Hi Friends, I had sad day with my parents yesterday and I’ve had them on my heart. You’ve read several of my posts about my parents … but for those who don’t know, my sweet Daddy is 86 and has been fighting cancer for about 10 years. They only gave him 2 to 3 year to live when diagnosed. I thank God for the extra time.
My dear Mom had a massive stroke right before the 9/11 terrorist attacks. God literally told me He had given me a window of grace (NOT A DOOR) with my husband to quit work. I stepped through that window and a week or so later my Mom had her stroke. It was all in God’s plan for me to be available because I carried Daddy to the hospital and we sat with her each day. It would have been more than Daddy could have managed if I had been working full time.
These pictures were taken July of 2007. They have both failed a lot since then.
I won’t spill out all of my tears and pain on here over their situation because I’m sure many of us have similar stories, but I am asking that you lift them up before the Lord when their faces come to mind. They are pretty much home bound now (which is pure torment for my Daddy who has always loved working and piddling in his yard/Mama loved shopping visiting her friends) and their days consist of medication, eating, TELEVISION and sleeping.
Yesterday, while Daddy was “playing” with my daughter on the porch, my Mom started telling me what she wanted on their tombstones. Normally (by the grace of God) I can hold it together while I’m at their house, but that was a little more than I could take. I began to cry right in front of my poor Mom who has enough to feel sad over. I know she and Daddy are just waiting to see who will die first and what will become of the one left behind. It is so incredibly sad. I have no words.
They have been good parents and have provided for their kids the best they could. They loved us the best they knew how and raised us by the examples given to them. With that said, I just wanted to honor them today. Would you please say a little prayer for Olive and Mary?
Thank you sweet friends!
Exodus 20:12
Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.Mark 10:19
You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’Colossians 3:20
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
Dear Beth, I can feel your concern, love and worry over your parents and I am sorry you are going thru these scary feelings. I am sure our son and daughter worry about their dad and me, too. We are in our 70’s but still very active, thanks to our sweet God.
I wish there was something I could say to ease you a little but all I can think of it that it is just a part of live (and not an easy part) that we have to accept. We are all on the journey home and when it comes time for our parents to leave, it is hard to let go.
It sounds as if they have lived a good life and that is bound to ease your heart a little.
Yes, my prayers to them and to you and the family that worries about them.
xo bj
I will most certainly be praying for your parents and will be putting them on our prayer list at church. I, too, am blessed to still have both of my parents but we lost DH’s dad to cancer in ’92. This is a hard and difficult journey to be on, but remember to let our Heavenly Father carry you when you just can’t go on your own.
Love and prayers,
Deb
Hello I found you through Sharon’s blog. This is a wonderful post and I pray that you have more time with your parents. My father is gone now and I do wish I had more time with him.
Dear Heavenly Father, we praise Your Holy Name. We give You glory and honor on ALL things. We praise You in the storms of life. We call out Your Name in all the struggles and trials that we face on this earth. Father, I Beth’s parents to Your throne in all boldness as Your Word tells us too, to receive grace and mercy in their time of need. Father God, I pray for strength, I pray for peace, I pray for joy, I pray for protection. I pray comfort over their minds and hearts. Father God, I pray for their children, Father, comfort them, let their eyes be on You, the great Comforter, the great Healer. Let the times that they have here on earth Lord with their parents be one that is filled with memories that will last a life time. May they sense Your lavish love washing over their spirits. Father, not only do You wipe the tears off their faces, but Your Word says, You KNOW their numbers. What an amazing Father You are. Heal them Lord as they travel this path, and they will be healed. Save them Lord as they journey to Your Kingdom, with strength, with peace and with joy, as for the children, save them Lord for this journey of releasing, but holding their parents close, of placing their own fears, anxieties and worries onto You, and they will ALL be saved. for You Father God,,YOU FATHER GOD ARE THE ONE WE PRAISE. amen amen amen
Praying my dear friend. I know your heart is heavy. I can see it in your post. I pray that God would not only be with your parents during this time, but that He would also be with you and comfort you.
