me to share my faith through writing than through face to face interactions.

This time, being prayerful about it, I tried to explain that knowing that he believes that Jesus is his Savior would give me a lot of comfort some day when he passes on, but I didn't want him to say it just to make me happy. We had a kind of heavy discussion, with lots of tears from me, but my dad agreed to shed his cloak of silence and let me know that he does believe that Jesus Christ is his Savior.

Yeah! Those are the words I was longing to hear! God knew the right timing to talk with my dad further on this topic. It wasn't the day after the initial conversation or the day after that. Actually, it was a couple of months later, but God's timing is impeccable! I feel so blessed to have my dad living with us. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him. 1 John 4:16

Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.
These Are Other Blogs I Felt Led to Write:

 Easy Way to Share Your Faith
By: Dr. Don Wilton via You Tube

Too Easy to Tell Me No

Galatians 5: 13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

I love my dad dearly, but it is all too easy for my dad to tell me no. If I tell him it's dinner time, he will tell me No, that he doesn't want any dinner. Fortunately, I've found out that if my husband asks my dad to come to eat, he is much more likely to do it.

If I tell my dad that we need to go to the ER because of the symptoms that warrant it, he will tell me No that he doesn't want to. I have been known to call or text the my dad's nurse that Medicare has provided for him. He's been able to get my dad to go to the ER after he's told me No.

I ask him to do his exercises, because his ability to walk is waning, but my dad tells me No. Fortunately for me, God's provided a Physical Therapist that comes to exercise with my dad to help maintain as much strength in his legs as possible.

I think it's got to be difficult to feel like you have little control in your life when you have been an independent adult as long as you can remember. I think his telling me No is just asserting his independence when many of the things he tells me No about are really for his well-being.

 It has to be easier for my dad to tell me No than any other person, because I'm his daughter and listen when he says it. Although I'm a mature adult, it's difficult for me to go against my dad's telling me No. I've been listening to tips from some of the medical professionals about not allowing No to be an acceptable answer. I was told to tell my dad that either he comes with me to the ER or I will have to dial 911. I did this recently and it really did work, which is good, because it could have been a life threatening situation. Whether my dad says No or not, I feel very blessed to have my dad here living with us for whatever time God allows. Galatians 5: 13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.
These Are Other Blogs I Felt Led to Write:

Caregiving Video: Eldercare Step 1.2-Communicating With Your Elder
By: Dr. Marion Somers, through Craig Caryl via You Tube

Oops, He Did It Again!

Luke 17: 3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. 

My dad has some form of Parkinsonism. It's not exactly Parkinson's, but is very similar. One of the side affects of this is that my dad gets constipated. It's not just normal constipation, but to the point that he will skip his meals, because he things that's what's making him constipated, despite our trying to explain the logic otherwise.

It's not just normal constipation, but to the point that his bowels will plug up our plumbing with my husband or dad frantically plunging hoping that everything doesn't overflow. Fortunately for me, God gave me a patient husband, who doesn't loose his cool when my dad clogs the toilet again. I feel so blessed to have my dad living here with us for whatever period that God allows. Luke 17: 3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him

Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.
These Are Other Blogs I Felt Led to Write:

Caregiving Video: Constipation and the Elderly
By: Virginia Allum 

Meals on Wheels a Gift from God

1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Although I love my dad dearly, he is a picky eater. He doesn't want to have anything similar for quite a while or he will never eat that food again. Because he has GERD, he needs to eat his evening meal by 4 p.m. With bringing my grandson home from school, I rarely can have dinner ready before 4:30 which seems close in time, but he wouldn't eat it.

Being prayerful about not getting meals in time to my dad who continues to lose weight, despite our attempts to fatten him up, I decided that I would make some of his favorite foods in a crock-pot, so they would be ready when he is. He decided that he didn't want to eat dinner any of those times I prepared crock-pot meals, even when it was roast, but I still love my dad and need him to gain weight.

We were preparing for a trip to a nearby state for a grandchild's birthday, but dad wanted to stay home by himself. We got friends to come in and visit dad and hired someone to come to stay with him for a part of the evening. We still needed to do something about making sure that he ate regularly. We could have a whole refrigerator filled with food, but he doesn't open the fridge door and take it out and eat it. Then, God answered my prayers through Meals on Wheels.

Not only do they cook a wide variety of healthy meals, but they would, upon request deliver breakfasts for my dad, as well. To top that all off, when we met with the Meals on Wheels Social Worker, it came up that my dad's blood pressure cuff had broken, and they gave him a new one.

More than that, Meals on Wheels allows my dad to feel like he is contributing. They don't charge any money for the meals, but are open to donations to keep this invaluable program going. My dad writes a check each month for his month's Meals on Wheels meals and takes satisfaction for paying his own way, although it wasn't necessary for him to do that.

My dad can eat his Meals on Wheels meal before 4 p.m., so that it doesn't interfere with his GERD. I have not only been blessed by having my dad here with us, but also through Meals on Wheels, a gift from God. 1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.
These Are Other Blogs I Felt Led to Write:

Caregiving Video: Meals on Wheels Checking on Elderly in Heat
By: WMTW-TV via You Tube

Falling Once, Falling Twice, Falling Isn't Very Nice!

Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 1: 24-25

Now, this passage is really talking about how God can keep us from falling away from faith in Him. It's just that I'm applying this to my dad's literally falling. My dad kept slipping out of the bed. He said that the bedspread is slick and he slides right off of it.

Being prayerful about it after the umpteenth time that he told me this, the thought was in my mind, which is often how God works in my life, to flip half of his sheets and covers back for him periodically through the day and especially before he goes to bed.

My dad just went for a long winter's nap, we call it, and he asked why the covers were thrown half way back. He sounded frustrated that I had messed up his bed that he had so painstakingly straightened earlier in the day. I just smiled and said to him, "It's just to keep you from taking that big slide all the way to the floor." He smiled and got ready to take his nap. I feel truly blessed to have my dad here with us. Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 1: 24-25

Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.
These Are Other Blogs I Felt Led to Write:

Caregiving Video: Video Analysis Reveals How and Why the Elderly Fall
By: Stephen Robinovitch with Simon Fraser University via You Tube

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