What began as a Victory Garden during WWII became an escape, even a refuge, for a young mother living with her German in-laws while her husband was away at war. Because her father-in-law had a heavy German accent, he could not find work. Consequently, Leota became the breadwinner of the household, while her mother-in-law tended [...]
You may know how uncomfortable it is to try and carry both sides of a conversation. Such was the dilemma I faced with my maternal grandmother, Mimi. As she lost more and more of her vision, her world was shrinking. Although she was receiving excellent care in a small group home, her health was declining [...]
By Donna Scales My husband, Ken, has a special wit and is gifted at telling funny, endearing stories especially at the memorial services of friends. He also has a habit of putting himself down. Ken has often quipped that his memorial service could be held in a phone booth. Not too long ago, Ken’s chronic [...]
OLD or YOUNG? The 12th chapter of Ecclesiastes tells us that King Solomon was well acquainted with physical decline. Jesus was still a young man when he gave his Upper Room Discourse, but he too was facing death. Whether we are older like Solomon or younger like Jesus, None of us can hold back [...]
In this little book, Breaking the King Saul Syndrome, author Jonathan Martin contrasts King Saul’s fearful, jealous reign (I Samuel 8-31) to the faith-based generosity of his son, Jonathan. Jonathan willingly assisted his own replacement, David (I Samuel 20). Are we, like Jonathan, listening to the Lord and placing obedience above our own interests? Few [...]
If you become ill, DOES YOUR FAMILY KNOW . . . who is in charge of your medical decisions? If not, this may be the ideal time to hold the family meeting you’ve been postponing—electronically. Why not use the prompted awareness of your vulnerability to discuss who you have appointed as your medical and legal [...]
If I visualize a “runner,” I see lean, muscled arms and legs pumping rhythmically. When I stood at the finish line of the Vancouver Marathon, however, I watched a huge variety of body types and strides complete a victorious run. Of course, some runners were jerky and awkward in their fatigue. A few seemed to [...]
1. Give Permission To Talk About The End Of This Life. Our emotional needs are not served when we remain silent about death in our close relationships. Too often, the person who is dying avoids scaring his loved ones by not sharing his heart until the very last moment. Accordingly, the family doesn’t know if [...]
FIFTIES: When I turned fifty I discovered God’s singular mistake: we shouldn’t live past fifty! What was it with these Golden Years? To use a rather unlovely word, I felt like crap. Both hips hurt, and their throbbing kept me awake at night. I had to pull myself up stairs and ask for help to [...]
Summoned by the head nurse, I walked hurriedly to the care center wondering with every step what could have upset Dad so much that the staff could not calm him. With the whoosh of the front doors still in my ears, I spotted my 87 year old father leaning on his walker at the front [...]
