I can’t even tell you when we started praying for my grandparents to move out of their home in Houston. Maybe it was after the first time he fell and wound up in rehab for months. Perhaps it was the second time with the much longer recovery period. Since my husband and I moved here to be near them five years ago there have been numerous hospitalizations for each of them and my grandfather has been miraculously brought back from near death twice. They are both 93.
For the past year they have lived in their very large home with round the clock caregivers who drive them out to lunch and dinner every day. For about the past year I’ve been paying their bills and watching money fly out of the bank faster than I ever could have dreamed. After months of praying and talking to them about the unsustainability of their lifestyle, my grandfather finally agreed that they needed to move. But my grandmother with early stage dementia couldn’t comprehend the balance sheet or face that kind of change.
So finally one day, with my grandfather’s permission, we went into their house while they were out and packed their clothes and essentials. We met them for dinner at the senior living community near our house and broke the news that they were staying. She threw an absolute fit but my grandfather wasn’t budging and neither were we. My only real regret is that my kids were there to witness how mean she could be. After awhile I sent my kids home with my husband and sat with them longer until I had to walk out. I listened as her angry words turned to tears and my heart broke for both of them.
That was a week ago, and it’s been rough. My grandfather called over and over all day long for the first few days, saying he couldn’t take listening to her cry and beg. Sometimes she would get on the phone and holler at me to get them out of there. Anxiety got the best of me for a few days. Still, through it all, I prayed constantly. I asked others to pray constantly and I know they did. I wondered why I felt so miserable when I had gotten what I wanted.
Finally a few days ago the heaviness over me lifted. I had done enough work to put resources in place for them and had done enough encouraging and explaining to my grandfather that he stopped calling so often. Hours passed where I was able to enjoy my normal life and hope crept in that the future would be better. God was giving me the peace I had longed for. Only He could have done that.
I know life is not going to be easy while they are in it but I can’t possibly express my gratitude to God for getting us to this point today. I have watched Him work in powerful ways this past week and He has answered prayers. He is faithful, always near, and with me even when it hurts. He gets the credit for all of this, because if I didn’t know the grace and love of Jesus for my life I would never be able to love my grandparents like this. That does not come naturally to me at all, it’s because Jesus has changed my heart.
We praise God for your commitment and faithfulness…as a child of God and a grandchild of Gladys and Stan. With memories of who Stan and Gladys were at their best, we know they would NEVER behave the way they have or put you in the extreme circumstances that you have experienced in those days. We continue to pray they will adjust to their new environment so that you can enjoy more of the happier days you remember having with them – and that your boys can make memories of two very gracious great grand folks.
We praise God for your commitment and faithfulness…as a child of God and a grandchild of Gladys and Stan. With memories of who Stan and Gladys were at their best, we know they would NEVER behave the way they have or put you in the extreme circumstances that you have experienced in those days. We continue to pray they will adjust to their new environment so that you can enjoy more of the happier days you remember having with them – and that your boys can make memories of two very gracious great grand folks.
We praise God for your commitment and faithfulness…as a child of God and a grandchild of Gladys and Stan. With memories of who Stan and Gladys were at their best, we know they would NEVER behave the way they have or put you in the extreme circumstances that you have experienced in those days. We continue to pray they will adjust to their new environment so that you can enjoy more of the happier days you remember having with them – and that your boys can make memories of two very gracious great grand folks.
We praise God for your commitment and faithfulness…as a child of God and a grandchild of Gladys and Stan. With memories of who Stan and Gladys were at their best, we know they would NEVER behave the way they have or put you in the extreme circumstances that you have experienced in those days. We continue to pray they will adjust to their new environment so that you can enjoy more of the happier days you remember having with them – and that your boys can make memories of two very gracious great grand folks.
It’s very hard to deal with the guilt that comes with taking control of grandparents and even parents.
Saying a prayer that things continue to improve.
It’s very hard to deal with the guilt that comes with taking control of grandparents and even parents.
Saying a prayer that things continue to improve.