Good morning…
As we relax into my parent’s independent living villa in Ohio, I feel deeply at home. How grateful I am for my mom’s ability to return to this special space after weeks in the care center, recovering from two falls, an RSV diagnosis, a scary ICU stay, and a nasty bout of pneumonia. With help from a new lift chair and an independent caregiver who visits briefly each morning and each night, my dad is my mom’s primary source of hands-on, loving care.
Flying in from Atlanta, Georgia for my dad’s birthday weekend, I slip smoothly into their daily rhythm, resting alongside.
The dailiness of life is sweet to share, especially in their vibrant senior living community. Each day I take a walk around these sacred grounds, lifting prayers of thanks for the beautiful way my parents are graciously held in the care of God as they age.
Today my brother will drive in from Pennsylvania and my sister’s expanding family of ten will gather from all corners of the Cleveland area, meeting in a private room at The Renaissance to celebrate my dad’s 88th birthday. Subway sandwiches. Veggie tray. Dairy Queen ice cream cake. What simple pleasures.
Aging isn’t easy. We all agree with that.
Yet day after day, there are restorative moments of rest and beautiful bonding opportunities. How happy I am to be with my mom and my dad as I wake this new morning. I sip coffee barefoot on their back patio, admiring the rain drops creating a chorus with the birds. On this drizzly spring day, I am filled with deep gratitude for the abundant love of God. Gracious acceptance overflows everywhere.
Each new day tells more of the story, and each night reveals more and more about God’s power (Psalm 19:2, ERV).
…Sue…
