 | A perfect message at the perfect time. |
Our second Living Letter of 2018 comes from another repeat contributor, Denise, who shares a profound discovery made during a difficult season in her life and the lesson learned from Signed, Sealed, Delivered that gave her peace in her trial.
We POstables love our #LessonsLearnedfromSSD, and it amazes me how many of them Martha Williamson has written throughout the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series. As my mother neared the end of her earthly journey, two of them, #TrustTheTiming, and "I don't pray to change God, I pray to change me" combined to work a change on this daughter's heart.
I've been my mother's caregiver since my father passed on in 2006. In the early years, I wasn't an actual caregiver, as Mother could care for herself, but simply a companion. But as with all elderly parents, as time passes, things change. First she needed a cane, then a walker, but she was mobile and I had no concerns about leaving her in the house alone while I was at work. Then, early in 2016, she fell and broke her arm. She sat on the floor for three hours until I got home, as she couldn't get up. It was a bad break and she didn't regain complete use of the arm. We were fortunate that she just broke her arm, and not her hip or her back, but my sister and I agreed that Mother could no longer be in the house alone. None of us could afford in-home caregivers, so I did my research, found a good nursing home, convinced Mother this was the best thing for her, and moved her there.
More changes and more challenges. Macular degeneration was slowly destroying Mother's sight. She was deaf without her hearing aids. The mild neuropathy she'd had in her legs for years escalated to the point she could no longer walk. She often asked me why she was still here, and each time I confidently assured her that it wasn't her time yet.
I've been my mother's caregiver since my father passed on in 2006. In the early years, I wasn't an actual caregiver, as Mother could care for herself, but simply a companion. But as with all elderly parents, as time passes, things change. First she needed a cane, then a walker, but she was mobile and I had no concerns about leaving her in the house alone while I was at work. Then, early in 2016, she fell and broke her arm. She sat on the floor for three hours until I got home, as she couldn't get up. It was a bad break and she didn't regain complete use of the arm. We were fortunate that she just broke her arm, and not her hip or her back, but my sister and I agreed that Mother could no longer be in the house alone. None of us could afford in-home caregivers, so I did my research, found a good nursing home, convinced Mother this was the best thing for her, and moved her there.
More changes and more challenges. Macular degeneration was slowly destroying Mother's sight. She was deaf without her hearing aids. The mild neuropathy she'd had in her legs for years escalated to the point she could no longer walk. She often asked me why she was still here, and each time I confidently assured her that it wasn't her time yet.
 The early days. | I've watched SSD from the very beginning. My main attraction to the show was the developing romance between Oliver and Shane. I never stopped to think that there might be a deeper message in this program. It was just a good TV show. Then I found A&D. I hadn't been one for social media, but after Higher Ground premiered I decided to see if SSD had a Facebook page. The page had a post for Mailbox Madness, a contest of sorts where you could vote for your favorite character, episode, etc., that was featured on a blog. I spent the next two weeks immersed in the ADBlog until I had read every post. The first day or so, I just found it very pleasant reading about my favorite TV show, but the more I read the more I learned about the spiritual messages and life lessons SSD contained. |
I hadn't seen any of the older episodes for a year or so, so I bought everything that was available on DVD, and started watching. At that time, I could only purchase DVDs up to From Paris With Love, but then Hallmark Movies & Mysteries ran the Mother's Day Marathon and I was able to see the rest of the series. I remembered that From the Heart had frustrated me to no end, and that I had thought One in a Million was the dumbest episode of SSD ever written, but this time, instead of just focusing on Oliver and Shane, I paid careful attention to the dialog. Did my perspective on those two movies change, especially One In A Million. And then came Lost Without You.
 | In August of this year, Mother needed emergency surgery to remove her gall bladder. It was infected, and the biopsy revealed that it was also cancerous. Since Mother was 88 years old and already in frail health, chemo or radiation were not an option. The doctor released her from the hospital back to the nursing home under Hospice care. Months passed, and Mother's health continued to decline. By November, she didn't eat much. She lost weight. She slept a good deal of the time. When she was awake, she suffered from anxiety and hallucinations. I thanked God that she wasn't in pain, but she was so weak and her quality of life was so poor I seriously began to question Him as to why He didn't take her home. |
I don't pray to change God, I pray to change me, and #TrustTheTiming . Those phrases began echoing over and over in my head, and I finally accepted that my prayers weren't going to change God. Mother's life was in His hands and her time was of His choosing. I needed to change me. I stopped asking God why. I worked on developing a servant's heart, caring for Mother as much as I could. I fed her when I visited at mealtime, as she was too weak to feed herself. I occasionally helped her Hospice nurse change the medical equipment she had to wear. On the days when she slept so soundly she didn't even realize I was there, I sat with her and held her hand.
Six weeks later, Mother slipped into a coma early one morning and passed on by the end of the day. Thursday, December 14, 2017, 9:05 p.m. CST, in God's perfect timing, my mother exited this world and stepped into Eternity. She is at peace now, and this daughter has a changed heart and a deeper understanding of God's perfect plan, due in part to lessons learned from Signed, Sealed, Delivered.
Six weeks later, Mother slipped into a coma early one morning and passed on by the end of the day. Thursday, December 14, 2017, 9:05 p.m. CST, in God's perfect timing, my mother exited this world and stepped into Eternity. She is at peace now, and this daughter has a changed heart and a deeper understanding of God's perfect plan, due in part to lessons learned from Signed, Sealed, Delivered.
Thank you for sharing your profound discovery of God's Love in the midst of your trial, Denise. You can read her first Living Letter here.
The Living Letters series continues as long as there are stories (or even praise reports) to share, and I'm always looking for submissions. If you would like to contribute something about how Signed, Sealed, Delivered has impacted your life (or even your wardrobe) that you'd be willing to share here on A&D, feel free to email me. Keep the good going and submit yours today!
The Living Letters series continues as long as there are stories (or even praise reports) to share, and I'm always looking for submissions. If you would like to contribute something about how Signed, Sealed, Delivered has impacted your life (or even your wardrobe) that you'd be willing to share here on A&D, feel free to email me. Keep the good going and submit yours today!
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