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[Marion Thompson]

Such wise words, Sally.

Marion, a pilgrim

On 3/22/2016 1:00 PM, Sally Davies wrote:
> Dear Jim
>
> Thomas Merton's prayer may capture some of what you're feeling right now:
>
> My Lord God,
>
> I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I
> cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and
> the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am
> actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact
> please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope
> that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I
> do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about
> it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in
> the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you
> will never leave me to face my perils alone.
>
> My understanding of Hospice care is that it is about quality of life...and
> it seems that people often say that their one regret, later, is leaving it
> too long to apply for Hospice care. In other words, hardly anyone says they
> went there too soon, but quite a few wish they'd gone sooner.
>
> So I pray that your sense of timing here is on track, that this is "the
> right road though you may know nothing about it".
>
> I also have the sense, as we accompany you in spirit on this hard, hard
> road, that the separation you and Marcy may now experience, could be
> different but will not be worse, than the separation that has already been
> at work when you have been exhausted, unable to cope, and Marcy has been
> unable to understand. The anger, frustration and raw pain of those moments
> brings about a profound kind of separation that outlasts the moment and can
> come to colour everything if given the chance.
>
> So...If Hospice is about sustaining a  better quality of life, that's not
> for Marcy alone but for you as a couple. She cannot be said to have a
> preferred quality of life, when you do not...and for you at this time,
> staying connected to life requires some fairly specific things, like being
> able to attend meetings every day.  Or just to take the time to breathe, to
> read, to be quiet.
>
>
> I bless this time to you Jim, and Marcy, and Matthew, as a time of enabling
> grace and abiding peace and holy rest.
>
> We are with you and we love you
>
> Sally D
>
>
> Tuesday, 22 March 2016, Ginga Wilder <gingawilder at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Jim, Marcy, Matthew, and you remain in my prayers.  I pray especially that
>> the adjustment will be smooth, especially for Marcy and for you.  You are a
>> loving caregiver for your wife and the move to Hospice center is sure
>> evidence of that.  God hold you all close in this Holy Week.
>>
>> Ginga
>>
>> On Tue, Mar 22, 2016 at 11:18 AM, Marion Thompson <
>> marionwhitevale at gmail.com <javascript:;>
>>> wrote:
>>> May this be the holiest of weeks for you and Marcy and Matthew.
>>>
>>> Marion, a pilgrim
>>>
>>>
>>> On 3/22/2016 10:19 AM, James Handsfield wrote:
>>>
>>>> Good day, everyone -
>>>>
>>>> Thank you for your continued prayers for Marcy, Matthew, and me.  Over
>>>> the past couple of months, it’s become increasingly clear that I can no
>>>> longer provide the kind of care Marcy needs, both physically and
>>>> emotionally.  So . . . tomorrow, Marcy will become resident at Hospice
>>>> Atlanta Center.  I’ll still be able to take her out to church, lunch,
>>>> dinner, etc., and even bring her home for a few days (kind of reverse
>>>> respite) for special occasions.
>>>>
>>>> Not how I’d envisioned Holy Week, but it’s for the best for all of us.
>>>>
>>>> -------------------------------------
>>>> Education is its own reward, both for the individual and for society.
>>>>
>>>> Jim Handsfield
>>>> jhandsfield at att.net <javascript:;>
>>>>
>>>> .
>>>>
>>>>