Friday: Tender, Strong with Tears

 

A friend of a friend called in tears

within minutes of her call;

an older friend of ours is very possibly on

her last weeks of life.

We hope to visit this dear one soon.

***

Another one I love was considered for hospice

but is now better;

a member of my extended family's Mother

(who is a great grandmother) is now on hospice

for better pain control.

Another friend's Mother has the C-19-you-know-what

and is hospitalized with pneumonia as I type this.

***

It was not until tonight that I realized how this was

impacting me, how inwardly sad I felt

and also with the difficult PT experience

and the pain I had,

I really was struggling a bit.

***

But once I realized this, understood it,

then I was able to be tender towards my own self;

to understand how hard it would be to have this all;

and there were other things as well, of course.

***

I am loving Sally's new book, I read the first two chapters I think.

I love it because she does not deny pain but reminds

us of the hope and stability we have in Christ.

I feel like reading her book is like a boot camp for the soul.

It's a deep reminder of things God has been trying to teach me 

for over 20 years.  So it feels like I am returning to a 

school that I've been at before, as if for a refresher

or a new course of boot camp, as it were. 

***

I am pondering again the need to take care of myself

while being so aware of the pain of others.

***

I am still behind on many things

including emails in part because 

I can't be at the computer sitting as long.  

***

I am so thankful for all the good in my life.

there is still so much there.

***

The pictures of the pasty and salad are from 

Tea and Sympathy where I was on Thursday in NYC!

***

May God have mercy on us and save us!