Accept One Another
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”—Galatians 5:14 (NIV)
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.”—MATTHEW 19:26 [NIV]
I don’t think my mother-in-law will be with us much longer. Clara is nearly 90 and has a leaky heart valve. Her feet and her back hurt constantly. As she would say, her body is just plumb wore out.
All Clara asks of us at this point is that no matter what, we let her stay in her earthly home with her elderly Pekinese, Sassy, until God comes to take her. It’s a race to see whether she will outlive Sassy or vice versa, but we know that neither will survive for long without the other. Clara is getting impatient. She tells us repeatedly that she wishes God would hurry and take her home. She’s ready. Her only concern is what will happen to Sassy if she’s left behind. We reassure her that Sassy will be in good hands, and she will be.
Some days it seems almost impossible to continue to allow her to live alone, but we really want to honor her wishes, unless and until the situation seems unsafe for her. We hang onto the promise that all things are possible with God.
Dear Lord, thank you for your guidance in allowing us to honor our loved one’s wishes.
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”—Galatians 5:14 (NIV)
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.—John 15:12 (ESV)
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.—2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV)