Healing in Process: Tuesday's Reflection

How happy I am to report that my daughter Kate and granddaughter Maren are healing and moving towards full recovery after their recent surgeries. What a difference almost two weeks makes! 

Kate went to church with us on Sunday and is enjoying her soft liquids diet, and Maren is now wearing a boot, wiggling her toes, and doing homework from home. Both are grateful to be on this side of surgery. 

When we decided to move back to St Paul from Madison, WI, we listed the features we wanted in a house, including a front porch, a fireplace, and a two-car garage. The house we bought didn't include any of those things, but it met our main criteria: location, location, location. We wanted to live near our daughter and her family--as in walking distance near. 

How good it has been to be so close by in these last couple weeks. When a snowstorm was predicted, we knew we could walk to their house, if driving didn't seem reasonable. If plans changed, we could be there in a matter of minutes, and if we forgot something, we could retrieve it without a problem. Mainly, we could just be there at the right time for the amount of time we were needed and then go home. 

This is a good, even powerful, stage of life--to be healthy ourselves and capable of responding to family needs--without calling a boss to take time off of work and without an elaborate process to change plans and appointments. One day I came home to meet with a spiritual direction client while Bruce remained at Kate's house and then I returned after the session --no fuss, no problem, no big expenditure of time. Yes, we are so fortunate. 

We are also fortunate because our help was desired and appreciated. Sometimes it is a challenge to know what to do, how much to do, and when to do it. I don't want to be in the way or to overstep appropriate boundaries. We let Kate and Mike know we were available and willing to do whatever was needed, and they were clear with their requests. When we offered to do something specific, they replied honestly if that would be helpful or not. We wanted them to know that they are in charge, and we are at their service. We are on their team. 

Although Maren can not yet return to school or Kate to work, some things have returned to a kind of normal. I have finally started working on my memoir again after too long of an absence. We even did some last-minute entertaining, inviting friends over for cheese and crackers and catch-up time. I paid bills and changed the bed and ironed shirts. I made my list of tasks to do this week, but have left plenty of response-time space--to do what our beloved family may need. 

I recognize what a privileged life I lead--a life of fullness; a life of opportunities for growth and connection. 
Thanks be to God! 

An Invitation
What kinds of caretaking challenges and opportunities have you had? I would love to know.