Physically it is becoming more difficult for me to make the 6-7 hour trip on the weekends. My brother works 12 hour days and every other Saturday. If he were here there are a multitude of people who would come sit and visit with him daily. This is the right decision. Common sense tells us once here he will die surrounded by his granddaughters, in laws, son in law, daughter, and our friends. His final weeks can be spent feeling loved. Or he can stay where he is staring at a TV 24-7. In our minds it's a no brainer.
My dad does not want to come. We tried to get him to move in with us three years ago when my mother passed away. He won't leave her grave side even though she's physically gone. I have never understood this. God is really working on me. My responses to others. I am just not attached to anything. I think it's because I have such a longing for heaven. And the promise that The Lord is coming back for us. This life is temporary. There is such freedom in knowing this.
Change is a funny thing. It either releases you to a whole new life or it paralyzes you with fear. My dad has nothing of this earthly world left. His house has been sold, his clothes (always very sharp dresser) have been donated, his car was given to my sister-in-love. He is bedridden. His bride has passed, his friends have all died. He sees my brother twice a week. My family on the weekends. He is completely alone during the day. No company or visitors. Just he and his mamouth flat screen TV. And yet he doesn't want to leave.
What is it that causes people to knowingly stick with misery versus an exciting new adventure? Choosing to deny yourself joy despite the fact that you have nothing to loose? My guess is two things: pride and fear. Pride and fear stem from (1)not feeling loved (2)control.
Pride is essentially self-worship. Anything we accomplish in this world would not have been possible were it not for God enabling and sustaining it. Fear comes from not trusting or believing that God has your best interest at heart. Control says I can do this better than or without God.
I have several people in my life who can't let go. You can not reason with them. They make no sense. Worst of all they are missing out on life. They are in total bondage to places, people, and things. The only freedom we have in this world is in Jesus Christ. As trival and over-rated as it sounds He really is the Light and the Way. Actually nothing else matters or works.
Please keep my dad in your prayers. Let Him feel the love of so many people who care about Him. Let him have a total peace about leaving my mother. Let him realize that her graveside is just a pysical marker. It does not represent who or what she was. Let him "get" that my mama would actually be thrilled that he's coming back to the land of the pines. Her neck of the woods. Let his guard drop, the pride turn to humility, and the fear to love.
"Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you"- 2 Corinthians 13:5
