Good morning…
“I love reading that your mom is slowly on the road to healing and recovery,” wrote an old friend after our post My Mom’s Condition. “Yes – ICU delirium is real. I know it well with my father. I just constantly reminded him… ‘slow and steady wins the race.’ I will continue to pray for your mom and you.”
“Thank you,” I replied. “The snail went slow and steady and made it to the ark, alongside our friend the tortoise. Actually two of each creature made it together, two by two. There has to be a blog post here!”
So on Monday morning we set our pace with God, slow and steady, persevering with the power of prayer.
Until…
… a doctor came into my mom’s hospital room around noon and, when she was alone in a state of vulnerability and confusion following her stoke, he told her she would be discharged to the skilled nursing unit at my parent’s senior living community that very day. No meeting with a case worker. No transition discussed. No advocate to ask questions or to flesh out important details. The plug was pulled on “slow and steady” and her thin rug of stability was abruptly pulled out. No wonder she was scared, apprehensive, overwhelmed. Resigned to the unexpected truth, my dad texted us kids at 4:15 pm: “I believe that your Mom will be transferred to the Renaissance at 6:30 this evening.”
A few hours later he texted: “She’s not going home tonight. She may have the flu. She threw up at noon (after hearing the news of her sudden discharge) and threw up again just now.” He expressed his concern privately with me by phone, “When I kissed her forehead, it tasted really salty. She may have a fever.”
Monday night came and went with my mom still in the hospital.
I texted my dad and siblings first thing in the morning after yesterday’s blog post. “Dad, I hope today is a great one for you and mom. I love my friend’s suggestion that music is healing for stroke victims because it uses both sides of the brain. I am wondering if some of the talented grandkids in town could come up with a playlist of Granny’s favorite songs for her to easily enjoy. Just a fun thought on a rainy day here in Atlanta. I look forward to our text updates and our Zoom call tonight. I love you all.”
Privately I texted my dad, “Good morning. Do you have a few minutes to talk?”
“Yes,” he replied, so I reached out to listen to his tired heart. He too was thrown off by the abrupt announcement of my mom’s surprise discharge without any planning. Our conversation was tender and meaningful. Then he hung up the phone to go to the hospital as visiting hours opened.
“Granny will return to the Renaissance skilled nursing today,” he texted us siblings within the hour. “We have talked about it and she seems to be at ease with it. For safety reasons she will be transported by a provider. Hopefully she will be able to participate in our Zoom call tonight.”
“You have the money honey, we have the time,” he added playfully.
I somehow guessed that this was the title of an old favorite song, so the Spirit led me to music video below. I shared it in our family group text with these words of encouragement: “A new season of your love story is being brought to life in song! Enjoy this with mom, dad. We are with you in Spirit.”
Make the best use of your time, despite all the difficulties of these days. Don’t be vague but firmly grasp what you know to be the will of God. Don’t get your stimulus from wine (for there is always the danger of excessive drinking), but let the Spirit stimulate your souls. Express your joy in singing among yourselves psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making music in your hearts for the ears of God! Thank God at all times for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. And “fit in with” each other, because of your common reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:15-21, PHILLIPS).
It is miraculous to see God’s healing power pulse through the veins of our family. How beautifully we are “fitting in with” each other during my mom’s bumpy ride home. Does the Spirit of the one who brought Jesus back to life live in you? Then the one who brought Christ back to life will also make your mortal bodies alive by his Spirit who lives in you (Romans 8:11, GW). As a biological family living near and far, we are witnessing, on many deep levels, the healing power of God’s Spirit rising up in us.
…Sue…
