On April 16 we celebrated one year of hospice care for MarySue - a year marked with some anxious moments but with even more moments of joy, happiness, togetherness, and blessings.
We have both commented frequently that when MarySue signed the Hospice papers a year ago neither of us expected that she would still be alive one year later.
We rejoice that not only is she still with us, but that she is still able to enjoy life and continue to do some of the things that make her life meaningful, including listening to audio books and coordinating the Prayer Team of our church.
There were several times during the past year when the future for MarySue seemed rather limited - such as when there were infections, etc. Also we have seen several times when her need for oxygen has increased. However in the past three months her oxygen needs have remained quite steady.
The past year has been marked by a lot of togetherness which has brought much joy to both of us. Granted, caring for the activities of daily living has consumed much time and energy, but we do enjoy each other’s company even when doing the mundane daily tasks of dressing, caring for oxygen equipment, etc.
But there have been other enjoyable experiences also. A special treat for both of us has been afternoon car rides seeing the sights and becoming better acquainted with the environs of Columbus and Franklin County. We have discovered the beauty of many of the Franklin County Metro Parks, enjoyed the scenery of the Scioto River Valley, the Alum Creek Dam, the Olentangy River, and the environs of the Hoover Reservoir.
On the tenth of March we enjoyed celebrating MarySue’s 80th birthday online with a Zoom party with online guests from around the United States and across the globe. Soon afterward we made the difficult decision to discontinue the use of outside caregivers and to self-isolate to avoid the risk of infection with the coronavirus. So in the month since March 17 we have had only two outsiders in our home and they were hospice staff on a required visit and they were wearing masks. Other than that visit, hospice care is currently being done through phone calls and Zoom video conferencing.
MarySue does enjoy trying to function as independently as possible, even though much of the time she needs to rely on assistance.
The arrival of warmer weather means that it is easier for us to get out of doors. MarySue enjoys walking eight to ten minutes very slowly in our Condo drive and parking areas at 15 LPM of oxygen. Frequently after she completes that walk, Bruce will help her into the wheelchair equipped with an E Tank of oxygen and Bruce will push her in the transport chair for 1 ¼ to 1 ½ miles around the neighborhood - thus getting his exercise while MarySue enjoys the sights and smells of spring.
It has been a year of hospice care and we do not know how much longer we will have together, but we have learned together to be thankful for one day at a time, to celebrate the time we have together, and to praise God for all blessings far above measure.
Friday, April 24, 2020
Saturday, April 18, 2020
COVID-19 Questions
“For God so loved the world that He…”
Whoa there, God have you had a change of heart? It certainly was not love that caused You to let loose a worldwide stampede of COVID-19! That unknown and invisible virus has infected millions of people around the world and killed thousands upon thousands. It feels more like punishment than love. What are You doing to our world? And to us?
An unfamiliar whisper responded: “I gave you a beautiful earth to live on filled with plants and animals, fish and birds. But you are ruining it. Air and water are being polluted and animals are being driven off to extinction. Mining and drilling for oil destroy much of nature’s natural beauty.”
“But me, how have I messed up the earth?” I asked.
“By your materialistic lifestyle of littering, hoarding, buying beyond your needs. You have ignored my counsel, Your worship of gold has replaced the worship of God. In many places, hatred has replaced justice for people who are different.
“You do many things that injure the earth, damage your neighbor, and hurt yourself. That grieves me as deeply as the COVID-19 grieves you! When you can answer my questions, perhaps I can answer yours.”
18 April 2020 - mshr
Whoa there, God have you had a change of heart? It certainly was not love that caused You to let loose a worldwide stampede of COVID-19! That unknown and invisible virus has infected millions of people around the world and killed thousands upon thousands. It feels more like punishment than love. What are You doing to our world? And to us?
An unfamiliar whisper responded: “I gave you a beautiful earth to live on filled with plants and animals, fish and birds. But you are ruining it. Air and water are being polluted and animals are being driven off to extinction. Mining and drilling for oil destroy much of nature’s natural beauty.”
