Hi Kert, thank you for honoring your father so beautifully. Thank you for sharing him with us through this blog at this time of his life. Three times, I have walked in your shoes, with both my parents and my father-in-law. Strong, energetic people in their prime, needing care in their later years. While I treasure the memories of the happier times with them, the deep experiences of the challenging times towards the end are the most memorable for me now. Your poignant expressions of how events are unfolding at your end showcase the meaning of the Welsh proverb: “Adversity comes with instruction in his hand.” It’s great to see how you are paying attention to the lessons, and processing the instructions in real time. Thank you for bringing us into your space and taking us on your journey.
The description of the joyous times you have has me humming the beautiful lyrics of John McNaughton’s song, “Love at Home.” I think the last 2 lines sum up what you described.
There is beauty all around,
When there’s love at home;
There is joy in every sound,
When there’s love at home;
Peace and plenty here abide,
Smiling sweet on every side,
Time doth softly, sweetly glide,
When there’s love at home.
My assessment is that your father couldn’t have wished for a better son or family at this time of his life. So, to you, your wife, and the rest of your family, know that your decision to care so tenderly for your dad now has activated the message of the African proverb: “Those who respect the elderly pave their own road toward success.” May you daily find the grace you need to handle whatever his health situation throws at you. Keep “working at “the seeing” of it.” You will see, and understand some, only by and by. You and your family are in my prayers.
You write TRUTH Tomi, yes! Thank you for this profound offering. “Time doth softly, sweetly glide / When there’s love at home.” I will wear that lightly on my heart today as this day’s mantra. And as usual, the Native proverbs are spot on—I appreciate those and also find solace in this vital and ancient wisdom. I’m grateful you have surfaced it for Dad’s community just now—you are helping my Dad by recalling for us all Elder’s from our past who have been here and are still here in those words. Wisdom!!!
Kert and Tomi, Thank you for your meaningful and deeply moving sharing here. I very much appreciate the consideration and conversation about Seeing and Reverence.
Frederick Franck, "The eye awakened is the eye in love."
Hi Kert, thank you for honoring your father so beautifully. Thank you for sharing him with us through this blog at this time of his life. Three times, I have walked in your shoes, with both my parents and my father-in-law. Strong, energetic people in their prime, needing care in their later years. While I treasure the memories of the happier times with them, the deep experiences of the challenging times towards the end are the most memorable for me now. Your poignant expressions of how events are unfolding at your end showcase the meaning of the Welsh proverb: “Adversity comes with instruction in his hand.” It’s great to see how you are paying attention to the lessons, and processing the instructions in real time. Thank you for bringing us into your space and taking us on your journey.
The description of the joyous times you have has me humming the beautiful lyrics of John McNaughton’s song, “Love at Home.” I think the last 2 lines sum up what you described.
There is beauty all around,
When there’s love at home;
There is joy in every sound,
When there’s love at home;
Peace and plenty here abide,
Smiling sweet on every side,
Time doth softly, sweetly glide,
When there’s love at home.
My assessment is that your father couldn’t have wished for a better son or family at this time of his life. So, to you, your wife, and the rest of your family, know that your decision to care so tenderly for your dad now has activated the message of the African proverb: “Those who respect the elderly pave their own road toward success.” May you daily find the grace you need to handle whatever his health situation throws at you. Keep “working at “the seeing” of it.” You will see, and understand some, only by and by. You and your family are in my prayers.
You write TRUTH Tomi, yes! Thank you for this profound offering. “Time doth softly, sweetly glide / When there’s love at home.” I will wear that lightly on my heart today as this day’s mantra. And as usual, the Native proverbs are spot on—I appreciate those and also find solace in this vital and ancient wisdom. I’m grateful you have surfaced it for Dad’s community just now—you are helping my Dad by recalling for us all Elder’s from our past who have been here and are still here in those words. Wisdom!!!
Kert and Tomi, Thank you for your meaningful and deeply moving sharing here. I very much appreciate the consideration and conversation about Seeing and Reverence.
Frederick Franck, "The eye awakened is the eye in love."
Thich Nhat Hanh:
"I know to love is to respect.
And reverence
is the nature of my love."
Welcome in, Lisa, welcome in. And again, thank you.