Stand firm, unshakable, excelling in the work of the Lord as always, because you know that your labor isn’t going to be for nothing in the Lord.

~1 Corinthians 15:58 CEB

A Good Day

Most of my days feel like a mundane day rather than a good day.

As a caregiver for my dad, I have become mostly housebound, and the walls threaten to cave in around me. Some days we play a card game. But Dad’s mind gets confused from one stack to the next. What seems like a simple operation turns into complex maneuvers. I end up giving away plays rather than suffering through the monotony of watching him struggle with what to do with the cards in front of him.

Conversation is also difficult. One-word answers replace the volley of interaction. Verbs and nouns get stuck in the cogs of his brain. I find myself giving up when responses are absent or slow in coming.

I often feel I am adopting the sedentary habits of my ninety-year-old father. Lethargy seeps into my bones, and my brain gets foggy. My ambition sags and my motivation wanes. What is there to look forward to in a day?

If you will not believe, you surely shall not last.

~Isaiah 7:9 NASB

I sometimes wonder what kind of faith I have. Do I stand firm or crumple under difficulty? Do I believe the Lord will equip me even for a job that seems utterly draining? I don’t want apathy to be a part of my story.  I love my dad and am committed to him. Is it okay that sometimes I just want to run away? His dementia has replaced my entertaining dad with a shell of the man he once was, leaving a sour taste in my mouth.

A Sour Day

The acidic quality of sour lemons acts as a preservative. Even as I turn from the bitterness of knowing life could have been different for Dad, I value the preservation of the memories we share. The stories become more precious. The sour enhances the flavor.

My sister has developed the habit of asking, “Is it a good day, Dad?”

“It’s a good day,” he responds.  

I wonder. What would life be like without Dad? Sure, I might have a little more freedom, but I would miss his quiet presence and the memories stirred by his companionship. My link to Mom, who left me thirteen years ago, would be severed again. And the absence of both parents felt more keenly.

Yes, another day with Dad is a very good day.

Learn to savor the sweetness of each day, no matter how difficult. 

Heavenly Father, when thorns crowd my access to the sweetness of time with loved ones, help me to remember the fragrance of life they bring. Thank You for the seasons we have together, even when it’s hard for me to see the fruit. I ask for perseverance to finish well in the privilege of caretaking.

 

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2024: A Good Day: Sally Ferguson: All Rights Reserved