“But me, how have I messed up the earth?” I asked.
“By your materialistic lifestyle of littering, hoarding, buying beyond your needs. You have ignored my counsel, Your worship of gold has replaced the worship of God. In many places, hatred has replaced justice for people who are different.
“You do many things that injure the earth, damage your neighbor, and hurt yourself. That grieves me as deeply as the COVID-19 grieves you! When you can answer my questions, perhaps I can answer yours.”
18 April 2020 - mshr
Friday, March 27, 2020
PANDEMIC
A worldwide invasion of humans
by a vicious and deadly virus.
In 2020,
it was one of the coronaviruses,
COVID-19.
Pandemic,
pandemeeek,
pandamnic!
Oh God, we are scared.
We are angry,
We feel trapped and helpless!
Worldwide over a million have felt its sting;
thousands have died.
It’s vicious enough to drive mass murderers
back to their hideouts
God, Creator of everything
Did You send this plaguer?
Did this invisible threat come
From Your hand?
I can’t believe that because
I’ve known Your Son
Jesus, God in the flesh.
He suffered, but never caused others to suffer.
He wept, but never caused others to weep.
He died, but never caused others to die,
And rose to give others life and peace.
No, God.
It’s not Your hand that has sent us this vicious virus.
It’s a mystery that we must learn to live with
-- focusing on the good!
27 March 2020 - mshr
by a vicious and deadly virus.
In 2020,
it was one of the coronaviruses,
COVID-19.
Pandemic,
pandemeeek,
pandamnic!
Oh God, we are scared.
We are angry,
We feel trapped and helpless!
Worldwide over a million have felt its sting;
thousands have died.
It’s vicious enough to drive mass murderers
back to their hideouts
God, Creator of everything
Did You send this plaguer?
Did this invisible threat come
From Your hand?
I can’t believe that because
I’ve known Your Son
Jesus, God in the flesh.
He suffered, but never caused others to suffer.
He wept, but never caused others to weep.
He died, but never caused others to die,
And rose to give others life and peace.
No, God.
It’s not Your hand that has sent us this vicious virus.
It’s a mystery that we must learn to live with
-- focusing on the good!
27 March 2020 - mshr
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Angels
I’ve been so blessed in my four score years.
I led a busy and happy life
Until a mean, lung freezing disease
Cut through me like a knife.
My blessings now come in secret
They are angels that fill me with awe.
They don’t have six wings as Isaiah said (Isaiah 6:1-2).
Nor the ladder Jacob saw (Genesis 28:10-19),
My angels wear T-shirts and blue jeans.
No halos adorn their mussed up hair.
No shimmering silky white robes do I see,
For they specialize in care!
If there’s anything at all that I need:
A meal, a phone call, greeting or prayer,
An angel comes quickly to do it for me,
And to overcome any despair.
An angel’s full time job, you see,
Is to care for those in pain.
They fly and sing and praise just for fun,
And bring peace like gentle rain.
21 March 2020 - mshr
I led a busy and happy life
Until a mean, lung freezing disease
Cut through me like a knife.
My blessings now come in secret
They are angels that fill me with awe.
They don’t have six wings as Isaiah said (Isaiah 6:1-2).
Nor the ladder Jacob saw (Genesis 28:10-19),
My angels wear T-shirts and blue jeans.
No halos adorn their mussed up hair.
No shimmering silky white robes do I see,
For they specialize in care!
If there’s anything at all that I need:
A meal, a phone call, greeting or prayer,
An angel comes quickly to do it for me,
And to overcome any despair.
An angel’s full time job, you see,
Is to care for those in pain.
They fly and sing and praise just for fun,
And bring peace like gentle rain.
21 March 2020 - mshr
Friday, February 28, 2020
Stepping Stones
He was approaching the end of his life and he welcomed the visits of the chaplain. He appreciated hearing scriptures read and praying together, but what he really enjoyed was telling some of his own personal memories. His favorite was a story about stepping stones.
He and his buddy had found a secret pathway to the schoolhouse. They could leave home after the school bus had gone and could still arrive at the schoolhouse just as the teacher was beginning to ring the bell for classes to begin.
