Thy Will Be Done

Today was the first day of my run-away.  Yesterday was filled with driving so it doesn’t count.  I am exhausted.  I am overwhelmed by the minute by minute responsibilities of “the care-taker”.  But today, I dug in the dirt.  I cleared three very large beds of winter detritus. Then came a torrent of hail (pea-sized) that covered the grass.  Thank God for His intervention.  This was my first springtime, dive into yard work day.  And as usual I was so excited about just “being out there” that I physically went hell-bent-for-leather.  If that thunderstorm and hail had not happened when it did, I would not be typing.  I would be lying in a hot bath full of Epsom salts and praying that I would be able to walk tomorrow.

Today was my first day of truly owning what it means to be a caretaker.  Just as I came inside to escape the frozen rain pellets, my Mom called.  She was agitated, frustrated and at the end of her rope.  You see, the day before I granted myself a run-away – we scheduled my 81 year old, heart-afflicted Dad for full back surgery.  He fell.  He broke his back.  The doctors tried a non-invasive procedure to stabilize his back.  That procedure seems to have failed.  Visit to ER.  It seems his spinal cord is compressed in the area of the procedure.  Full surgery recommended.

Both brothers – whose “I live a long way away” hearts are totally in the right place – want a second opinion before the surgery. Dad, not understanding how simple getting a second opinion is, cancelled his surgery.  He rescheduled for Easter week to allow time for second opinions. Whole family scheduled to be at our house for Easter. Three board meetings that week.  Youngest daughter is getting married April 28.  I am definitely in a swivet. Did I mention that those board meetings and family Easter weekend are scheduled to occur 4.5 hours west of my parents’ home??

Perhaps that is what God is telling me yet again.  “You are not in charge.  You are not in charge.” So again, I relinquish my need to be in charge.  What will be will be.  I AM NOT IN CHARGE!  Thy will be done.  Amen.