None Were As Rich As Me!

Happy New Year! At least, that’s always the hope, isn’t it? Each New Year brings hopes of happiness and prosperity and the belief that everything can have a new beginning! I know that new beginnings are possible at any time because they start within myself! I don’t need a date on the calendar to tell me that it’s time to make a list of my shortcomings, but of course, the date is a reminder that some things may need “tweaking” in my life.
New Year’s Resolutions weren’t a big thing in my house growing up; nor were they a big thing in our house as our children were growing up. I’m not sure that I have ever made New Year’s Resolutions.
I think this year I am going to make a “List of Commitments” (pretty much the same thing, huh?) beginning with a commitment to a more focused prayer life. It’s not that I don’t pray now, because I do – I just know that I could spend more time being focused in prayer than I do now.

The effectual fervent prayer

of a righteous man availeth much.

James 5:16

I also commit to a more concentrated study of The Bible. I try each day to live my life in a pleasing manner before God and know that more study will help me continue in that way, help me fight temptations and help me focus my prayer life! My prayer is to be more Christ-like in every way.
I also have the usual run-of-the-mill “commitments” like so many others – lose weight, start exercising regularly and live a healthier lifestyle! I know that with more concentrated study and prayer these areas in my life should resolve themselves. If I can recognize my body as God's and not my own, that is a huge step into caring for it in the right way.

I Corinthians 6:

(19) Do you not know that your body

is a temple of the Holy Spirit,

who is in you,

whom you have received from God?

You are not your own;

(20) you were bought at a price.

Therefore honor God with your body.

I think I try to separate sin into categories – some sins being worse than others in order to justify some of the choices I make - like foods I choose to eat over healthier choices, refraining from exercise and other choices I make that are unhealthy.

Jesus replied,

"I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

John 8:34

The choices I make, sometimes, do make me a slave to sin – causing health problems or just making me feel tired, sluggish and out of shape! My commitment is to focus more on the choices I make in order to live a healthier life – and in this way, live a life more pleasing to God!
One of the issues in my prayer life is how do I pray for Mother? I remember when my Dad was sick and in those final days, we asked those praying for him not to pray for him to get better, but instead pray that his suffering end. I think that is where I am with Mother, also. She has very few good days anymore. I thought when I brought her home from the nursing home, she would feel better being with family but unfortunately she doesn’t even know that she is living with me. She doesn’t recognize that the people surrounding her are her own family, even though she feels like we are people that care about her. I know she senses that because when I put her to bed at night, she tells me often that she appreciates the way that I care for her. I’m glad she at least can feel that I do care. I never want her to feel unwanted or a burden to us.
She sleeps so much more now – about 15 – 20 hours out of every 24. The last few days I can tell that her appetite is not as good as it has been in the past. She doesn’t drink much, nor does she want a drink when it’s offered to her most of the time. She refuses to eat, sometimes, saying that she has already eaten and is not hungry. I don’t push her to eat – I don't think it's that important anymore.
She seems to be getting consistently weaker. She is more unsteady and she shakes all the time now. I’m not sure why she shakes like she does – I think I’ll ask Christy about it next time she’s here.
Mother cried today because she said she feels so unworthy of being loved. She can’t remember so much of her past and doesn’t realize the impact she had on many lives through her children, grandchildren, Sunday school students, etc. It’s hard to convince someone of their worth when they have no memory of the life they've lived.
She is also having more trouble with language. She can begin telling me something and then halfway through starts talking about something totally different. She stutters on her words and has a more difficult time saying the words she intends to say – it’s as if the word is pulled away from her at the exact moment she starts to say it.
I know that she is never going to get better. I know that she will continue to decline. My prayer is that I am able to care for her here at home, until she passes. I pray that her passing will be calm, peaceful and without pain. She is my Mother and I am the result of her and of my Dad and I’m thankful that they were my parents!

RICHES
By JeanneOD.ORhein

They say that times were tough then

That money was very tight

But I remember my childhood

And I know that can't be right

Mom would cook our dinner

Dad came home at five

We were all sitting at the table

Waiting for him to arrive

We wouldn't eat from a microwave

Or a resturant down the street

We all ate Mom's home cooking

And boy that can't be beat

We didn't eat in front of the TV

Or with a phone in our hand

We weren't plugged into a stereo bopping to the latest band

We would all sit at the table

Everyone in their place

There were never any surprises

We reconized every face

Brothers to the left of me

Sisters to the right

That's the way we ate dinner

Every single night

We laughed we joked we talked we ate

We were a family don't you see

Though some may have been raised poor

You can see it wasn't me

We ate collards we ate biscuits

We ate fatback and blackeyed peas

We said yes sir we said no sir

We said thank you ma'am and please

So when you talk of family life

Or how it used to be

Though many had more money

None were as rich as me