Dying is largely a matter of subtraction. Ten days ago mom stopped going to the bathroom. Five days ago, on Sunday, she stopped eating. Tuesday she stopped drinking. Or talking. Her eyes lost their ability to track us, and she closed them, for good it appears. Tonight, I’m sitting by her bed waiting for the… Continue reading doing math
Category: family
traveling mercies
One of these mornings You're going to rise up singing Then you'll spread your wings And you'll take to the sky From Summertime, George Gershwin The Tamiami Trail was finished in 1928, five years before my mom was born. It was an amazing feat for its time, built across an impenetrable swamp over 12 years… Continue reading traveling mercies
remembering the past
This last weekend mom entered a stage the hospice nurse referred to as “terminal restlessness.” She is often anxious, kicking off her covers and trying to get out of bed. She has short periods of clarity and longer ones of confusion. And even longer ones of sleep. She isn’t the only one who is tired.… Continue reading remembering the past
resisting guilt
I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. Psalm 116:14-15 Letting someone die comfortably seems like a reasonable choice. It makes sense to stop spending money on treatments that leave a loved one weaker,… Continue reading resisting guilt
refreshing breeze
Last week we sat on the front porch and watched torrential rain, the remnants of Hurricane Ike which blew through Houston and practically leveled Galveston. It was peaceful as we sat on the porch enjoying the breeze, although the sky was dark. In two days we had 7 inches of rain, flooding roads and rivers.… Continue reading refreshing breeze
the daysman 