I talked to my dad last night and found out my mom is doing worse.  She has been in the hospital and a nursing / rehab facility for a month now.  Last week she contacted pneumonia in the nursing facility and was put back in the hospital for a few days.  She is recovered from that but now cannot talk.  She is in a different nursing / rehab facility because the last one just didn't take care of her.  She cannot do anything for herself, she cannot eat because she can't swallow, so she is fed and medicated through a feeding tube.  Now her voice is gone.  She has no way of communicating.  Parkinson's disease is not pretty.

As I sit here 800 miles away, I feel helpless in being able to do anything.  I am so thankful that when we went out there in December she was still able to talk to us and we had a few good visits with her.  I hear these reports and I ask God, how much longer will she suffer?  There is not a thing she can do for herself.  All the things she's enjoyed doing in life are now gone.  She cannot go and visit with people, she cannot plant flowers and tend her garden, she cannot sew, she cannot cook, she cannot read, all she can do is lay and watch television.  What kind of life is that?

As I ask these questions I know that God's grace is sufficient through the suffering.  God's grace is sufficient to my dad who is daily watching his wife and companion of 55 years suffer like she does.  God's grace is sufficient for me as I cry out to Him for my mom and dad.  God's grace is sufficient for my family as we look at what mom will need long term.  God's grace is sufficient and I need to rest in it.

Tuesday my dad has a meeting with the doctors and staff at the nursing home to discuss mom's care for long term.  They want to meet with any of the family around as well.  I'm sure my brothers will be there.  The decisions won't be easy ones.  But we all know that God will give us wisdom and will direct us as to what is best for her.  All the while we rest in His grace and mercy.  She is in His hands.