Thursday, February 12, 2015

"walk in his ways." Psalm 128

 Nurse/granddaughter, Ruth, stops over to show grandma Anna her Easter clothes she just picked up at Walmart.  Yes, Pat's mom is now on hospice due to her age and her heart which is wearing out.  She is very worn out, yet can be good during the day for family that is gathering around her to help with cares and give back the love they have been given by her to them!  This is a very familiar and much beloved place to find myself.  Beloved?  Yes, I love working with hospice and find it is such a holy and powerful place to be as a family/person.  I love how facing the end of our lives brings us to the point of leaving all that is just stuff and distractions, and finding our Faith and Family to be foremost!  So deep and hard and good and right and what we all will face in our lifetime!  Having time on hospice is a beautiful gift! 
 John brought over some of the Lourdes water that he has shared with grandma about 3 1/2 years ago.  We were in France for Hallel's first vows and Pat's mom joined Pat, John and I!  We went to Lourdes and watched the long lines of sick go into the healing miraculous waters of Lourdes.  Yesterday was the feast day/anniversary of when Our Lady first appeared to Bernadette, so it really reminded us to bring some water over today and John blessed grandma with it! How special does she use her hands to pat and hold and "comfort" those that come and sit by her!  Overnight her youngest daughter shared that she lay in the bed next to her mom overnight and how she and her mom held hands and she would pat Ida's hand.  "We held hands off and on through the night and she would rub my arm as I rubbed hers.  Still in this hour being a mom who comforts.  Amazing."
John put Lourdes water on her hands and on her head and shared a most special prayer with her... mentioning the rosary beads in her hands, and sleeping by her last night we heard her prayers throughout the night - "hail Marys" over and over. 
Part of John's beautiful prayer... So obvious that he and his grandmother share huge love and comfort from Mary, The Mother of God!  So touched by the moments of sharing our Faith one with the other.  This is what makes the world always in the LIGHT of our journey to Christ - together forever in heaven.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Bless-bless, Barb


 Her hands - so beautiful!
Rose with great-grandma




 Family prayers - the best!
 Daily Eucharist!
Powerful words from the Holy Father: "The world tells us to seek success, power, and money; God tells us to seek humility, service, and love."
This is what the end of life does for us - we prepare to live forever with Jesus!
What JOY to find this on Maria's blog today with the note - "blessings abound in our new quarters."  To see them reunited to face together the future in the army is joyous!
 An old friend stopped in to share "a red rose of friendship for all the years that you were my friend and touched my life." said Emma to Pat's mom.  We were all fighting back tears to witness how mom's love and caring had touched this lifetime friend. 

"I think she cares for me very much and I touched her life more than I ever knew."  Anna shared with us after her friend left.  As one of her 9 living children said so wisely today - "We need to live and act like mom.  She shows us all how we are to be loving and forgiving no matter what hurts we have experienced."  As Jesus says to us in Matthew 18:21-22 - 21 Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."  Mom Verly certainly lives this!
Precious times and memories to share.
Today in the Gospel - this is a 2 day sharing -  is Jesus healing the deaf and the dumb man.  How we look to Jesus in these days of hospice care.  The times we spend with mom are steeped with sharing and with praying.  Mom's mantra of prayer - "That there is peace in the Family and all my kids get along.  I love each one of my children the same."  It is for us to forgive and come to that place where the family is united in Jesus and in LOVE.  A small slice of heaven here on earth!  I am reminded of how much I love what hospice cares allows family and their loved one to find... the ability to walk into the sunset of life with confidence and peace and acceptance and even some joy.  I love how facing the end of our lives gets rid of all the meaningless stuff and allows us to focus on Faith and Family!  Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
 She gains comfort and comforts us through the day by holding our hands. 
Come to Jesus- Chris Rice
A Mother's song by Danielle Rose
 

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