Thanks for sharing. I pray you have a blessed day!
what a post… its great to honor our parents, especially when they are still with us…
by the way, i have an award to brighten up your day
http://www.mommyjourney.com/2009/02/love-ya-award.html
Beth, I am praying for your parents and for you today. You are so blessed to have such a close, loving relationship with your parents. I pray that God will comfort you and that your time left with them will be sweet. I also pray that God wraps you up in His love and comforts you in a very present way!
Beth, thank you so much for asking for prayers. It expresses your faith in prayer and is encouraging.
smooches,
Larie
Oh Beth, I'm so sorry they're not doing well. I'm sure that was a hard conversation to have. I never knew your dad's real name. I will keep you all in my thoughts & prayers.
Oh, sweet Beth, I will pray for you and your family. I cannot imagine what that conversation with your mom must have been like. Sending you huge ((hugs)) from Texas.
Feel free to use your blog as an outlet for your feelings. I was surprised that so many people continued to read and send uplifting comments. I, too, felt that everyone had a sad story and wouldn’t want me to share mine. Opening my blog and seeing those comments helped heal my spirit. Allow your blogging friends to be a comfort to you. We’re here for you, anytime.
((((((Beth)))))))this is a very sad reality to have to deal with. My heart goes out to you and your parents.
I would think one of the hardest things to dealing concerning the getting older has to do with the need to rely on others to do the things that used to come so easily in younger years and times of better health.
Your parents are blessed as I’m sure they realize, to have you in their lives at a time when they would otherwise need to rely on others, outside of their family for the things you do for them. God knew this and did open that window.
I am praying for your parents that they find peace and comfort and for you that you will be blessed in the process as you bless them.
You are a good daughter and a good example for your own daughter.
Yes! I absolutely will pray for Olive and Mary. The pictures of them are so sweet.
I live the closest to my parents (siblings live several hours away). Dad is 79, Mother is 75. It’s very difficult to see our parents growing older! I hate to see my parents dealing with health problems.
I can’t imagine how difficult it was to have that conversation with your mother over the tombstones.
Praying for YOU, too, as you take care of your parents in the days ahead.
Blessings…
((Beth))
I will definitely be praying for them!!!
HUGS,
Alicia
Saying a little prayer for you and your parents. I know what this is like, we went through it not to long ago with my Grandfather and his passing. Thinking of you! HUGS!
BTW, Debra @ Clothed with Scarlet is done with her makeover.
Hey sweet girl, i will continue to lift up your Mama and Daddy and you and pray that God will continue to give you the strength and courage to be a blessing to them as you serve them with much love daily. I know you being there has brought so much love and blessing and “sunshine” to what is sometimes to some a dismal point in life. You have certainly shared the Fathers heart full of love for them. I love you very much! Seachele
My dear friend, I will be praying for them and for you. I know how stressful it is when your parents are ill, my mom is in the hospital again right now as I write this. My brother has terminal cancer and my dad passed away last year. So I do understand the stress you are dealing with.
Just know that God is there with them giving them strength to bear it. We have to know and believe that, so that we don’t ache for them. God’s grace is more than enough for them. It’s more than enough for you. I love you, my sweet friend.
Sweet Beth…I will for sure be praying for you parents and for your family.
XO,
Mimi
Sweet post….made me cry. Will be praying.
Oh sweet Beth,
I will say a prayer for them And I love your sweet tender heart for your parents. May it always be so with children and parents. God is so merciful my sweet sister. May you rest in His embrace.
Thank you for what you did for me today. Thank you for the blog makeover. I am so moved by your generosity. Thank you again.
I love you! God bless you, my sweet friend…my precious sister.
Sweetie, I will be lifting your dear parents up in my prayers, and you also.
