The past two years have been filled with opportunities / lessons for letting go. Saying goodbye to expectations, a job/career, & my dad. As hard as it was facing the changes in my dad’s health, today I’m thankful for the opportunity of time. It’s a commodity so easily taken for granted.
Not that we’re all a bunch of statisticians, but whether we realize it or not we plan based on probabilities. We assume we will have the luxury of putting things off for another day – at least I did… and the thing is, we know there are no guarantees.
But look how perfectly things aligned…sure the journey had some really rough spots…in a way that makes the memory sweeter…to witness the gracious hand of God at work on such a truly personal level is incredible. Before my dad’s stroke, he longed for the opportunity to see family one more time. By the grace of God, he did. I longed to be available for family without the constant work battle of feeling forced to choose otherwise. By the grace of God, I did. My mom & stepdad were scheduled to return to California just as hospice was called in for 24hr care. In the past, I had a habit of pushing people away when life got really hard. It was time to let family & friends in to help me through the days ahead, and by the grace of God, I did. I’m so thankful for that choice because it gave me the opportunity to be vulnerable & strengthen my relationship with my mom & stepdad.
Before my dad moved, he loved woodworking. He made HUNDREDS of these little wooden rooster note holders – HUNDREDS. For his service, I wanted to have something to remind folks of his passionate hobby that helped him maintain a sense of independence. Along with an article written by the local paper, my daughter, mom, & stepdad all worked together to make a special memory wreath – the wreath consisted of eight roosters: one for each child / stepchild and one at the top. My daughter added the dual cross in the center with one of my favorite verses, Psalm 143:8
“Let the morning bring me word of
Your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in You.
Show me the way I should go,
for to You I lift up my soul.”
P.S. Oh yeah…I hurt my back (again) the week before my dad passed – I thought it was from catching an elderly woman from falling 😕
