Wednesday, May 02, 2007

GIFT OF LIFE


April 5th sixty years ago my parents were engaged to be married.



My parents loved long walks in the mountains. 1960.
Celebrating their gold wedding, fifty years of marriage.
Are they not a handsome couple?


Arm wrestling after my father's brain hemorrhage.



Christmas 2006, still happy together.


"To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death.
Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow; a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more:
it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."
--From Macbeth (V, v, 19)


I'm always thrilled and carried away when I read Father S. In the gymnasium we used half a year just on this very play, Macbeth. Growing up has luckily made me think twice about so many issues.
Like, what are the real values of life?
Who deserves to get the best available treatment when ill, be it body or soul?
How has it gradually become common right to leave one's children and parents into the care of strangers, just to be able to have an occupation for oneself? Strive for things that can be bought, instead of treasuring the things and human beings we have been given for free.
Am I more valuable when I nurse the children of strangers and send my only child to a kindergarten?
The Good Lord blessed me with illness, so I was able to stay home and take care of my child, do old-fashioned housewife chores and have an open house for children in the neighbourhood.
Now I've got a terminally ill father, living with my mother in the home they've used a lifetime to create. For the four years that have passed since my father had a brain hemorrhage, we've heard over and over that he should be sent to a nursing home.
As if his life should have no value because he's now in need of a nurse's assistance to manage fundamental activities of everyday life.
He and my mum still love each other, they are well connected and have shared good and bad for sixty years.

How can anyone encourage my mother to send him away like an unwanted, wrecked car.
(A good thing, though, he's getting nurse's aid four times a day,- for free. Our politicians have figured that to be cheaper than putting more and more people away in public "homes".)

I don't get this attitude of thrashing the ill and old. It's making me furious and makes me question what all our public wealth has done to us.

Use and throw away has long been the norm when it comes to clothing, furniture, and - yes, cars.

The rich and beautiful have for decades thrown away their wives and children as well.

What a waste, what an emptiness.

When I see my parents keeping together in spite of all the well meant advice, I'm feeling proud.

They've always stood up as an example of values, ethics and belief. (Even though I have not always agreed with them on either topic.)

Now they amount to heroes.

God, let thy will be done, and let us all live and die respecting Your gift of life and our hopes of sharing an Eternity
.

6 comments:

Sue Seibert said...

Amen. What a wonderful example your parents' lives are! Yes, we seem to care more for things than for people, more for self-satisfaction than for what is truly important. God help us!

Terry said...

Dear Felisol...I was all set to comment on this beautiful post when I ran into the difficulty with my dad.

Thank you so much for praying for him Felisol.
As of now, he is still in the hospital but he is being such a handful for us to handle and I am not a crying person, but I always seem to be in tears since Sunday.
I don't know why this is because it seems that at least we have finally got Dad to agree to go the the hoispital but now as we visit him, he just seems to be wanting us to try and get him out of there.
Ir is a good thing that he did finally go though because the infections that he has would have surely gotten worse and might even have been fatal.
Well I just want to thank you for everything and thanks again for your prayers...love Terry

My friend Soiux is so sweet!
I am glad she is your friend now too.

Felisol said...

I am happy for both of you, wonderful treasures, sent by God when I needed them.

Unknown said...

Takker De my friend.

We are all doing well.
I'm sorry I haven't been by in such a long time. Time is elusive sometimes.
I hope you and yours are well.

And I love this post. Your words create a strong, beautiful song that we all need to listen to and really hear!
And bless your parents. They are heroes and you should be proud.

Take care Elise.

Love, health, peace and happiness be yours.

Justin

Terry said...

Dear Felisol..
I was very sad to hear about your dad this morning.
I didn't get a chance ot tell you this because by the time I received you message, I was just on my way out to pick my mom up for church,
I have been thinking about him ever since and I want to tell you that I am praying both for him and your mom. and for you too.
I just wish there was something else I could say...or DO..
PLease keep us updated Felisol and I hope you and your husband and daughter will be feeling better too, from the flu....Love Terry


I have to go now and pick up kids for Sunday School.

Terry said...

Dear Felisol..I just cannot get this lovely couple out of my mind and heart and I am praying for them and for YOU too...love Terry