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Mono Diaries Lesson 2: God Has Impeccable Timing

In my previous post, I mentioned that Larry and I have been dealing with aging parent problems. My mom in particular is suffering with dementia and I knew my dad could no longer take care of her alone in their home. Unfortunately, until they came to live with us, I did not realize just how much she had deteriorated. After an illness, surgery, and two hospitalizations, I came to realize I could not bring her home again. So she went to rehab, my dad stayed with us, and we began the search for an appropriate assisted living.

After looking at options and talking with my dad, we found a place we felt was perfect for them, got them at the top of the waiting list and began to pray for an opening. In the meantime, we were shuttling my dad back and forth to the rehab every day and at each visit my mom would beg us to bring her home. I know his heart was breaking.

After a couple of weeks of this, I began to feel tired. No big deal. We've been busy and stressed and we all just needed a day off. My dad was getting anxious to get my mom moved and settled. I called the ALF and no chance of an opening anytime soon. So on a whim, I called another facility close to our home. Yes, she had an opening for two and we could move them anytime.

By now, I had already begun to experience intermittent fevers but still thought I just had a minor bug and would be fine in a few days. We made arrangements to move my folks and got my dad moved in first with my mom following a few days later.

My illness worsened and my doctor was becoming concerned. He ordered a series of diagnostic tests and the verdict came back after several days that it looked like I had contracted mononucleosis. I probably wouldn't be feeling better any time soon.

Had we left things the way they were and had God not prompted me to call the second ALF and had they not had an opening, this is where we would be.... my mom would be taken care of at the nursing home, but Larry would be trying to manage home, meals, appointments, taking my dad back and forth, etc. Plus, my dad would have been exposed to the virus which he certainly did not need to be.

God did not answer my prayer for the opening at the place WE had selected. Instead, He found a place five minutes from our house, created an opening, and allowed us to get my mom and dad moved so that they could be cared for while I am recovering and Larry is having to play nurse.

Lesson #2: God's Timing is Impeccable.

He knows what we need when we need it. Better than we do because...

"...My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."  Isaiah 55:8-9

We need to...

"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" Psalm 27:14

Because...

"Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted (I can sympathize right now); BUT they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

When things aren't going according to your schedule, just remember - there may be a better plan.


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