“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails”—Proverbs 19:21
Proverbs 19:21 really spoke to me this week. I had plans in my heart about moving my mom closer to me, but God’s purpose always prevails when we pray His will and trust He knows the outcome.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about trusting God with my mother’s living situation. I was preparing myself for possibly moving her back closer to me. Once I truly gave it over to God, despite the unknowns, I had peace about it.
Last week my husband and I traveled to Colorado to spend some time with friends as well as attend my husband’s best friend’s daughter’s wedding. The house where we stayed for a few days prior to the wedding, was beautiful. Each morning, I had an amazing view for my morning quiet time. It is hard not to feel God’s peace and presence when you see the nature and beauty of the land around you.
After we left their house and checked into the resort, I was watching my mom’s camera, I could hear her wheezing and struggling to breathe. I called the facility and asked them to give her a nebulizer treatment. I also called hospice to make sure they sent a nurse out to see her the next day.
Thankfully, my brother, Tony, not knowing her health situation, already had plans to visit her that day. I look at how God provided for my brother Vince to have Tony there with him to access my mom’s health as well as meet with the hospice nurse.
In the event that my mother’s health quickly declines, my husband and I took a day trip to see her on Tuesday. My brother Vince set-up a meeting for us with the executive director, head nurse and hospice nurse to go over my mother’s care giving needs as well as our expectations.
At the beginning of the meeting I felt as if they were trying to get us to move her to a skilled nursing facility, but by the end of it, we were assured they could meet her palliative care needs since we also have hospice visiting her.
Right now, they are treating her for pneumonia, but she could also have the beginning of congestive heart failure too. Needless to say, unless my mother makes a miraculous recovery or we are told she can no longer live where she is, she will be staying put.
And you know what? I am at peace about this. I know God knows the bigger picture. He knows what is best for my mom and what is best for me. Only He knows the day my mother will take her last breath, not me.
It wasn’t a sin for me to look at other memory cares. Proverbs 19:21 does not scold me for planning but reminds me no matter the plans in my heart, God’s purpose always prevails.
I released what is out of my control and gave to God what only He can carry. Carrying that weight was never mine. It is not up to me to hold everything together.
By surrendering the illusion that things might be better for her somewhere else, I realized even though where she is living may not be ideal, changing the environment she has known for the past year, would not be the best thing for her.
I am thankful for a sweet visit my husband and I had with her. She was alert and talking. When I asked if she knew who the handsome man was with me, she said, of course I do. That’s my favorite son-in-law.
We were also encouraged from meeting with the staff, that some changes will be made. I continue to trust God knowing He holds my mom in the palm of His Hand.
Father God,
I know You hear my prayers about my mom’s comfort and caregiving needs. Thank You for orchestrating a meeting to give our family hope for improved care. Soften staff hearts to be more compassionate with her. Help me to continue to release what I have no control over. I lift those up to You who are struggling with a loved one with dementia and their living situation. May they lay their worries in Your lap and trust You have their loved one in the palm of Your Hand. I pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
September Verse
“The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will rejoice over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”—Zephaniah 3:17 (NASB)
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