Dear Beth,
I know how hard it is to deal with aging parents who aren’t well. My mom was ill for several years prior to her death four years ago next week. I hated to see this beautiful vibrant woman’s body deteriorate before my eyes. I remember once when she spoke to me about her death and plans and wanted me to know she was at peace with God and ready. When the inevitable happened, she had left plans for her funeral and letters for each of her children. It made it so much easier to handle the funeral. Although it’s difficult, it’s actually good for them to talk about this. Your mom is trying to make it easier on you. Only the Lord knows when that day will happen. And the Lord will provide what you need when you need it …at that time. Hugs to you Beth.
I’ll be praying sweet sister Beth…for all of you. ♥
I saw what you did for our precious sister Debra and I was coming over to tell you what a sweetheart you are and then I saw this post. I’m so glad I came by.
I love you dearly,
Sunny
Beth,
I found your blog via Debra, Cloth in Scarlet. As sisters in Christ, we are here for you. Don’t feel guilty about spilling out your tears.
In Him,
Jean
I am so terribly sorry, I have lost 2 grandparents (only 1 left, I never meet my one granfather because he died enven before my parents got married) but could never emagine losing them.
I guess that it is because I depend on them for everything, but I still inderstand. When my grandma died, I started crying during the middle of class.I go to a public school.
oh my- I will be thinking of you during this difficult time. I pray the Lord will give you strength and peace! Be blessed, my friend.
God bless Olive and Mary. I pray dear Lord for peace and grace for my dear Sister and that you would give her the strength to go through what ever lies ahead for her. Wrap your gentle, strong and loving arms around her right now and minister to her in a way that only you can do. I ask this in Jesus’s name. Let it be Lord. Amen
What pain in your heart to watch, but what joy that you get to be there for them and watch your daughter know them. Praying for peace and healing in thier lives, and strength for each day for you.
Beth,
I know what it’s like to have the love that you do toward your parents.
My Dad and Mom adopted me when I was only 2 and they loved me has if I was their child from birth.
Both of my parents have since die,Dad has been gone 8 years and Mom 6 years and I still miss them.
You are so blessed to have your parents,enjoy every moment you can(I know you will).
Praying,
Tammy
Beth I’m praying for them, as well as you. I know we’re probably considered more on the morbid side, as we already have our cemetary plots bought and in the next few years I hope to have our headstone bought and set, so that our children don’t have to deal with it.
It’s not an easy issue at all, but I’m glad you mom felt comfortable enough to bring it up with you and I think it’s good that you let her see your tears. You’re human and it hurts to know that one day you will have to bury your parents and it’ll hurt then too, just as it did for them when they buried their parents.
God Bless and they seem to be blessed to have you as their daughter.
O My Sweet Sister,
Can you feel my arms wrapped around you right now??!! I’m crying with you…praying with you…standing with you in Christ for your parents and for the strength and comfort you need and they need.
Precious Abba Father,
I lift your daughter Beth and her parents before Your throne of mercy, grace and abounding love and in Jesus Name I pray for peace,comfort and strength for them and the entire family. I pray for more moments of tenderness and love for them all. I pray for Your will to be done in their hearts, bodies and lives. I pray for Your Divine presence Abba Father to rest upon them. Lord Jesus, You bring us such comfort and such joy. I pray that for them now. I cry before You LORD GOD. I cry for Beths heart that is hurting and in need of a touch from You. I cry with appreciation for Your presence even now, that is with them. We love You LORD GOD and we lay these precious people at Your altar. Have Your way we pray in Jesus Name and with hearts of gratitude and love. Amen. Amen.
I love you Beth.
Oh, Beth…what a beautiful tribute to your parents. You have honored them in a wonderful way. I know what it feels like to lose a parent…I lost a best friend in my daddy. Now, my mom is 83 years old and only God knows how long she has left on this earth, even though, she is in good health. I can’t imagine losing both of them. My daddy has been gone nearly 20 years (this August)…I still miss him tremendously to this day.