The best part of their “secret pathway” was that near the end as they approached the schoolhouse they had to cross the creek on stepping stones they had discovered. It was great fun keeping the other students wondering how they had come without the help of the school bus!
There was a potential problem, however. They learned about it as the cold winds of November had begun to blow. They were so proud of their secret path that they were laughing and joking with such pride that they missed the smooth, dry stepping stones and had to spend the rest of the day at school in wet and clammy clothes!
I've thought of this little tale often and wondered: have I taken the time to choose the smooth, safe stepping stones through the rivers of life? Have you?
28 Feb 2020 - mshr
He and his buddy had found a secret pathway to the schoolhouse. They could leave home after the school bus had gone and could still arrive at the schoolhouse just as the teacher was beginning to ring the bell for classes to begin.
The best part of their “secret pathway” was that near the end as they approached the schoolhouse they had to cross the creek on stepping stones they had discovered. It was great fun keeping the other students wondering how they had come without the help of the school bus!
There was a potential problem, however. They learned about it as the cold winds of November had begun to blow. They were so proud of their secret path that they were laughing and joking with such pride that they missed the smooth, dry stepping stones and had to spend the rest of the day at school in wet and clammy clothes!
I've thought of this little tale often and wondered: have I taken the time to choose the smooth, safe stepping stones through the rivers of life? Have you?
28 Feb 2020 - mshr
Saturday, February 22, 2020
Preparing a Place
Jesus said, "...I go to prepare a place for you...." (John 14:2). So then why does it take Jesus so long to prepare a place for us while we have to plod through our daily tasks and wait? Haven’t we been helping him to prepare that place everyday of our Lord-led lives?
Perhaps, but most of us have overstuffed ourselves like German sausages. Like overinflated balloons we are stuffed full of ourselves. We are so attentive to our own activities and projects that we have little time or space for the Lord. Imagine what a task it is for Him to either carve out the place to fit our size or trim us down eliminating our wants and needs so that we will fit the place He is preparing. No wonder it takes a while. Some of us will have 70 -- or even 80 -- years to help Him complete that task! But it is never too late to replace our overgrown selfishness with His love which is designed to just fit the place He is preparing.
22 Feb 2020 - mshr
Saturday, February 15, 2020
Life's Legacy
Slipping unseen through our life’s daily adventures we build a legacy. A legacy is how others will remember us now and in the future. Our legacy may include the way we look, or the sound of our laughter, or our hobbies. What we could do well and what we could not do at all may be part of the memories we leave with others. How we made them feel while we were together will be cherished.
But a legacy is not the same as an obituary. An obituary is written at the time of death and recounts the accomplishments and successes of the deceased. It includes only facts as if the departed dear one could now be filed in a record book and forgotten.
Throughout our lives we create both legacies and obituaries from the same building materials and the choices we make. God has given us many gifts and it is the choices we make in using them that will fill memories and record books.
Obituaries are filed and usually forgotten. Legacies inspire others. Our legacy lists may preserve memories of each other and continue to comfort us before and after our obituaries are prepared. Fond memories will continue in our minds long after our obituaries are forgotten.
May our memories of each other continue to comfort us long after the forgotten pages of our obituary draw dust inside the record book!
15 Feb 2020 - mshr
But a legacy is not the same as an obituary. An obituary is written at the time of death and recounts the accomplishments and successes of the deceased. It includes only facts as if the departed dear one could now be filed in a record book and forgotten.
Throughout our lives we create both legacies and obituaries from the same building materials and the choices we make. God has given us many gifts and it is the choices we make in using them that will fill memories and record books.
Obituaries are filed and usually forgotten. Legacies inspire others. Our legacy lists may preserve memories of each other and continue to comfort us before and after our obituaries are prepared. Fond memories will continue in our minds long after our obituaries are forgotten.
May our memories of each other continue to comfort us long after the forgotten pages of our obituary draw dust inside the record book!
15 Feb 2020 - mshr
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