Yes, it’s early in the morning, and some of my happiest memories are recalling Reginal Heber’s wonderful hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy.” And yes, it’s early in the morning, 3:21 to be specific. Why am I awake? Perhaps because of what has been occurring the last month or so. I have been on somewhat of a hiatus from writing… family crises can do that.
I have grown more spiritually during this time. As my readers know, I spent five months during the summer of 2024 getting my sister Dorothy moved from a nursing home in New York nearer to my home in Florida so I could over see her care. She finally arrived in October and in her first three weeks here, was admitted to each of our two hospitals. It took her a while to settle in to her assisted living facility. The holidays were a blur with publishing our third anthology here at the senior center where we live, and WHAM, Dorothy ended up in critical condition, bedridden in the hospital for thirty-one days–the entire month of January. She is now in a rehabilitation facility, very weak and tired, on fulltime oxygen, and beginning today, on a regimen of five-day per week rehabilitation to build up her strength, if possible, and on life-saving dialysis treatments three times a week.
Needless to say, I have had little sleep, little time to write, and have cut way back on my activities. This transition time to yet another place has tried my patience and my stamina. Yet, I now have a sense of peace that she is adapting to yet another place and making the best of her situation. And I now know she is in a caring facility with an incredible staff, my praying friends have stepped up to help support me emotionally and spiritually, and yesterday, for the first time in several months, I could give myself completely to worship. God is so good. Then he sent a fellow sister in Christ to tell me that she can help me navigate the Medicare-Medicaid battle ahead.
So, with me this morning, let’s approach the throneroom in heaven in praise, shall we? “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord, God Almighty, Early in the morning our song shall rise to Three. Holy, holy, holy, Merciful and mighty, God in three persons, blessed Trinity.” The sweet vision of heaven, where we’ll have none of early woes to traverse, and where it will be our joy to fully worship God who is always our source of strength when we call upon His name. Today, to quote another favorite hymn, the words written by Katherina von Schlegel, I can with sure worship and thanksgiving, sing: ‘Be still, my soul, the waves and winds still know His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.” Jesus, and God Almighty have helped me stay the course and come through yet another life crisis, and I can indeed be still and know His delightful presence. I pray the same for you, my readers, whatever you’re facing on this February day. (Oh, my, it’s the end of February already. I’ve lost almost two months while my attention has been averted!)
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