Devotional 3-23-13

Read Psalm 118:19-29

We must depend upon God always and give Him thanks, no matter what happens in our lives because He is and will always be our salvation. This past year has been an emotional and spiritual challenge. I have been the care giver for my Mother, Betty Lemley. She had many different physical and medical ailments.

There were many doctor appointments for arthritis, ankle and knee problems, and general body aching, Plus physical therapy in attempt to walk again. She also had Macular degeneration and each month she had to have shots in her eye, which was not much fun.

Right after Christmas she began having really bad pain in lower back and knees. We took her to the Emergency Room-all they could say that it was lower back spasms. While all this was happening, Fred and I had a trip planned to South Africa to visit our daughter Melissa and her family, leaving the middle of January and to return the first part of February. Wondering if we should go or not, we asked the Lord to guide us as to go or not. My brother Mike, from Texas called and said "I could come home and be with Mom while we were gone, go ahead and go". So we did go ahead with our plans.

The week we were to leave, Mom began having terrible pain, ending up in the hospital. Well, I thought they would treat her pain and she would go to Rehab Hospital and be able to come home by the time we came home from South Africa in about 4 weeks.

Well, while she was in the hospital they ran all kinds of tests to get a diagnosis: CT scan, MRI, Bone Scan and Bone Biopsy. The pain continued........... after being hospitalized for a week the answer came..........................

Bone Cancer, stage 4,aggressive type! When Michelle and Mike called us in South Africa to let us know for sure that it was CANCER, I couldn't believe what I was hearing, I thought there is no way, there is no cancer in the family, are they sure? I just had to leave it in God's hands to take care and control what it was He had in mind for Mom and all of us.

There were a lot of What if's and How did they miss it or never found anything to lead them that is was Cancer. That weekend she was moved to the Hospice House of Huntington. I told her that we would be home, leaving Tuesday and would be home Wednesday afternoon. She knew we were coming home. She was waiting for us. We spent Wednesday afternoon and evening with her. She was aware that we were there. Thursday morning when we got to the Hospice House we were told it wouldn't be long. She went Home peacefully before noon.

Thankfully she was kept comfortable, no pain. We all had questions, "What could we have done different to help her?" We just have to believe in the Lord and follow His plan, whether we understand it or not. We had to let her go to Jesus for his purpose and give up our selfish wants and believe she is with Him and know that He is wonderful and will take care of us in his kingdom on earth and those who have gone on before.

We will praise and exalt Him.
Give thanks to the Lord,
His Love will endure forever.

Melanie Herr