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Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Are You Sure You Don't, Are You Sure You Don't...

My Mom is 86 years old and quite the handful. But -

I took her Monday to visit her 88 year old brother, trapped in a small hospital room, with what seemed like echoing walls and building hysteria.

The conversation was lengthy, loud and went something like this.

As he took the first bite "Pudgy (I'm Tiny) do you want half of this turkey sandwich they brought me, No thanks Uncle F, I'm good".
"You know I remember when me and Leeny went to school and use to get in fights all the time at the bus stop".
As he took the second bite "Pudgy (I'm Tiny) do you want half of this turkey sandwich they brought me, No thanks Uncle F, I'm good".
"I don't know what these crazy hospitals think with all this expensive crap in here".
As he took the third bite "Pudgy (I'm Tiny) do you want half of this turkey sandwich they brought me, No thanks Uncle F, I'm good" [feeling a scream and containing it].

My mom:
"I don't know why they are telling you to use that treatment that way, don't you do it, I've done this a million times, you do it like this...I don't care what those crazy doctors say, they're all stupid now days".
F: "Well, you don't know anyway 'cause none of them speak English, I can't understand a thing they're telling me, man if this ain't..."(getting louder and louder).

Taking the fourth bite, "Pudgy (I'm Tiny) do you want half of this turkey sandwich they brought me, No thanks Uncle F, I'm good", Ayeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee (silently, I promise).

Oh Lord, I'm going to be one of them one day if you bless me with that many days here on this earth. I've really got to work on that respecting your elders thing, really Lord! I just keep thinking how much I want my family to be patient, respectful and understanding for me. It's all that keeps me sane.

Tomorrow, I take her to spend the day with another brother D, he's 91, deaf, loud and has the most horrible eating habits. And yes when I take her that means I take them out to lunch - his favorite place always, Kentucky Fried Chicken. I really need a good nights sleep and all of your prayers because Friday - I take her to visit her 98 year old brother J. Y'all don't know how much I need your prayers, please.

I feel like I fall so short in this area and try my dog-on-dist to enjoy all this but, it's not easy. I remind myself (or You do Lord) to be quiet and tolerant and just stay the course, it will be over in a few hours and I will be back home again. I force myself (or You do Lord) to remember how much I love my 3 sisters and pray that we spend many old age days together and that someone will take the time out of their busy life to bring us together long after we've reached the age when we can drive and get to each other anymore.

They are all loud, rude and difficult but maybe at their age, they have earned the right to be, that's what I think (hold on to that thought Miawa, hold on to it!).

We can do this Lord, me and You, Amen.

4 comments:

  1. I'm sorry.

    I laughed as I read this. I HAD to! I know it wasn't nice of me. But I busted out laughing.

    I've been there with Mom and my in-laws and now my husband. (Why does he seem to act so much older than I think I act?--Don't answer that!)

    Yes--you and God can do anything. Promise.

    Jean

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  2. You're doing a good thing Miawa and you probably have more patience than I would

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  3. Vance Havner, graduated now, used to preach that he always prayed to God to bring him "Home before dark." I think it's worthy prayer.

    He preached for 89 years. He started when he was 11.

    You can hear his sermons and others at:
    www.sermon audio.com

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