I firmly and deeply believe God gives us special graces during times of our lives that we need them. I know He has in my life.
In particular, I’m thinking about the the last few months before my dad’s death (see my two stories in last post) when God blessed me with very special graces to have all the things I needed to help both my mom and my dad through that difficult time. I was the one God chose in the family to be there with them in their home in the end and I felt very blessed to be able to be of service to them.
I vividly recall sitting in the hospice wheelchair in the middle of the night on Sunday night before he died early Tuesday morning watching my mom and dad in the bathroom, as she sat next to him on a chair while he sat and emptied his bladder. I was sitting there thanking God that He allowed me to be with this man and this woman who had brought me into this world during this extraordinary time. As the oldest child, I felt that it was only proper and fitting that I be the one there with the two of them as my dad left this world.
My dad began to cry at his helplessness.
He called us his angels, but I told him he was the one who was an "angel." That he just hadn’t sprouted his wings yet.
When we had earlier tucked him in bed that night, they asked me to pray with them. I asked Dad what he wanted me to pray for him. He said, "Pray that the Lord take me quickly." So I did.
The hospice nurse came by the next afternoon, Monday, and we helped him sit up on the side of the bed. He talked with her cheerily and she said his heart sounded strong. Afterward, in the living room, she told me and my mom she thought he could live for a couple more months, if not longer. He was in no pain. Just very, very weak.
But, God answered his prayer and took him before dawn the next morning. That, also, was a special grace from God.
Not everyone is so richly blessed in their deaths, I know. I hope my mom shall be, as well as I.
But, even more, I hope and pray that I shall be granted special graces in my walk every day. To say and do and think what is best and good. To be ready to give a ready answer to all who have questions. And to be a blessing upon everyone in my family and all who I meet.
Please join me in praying for God’s special graces in this life day by day. And, especially in those dark times when we really need them.
Dee Andrews
A humble, sincere, and very needed prayer that we all need! Great reminder, Dee, of being God’s person whenever and whatever the moment brings.
I was not able to be with either of my parents during their final hours on this earth. We did arrive just before Dad died, but he was already unconscious. When mom was dying, we were in Mexico on a mission trip. She was very proud of what we were doing and told us to stay there and complete the job. Randy would have appreciated that because we left and took most of his work crew! Anyway, she died while we were in-flight from CA to Alabama. I felt pretty much useless to my parents during their final moments but my sister was the one with the special graces in both of their lives.
a beau~T~ful post DEE!
huggs
Amen and Amen………..
I’m with you on the “special graces.” I don’t want to think about the next round of “sg” because it may involve me using them or having them used on me but I praise God for “special graces.”
Dee, what a great post. Thank you. I think we have made it through each day by God’s special graces. and there have been plenty.
Thank you for this story and this prayer. Thank you for giving me better words to express the needs of my heart, especially now.