Enjoy every moment that you have with your precious parents. They have had a long life and I pray that is has been a good one for them. They have a beautiful, loving daughter who loves them so much…it is obvious in your writings.
I will pray for them and you!
Love you, my sweet friend!
Oh Sweet Beth! I know where you are, you know that. I promise you, Olive and Mary are in my prayers. I’ve added them to my dailies list.
I’m thankful my folks have all their arrangements in order and the headstone has already been laid, just needs the dates. Now THAT is tough to see when we go visiting others at the cemetery!
I know that these thoughts of having to prepare yourself for such a time as this has to be very hard. I tear up just thinking about it myself. My parents are only 50. (can’t beleive it, guess we start young in this family :O)
but, at any moment either one could be home with the Lord despite their age and it puts a lump in my throat to just think of it.
I will say a prayer for sure for you during this time for added strength and comfort. In His time, the Lord will show the way for you.
Big Hug,
Deanna
Beth your heart is always so amazing…
Hello my friend, first let me say I am praying for YOU and your family, my heart ached for you tonite after reading this. I know exactly how you are feeling, my mother is starting to forget things, her hearing is getting worse, and she is all I have left. I have no more family, she and I are all thats left. I pray every night and ask God to pleaseeee take her before me, pleaseee do not let her be alone. I will be ok, it’s just that I know she won’t be ok.
I know this is not easy for you. I cannot say anything that will make it easier for you, but please know we (I) am hear for you, we can even exchange telephone numbers if you ever need to chat.
But it sounds as though they have lived a long and happy life together.
Love ya my friend and I’m here for you, remember if you want to exchange numbers I am here.
God bless you my sister
I wish I could give you a hug!!
But I am praying that our father will wrap his loving arms around you for me.
Love you my friend
Beth, I understand your feelings! It is so hard to see parents aging and taking those steps into the next life! When they leave us …they are just going to another/better place…and we will join them someday! I will be praying for you and them! Blessings to you, Nancy
Beth,
Of course as I read this, I begin to well up with tears…I know how your heart hurts for your parents. It is so hard to watch them become so frail in front of your eyes and to have to give up those things they loved doing before.
And it does not get any easier.
I will be praying for your parents and for you, too.
God bless.
~Beth
Oh Beth, my heart was just broken for you as I read this. yes I will pray for them and pray for you as well. For God’s peace and comfort and wisdom. Each day is a gift, may the coming days be full of joy, laughter and love with your parents and for each of them with each other. What a wonderful legacy they have built for you and for your children. -Blessings, Laurie
Dear Sis,
It’s a great post on honoring your parents. You are lucky to be with your parents in a long time. I wish my parents still alive. I lost my father when I’m 7 and I lost my Mom when I’m 18. And I always dreaming to have parents again. That’s why when I get married I really love my inlaws, and I see them in your parents because they are old also, and they are one of the reason why we want to move back to new york to be close to them. So I know how hard you feel right now about your parents. But have courage and cry to God about the situation of your loving parents. And I know God will never forsake you..
I thank God for meeting you here. Your page is an inspiration for everybody.God Bless you Sis.
Dearest Friends,
I want to send out a heart felt THANK YOU for all of your encouragement and support. You have blessed me beyond measure. I spent yesterday crying as I read your kind words. I responded to those of you who had an open email address, but to the rest of you — THANK YOU SO MUCH! God bless you for lifting us up in prayer and being such an extension of Christ.
I am so blessed to know you all!
Love to you all!
Beth
Hi yes parents is very precious to me. How i wish my mom is here but she is w/god already based on your story you are a very good daughter of your parents. weng from NC
What a beautiful tribute to your parents! I can certainly understand the feelings – both my parents have passed away. I will keep your sweet parents and you in prayer!
In His Love and Blessings,
annb