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My worst day was the day my brother and I checked my dad into the hospital due to his rapidly decreasing fight with Alzheimer's, a few nights after my mom had to lock herself in her bedroom to keep him from hurting her. We knew he would never be coming out, and leaving him in a strange place, knowing he had reached the dangerous stage in his disease, but also knowing that he still had moments of awareness, was the most difficult thing I've ever had to do. He knew he wasn't home, and he did not want to be left there, and we did not want to leave him there as well. But it was what had to be done. I found myself repeating over and over "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" that day obsessively. I remembered the scripture quote from a friend's website who trained horses with and for me. I had been "seeking" God very lightly up to that point. But it was the experiences with my Dad's debilitating disease that caused me to aggressively seek him, especially after that day. I had a strength that was not my own, and I knew that it was our Lord working through me that day. I stumbled upon this book a week ago, and although I can say that I do not have any specific issues right now that cause me anything nearly as crippling as that day, I find myself struggling frequently. This book has caused a new shift of energy and faith within me, and is now a lifeline, helping me to continue to "look up" and look ahead to push past the obstacles I encounter daily. |
