Patient Endurance

My Mother-in-Law has come for a visit. This stay was supposed to be an overnight event, but the doctors planned something a bit more extensive. Instead, she will be with us, in need of medical supervision, for about a week. This was not on the agenda for her or my family, so we're all a bit stressed out. My MIL's spine will be injected with some sort of bone-strengthening substance this afternoon.

She's putting on a brave face, but I know she's scared and a little confused. She's 78 years old, getting frail and she lost her husband -her rock- almost 2 years ago. She is also in the early/mid stages of dementia; far enough to be forgetful & occasionally irrational, but still aware enough to know such behaviors aren't normal for her. Scary. She knows she is slowly leaving us.

At dinner last night, she fought to find interesting things to say to her grandchildren while being unable to hear their responses. Conversation was strained, but we all tried to give her the opportunity to connect with her beloved grandbabies. We sat with her while she watched her favorite show, Wheel of Fortune, and followed it up with Dancing with the Stars. Then my husband, her baby, helped settle her into bed for the night. It must be a strange sensation to tuck your Mommy in at bedtime.

Selfishly, I am struggling with all of this for my own reasons. This week was already full enough without adding caring for my aging Mother-in-Law all week into the mix. I am juggling so many other responsibilities. The laundry list of stuff I have already committed to do this week leaves me frustrated and feeling inadequate. As soon as our house guest was down the for the night I retreated to my bedroom to have some alone time with Jesus.

I read a bit of Jeremiah -interesting, but God's disappointment with His chosen people has been going on for some time now in this particular book and, quite frankly, it's bringing me down. I moved on to 2 Thessalonians and found this little gem:

May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ. - 2 Thessalonians 3:5. (NLT)

Patient endurance. I can be patient. I can endure. What does it take to combine the two, though? This phrase is translated in the NIV as Steadfastness. The word means "firm in purpose" and "fixed in direction." I like that. I also love that such steadfastness comes from Christ. I don't have to conjure it up on my own. If I did, I'd never make it. What a friend we have in Jesus.

Like Ayiesha Woods says in one of my new favorite songs:

Don't you wish that every day
Was an easy day
And there was nothing that you couldn't do?
But if every day
Was an easy day
You'd never be able to say that Jesus brought you through!

Bring me through, Jesus!