I had resolved to give up adult beverages for Lent this year.
But then early yesterday morning, I got a panicky telephone call from my terminally-ill Dad, convinced that he was going to be dead within 24 hours.
It proved to be a false alarm in the end but it was still one hell of a strainfull day. And we have pretty good reason to believe there are going to be more of them.
I'm not theological expert, but I'm hoping God'll give me a bye under the circumstances.
Posted by Robert at February 23, 2007 12:39 PM | TrackBackI think God will understand.
Bless you and your family. I have been there...
Posted by: Christina at February 23, 2007 01:03 PMGod's all about "giving us mulligans" when we fall short.
My mom's currently descending into the Wonderful World of Alzheimer's, so I can sympathize with your plight, Robbo. Falling short on a Lenten promise is small potatoes in the big scheme of things. I'll mention you in my prayers, amigo.
Posted by: Russ from Winterset at February 28, 2007 10:18 AMThanks, and right back at you.
I've got to fly up north this weekend and make "The Visit." We don't know how much longer the old boy has, but this'll be a wrap for us.
Posted by: Robbo the LB at February 28, 2007 01:53 PMNot that there's much of a "bright side" in this situation, but if someone wanted to find one, you could say that you'll never look back in a decade and say to yourself "I wish I'd known that the last time I saw him was really going to be the last time". If you treat this time as the last one, any additional conversations or visits you have with one another could be considered a bonus.
Both my folks are still around, and I lost both my grandfathers to heart attacks when I was in grade school. My maternal grandmother wasted away from MS to the point where her death was a blessing. My paternal grandmother had what I would call the "best case death". She died in her sleep last year at 93, two weeks after the death of her second husband (and almost 30 years after grandpa died). It was almost like she got to the end of her earthly "to do" list and then checked off the last item. No pain, no fuss, just went to bed one night and woke up in Paradise.
I'm not sure how I'll react when I'm faced with a situation like what you're going through right now.
Posted by: Russ from Winterset at February 28, 2007 05:39 PMSurely God would not condemn you for a Lenten drink, but never fall into the trap of thinking that grace is to be taken lightly. Our hearts must be set on obedience even if we fall short.
I'm sorry that you will have to say goodbye.
Posted by: Uncle Ben at March 7, 2007 10:02 PM