December 13, 2012
I've been praying a lot for my husband's brother. His leukemia is progressing rapidly. My husband and I met with his brother (and his wife) Sunday night to try and explain the medical options that are left. In some ways he has been in denial, but in many ways he just isn't capable of understanding it on his own. As we were talking with them the thought came to me that I should tell him the train analogy that I've told my husband. I hesitated. Should I say it or just let him remain oblivious to his situation? I said a quick prayer seeking guidance and then strongly felt I was to say it. My husband's brother can understand things better if he can "see" it whether visually or pictured in his mind. I explained to him (and his wife) that his disease is like a train. The train has already left the station. It left when he was diagnosed with Blast Crisis in September of 2011 and that medically there is no going back. I went on to explain that what we have been trying to do these last fifteen months is to slow the train down, and we are running out of options to be able to do that.
You could tell that it was finally starting to sink in. The next day I went to his Doctor appointment with him. While we were waiting for the doctor my brother-in-law said, "It will be good to go home." I nodded my head. We sat in silence. I knew he was processing his feelings and I didn't want to interrupt. Then he went on, "It will be good to be able to see Grandma and Grandpa again. I loved Grandpa B... he was my favorite." I could have cried on the spot. I asked him to tell me stories of his Grandpa. His faced beamed as he shared some of his memories with me.
He is starting to understand and he is beginning to look forward to heaven! This is huge! He is so simple minded. Death is seldom easy but it is even more difficult when an adult has limited understanding and coping skills. Other members of my husband's family have voiced their hope that the dying process could happen without him even knowing he is terminally ill. Death from cancer seldom happens that way. We are the only ones who have spoken honestly with him in terms he could understand, we will continue to try and guide him (and his wife) through the dying process.
We have been praying several things:
'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know "Thus saith the Lord."
Jesus, Jesus, How I trust Him!
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more.
Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me,
'Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.
I'm so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou are with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.
Written by Louisa Stead 1882. Listen to it here.
There is one more thing we do while praying. We thank Jesus for the opportunity to serve my husband's brother. Who would have ever thought we would be thanking God for the opportunity to serve someone who brought more stress, problems, and headaches to my husband than any other person ever in his life! That's how God works. He changes you from the inside out. He took what was a horrible situation and turned it into an "opportunity." Wow! And the havoc situations that were meant for harm does not harm you. Instead, it builds you up and strengthens you and you become more like Christ in your thoughts and actions. Again—Wow!
Bless the LORD, oh my soul
Bless the LORD, oh my soul
Let everything within me
Let everything within me
Let everything within me
I will bless the LORD.
At all times,
At all times,
At all times,
I will bless the LORD!
Listen to it here.
Next Entry: Acts 17:1–34
I've been praying a lot for my husband's brother. His leukemia is progressing rapidly. My husband and I met with his brother (and his wife) Sunday night to try and explain the medical options that are left. In some ways he has been in denial, but in many ways he just isn't capable of understanding it on his own. As we were talking with them the thought came to me that I should tell him the train analogy that I've told my husband. I hesitated. Should I say it or just let him remain oblivious to his situation? I said a quick prayer seeking guidance and then strongly felt I was to say it. My husband's brother can understand things better if he can "see" it whether visually or pictured in his mind. I explained to him (and his wife) that his disease is like a train. The train has already left the station. It left when he was diagnosed with Blast Crisis in September of 2011 and that medically there is no going back. I went on to explain that what we have been trying to do these last fifteen months is to slow the train down, and we are running out of options to be able to do that.
You could tell that it was finally starting to sink in. The next day I went to his Doctor appointment with him. While we were waiting for the doctor my brother-in-law said, "It will be good to go home." I nodded my head. We sat in silence. I knew he was processing his feelings and I didn't want to interrupt. Then he went on, "It will be good to be able to see Grandma and Grandpa again. I loved Grandpa B... he was my favorite." I could have cried on the spot. I asked him to tell me stories of his Grandpa. His faced beamed as he shared some of his memories with me.
He is starting to understand and he is beginning to look forward to heaven! This is huge! He is so simple minded. Death is seldom easy but it is even more difficult when an adult has limited understanding and coping skills. Other members of my husband's family have voiced their hope that the dying process could happen without him even knowing he is terminally ill. Death from cancer seldom happens that way. We are the only ones who have spoken honestly with him in terms he could understand, we will continue to try and guide him (and his wife) through the dying process.
We have been praying several things:
- For peace that only God can give;
- For acceptance of God's will—no matter what;
- For my husband's brother to have an increased desire for heaven as this life wanes;
- For as much as possible a peaceful passing;
- For God to accept him with open arms.
'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know "Thus saith the Lord."
Jesus, Jesus, How I trust Him!
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more.
Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me,
'Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.
I'm so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou are with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.
Written by Louisa Stead 1882. Listen to it here.
There is one more thing we do while praying. We thank Jesus for the opportunity to serve my husband's brother. Who would have ever thought we would be thanking God for the opportunity to serve someone who brought more stress, problems, and headaches to my husband than any other person ever in his life! That's how God works. He changes you from the inside out. He took what was a horrible situation and turned it into an "opportunity." Wow! And the havoc situations that were meant for harm does not harm you. Instead, it builds you up and strengthens you and you become more like Christ in your thoughts and actions. Again—Wow!
Bless the LORD, oh my soul
Bless the LORD, oh my soul
Let everything within me
Let everything within me
Let everything within me
I will bless the LORD.
At all times,
At all times,
At all times,
I will bless the LORD!
Listen to it here.
Next Entry: Acts 17:1–34
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