Whatever our particular hardship or concern in this season, prayer is our means of accessing God. How can we not wonder about the forces bombarding our nation? Is our sin reaping its own reward, or is our nation under attack by the enemy of our souls? Aren’t violence, division, fear, and pride some of his [...]
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 pandemic prompted awareness of our vulnerability to discuss who you have appointed as your medical and legal [...]
Me and Dad When we ACCEPT DEATH AS PART OF OUR FUTURE, we are then able to give precious gifts to our offspring as did my own dad. As a teenager, I came across an odd “record.” It was the size of a 45, but flexible plastic instead of the customary hard, black [...]
Usually, we visualize THE FINISH LINE as a place, a strip of paint across the track, a physical destination we strive to reach and crossover. For Heritage of Hope, THE FINISH LINE represents a delineation between our mortal lives and our eternal lives. In John 14, Jesus told the disciples he was going on ahead [...]
#1 MAKE YOUR WISHES KNOWN: My mother’s passing was particularly sweet because we knew what she wanted. As Mom declined, she had discussed her death with her doctor and her options. She then made her preferences known to us. The hospital staff was very kind to all of us as they administered Comfort Measures Only. [...]
On Being Mortal by Atul Gawande: In an exploratory tone, Dr. Gawande examines the American approach to aging and death from both the physicians’ and the patients’ viewpoint. He chronicles his own maturation as a doctor through numerous case histories of patients and their decision-making processes as well as the final journey of his own [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
It’s too hot, or too cold, or too wet outside. Exercise equipment and/or a gym membership is simply not in the budget. I am out of shape. Working out in public is embarrassing, but I don’t know where to begin on my own. I get so bored doing the same thing over and over. Really, [...]
