Sunday, February 03, 2008

SAVING GRACE

These have been days of trials and errors,
illness and defeat.
My Mom, now living with us is slowly healing,
but there are so many obstacles to overcome.
Bureaucracy and "you've no right to people"
lined up wherever we try to find
a loop whole.
We've even met doctors who say that elderly
who are in need of nursing should not
be kept alive.
Walking in grief such words hits like
a boxing fist.
Then it turns out that my all time
favorite uncle,
(guess he's everybody's favorite actually)
has been diagnosed with Altzheimer's.
That is just not fair.
This night I felt chewed and worn out like
a gray gum.
Than came Jim's post about the
healing grace.
It felt refreshing like a bottle of
oxygen after
long mountain walk.
Renewed I searched for Dylan's
Saving Grace
on my iPod.
Thought I'd like to share.

SAVING GRACE
If You find it in Your heart, can I be forgiven?
Guess I owe You some kind of apology.
I've escaped death so many times,
I know I'm only living
By the saving grace that's over me.

By this time I'd-a thought I would be sleeping
In a pine box for all eternity.
My faith keeps me alive, but I still be weeping
For the saving grace that's over me.

Well, the death of life, then come the resurrection,
Wherever I am welcome is where I'll be.
I put all my confidence in Him, my sole protection
Is the saving grace that's over me.

Well, the devil's shining light, it can be most blinding,
But to search for love, that ain't no more than vanity.
As I look around this world all that I'm finding
Is the saving grace that's over me.

The wicked know no peace and you just can't fake it,
There's only one road and it leads to Calvary.
It gets discouraging at times, but I know I'll make it
By the saving grace that's over me.



Copyright © 1980 Special Rider Music

9 comments:

Amrita said...

Dear Felisol, sorry to hear its such a struggle.I 've been there and still go through it so i understand what its like. Glad Mom is healing.God bless her.
Very sorry for you dear Uncle.I have many elderly people in ,my family and know the emotions.

The song is so beautiful.Very effective words.The Lord 's grace is upon us all otherwise we would be nowhere.

Terry said...

Dear Felisol...Jim has always been an encourager. I tease him a lot but I know he doesn't mind.
We are so rich to have him as our friend.

It is the same here in Canada, as far as the elderly are concerned, my Felisol.
You know the younger people forget the fact that it is the older people that built these countries up and is this all of the respect they get?
I know of one province in Canada where it is not so and that is Saskatewan
Bernie and I were told in Moose-jaw Sask that the senior people there could go anywhere they wanted to in the city and the fare was free..

I am glad to know that your mom is healing though.
It is all of the loving care that you and Gunnar are giving her and because of all the prayers going up for her..
I know how you are hurting though. You are hurting for your mom and other elderly people who should be treated like royalty.
One old age hospital that I worked at several years ago, there was a lady who was in her 90's..One day she got sick with the flu or cold or something. The head nurse called for the resident doctor and after he looked at her, he said to the RN..."What do you expect.? She is an old lady. These things are to be expected!"
That nurse didn't not miss a beat..She said.."Dr. V you get on the telephone and you get her a bed in the Welland Hospital"
He did and the lady went to the hospital. She lived another 3 or 4 years more!
What did that doctor know??
And he was doctor that everyone was to obey and nobody dare say a word back to him...That RN sure did and I always respected her after that.

I am going to look that Bob Dylan guy up on the internet. He sounds like a really good understanding guy!

Your poor uncle, Felisol!
Whenever I worked in the hospital, the Alzheimer's ward my favourite. Back in those days even though they were behind in what the hospital called closed doors, it was the practise to tie some of the wanderers to their chairs. It was so cruel..
One nurse aid used to on her evening shift when she came in would say to me, 'Goldie, untie them all. What harm can the poor darlings do?"
Whenever I worked with this nurse, it was always a peaceful evening for these dear souls. They quit their crying and walked all around the ward to their heart's content!
One thing I really find amazing is that when a Christian has this cruel disease, even though they forget everything else, when you ask them if they know Jesus, their faded and frail faces will just light up as they say, "Yes!"

Thinking about you all the time and praying for you my dear friend on the far side of the sea but at right my fingertips from my computer!

dlyn said...

My first visit to your blog - I will be praying for your Mom and for you as well. I love reading blogs by Christians from all over the world and I will surely be back to visit yours. blessings...

Jim said...

Hi Felisol -- You wrote again very soon. Thank you for the status on your Mom, she is on my prayer list and the all of you. Now your uncle also.
Adi and I will be recertified, if we pass the tests, for us to be a therapy team. Our certification expired December 31 as we couldn't make it to the November exam.
All that to say that when we get our certification again, we will resume visiting our local assisted living center.
Adi just loves it, all the attention she gets from the older people there.
Our favorite is the Alzheimer's wing. Adi is so patient. The residents in that wing have varied responses. Some are able to tell us (Adi and me) about their dogs they had to leave at home. Others even claim Adi, saying she is theirs. In fact, we spend half our visiting time there.

I remember we both like Bob Dylan. In a way I feel sorry for him, he has gone through a lot in his spiritual life.
And thanks for the nice thank you.
..

Amrita said...

Hi Felisol, I have given you an award, pick it up from my blog.

Vicki said...

Dearest Felisol,

Just came by to let you know how much your words blessed me the other day when you visited my blog. Thank you. And now I see more prayer is needed in your corner of the world, so please know I will be talking often to our Heavenly Father for your mother and uncle and all those who are near and dear to your heart. Take good care and thank you again for your loving spirit.

Great is His faithfulness!

Felisol said...

Dear Amrita,
Thank you for being so aware and caring about me and my family. I very well know that you have may struggles of your own both with your ilnesses and carryinig your family the way you do.
The more I appreciate your prayers. They come from an honest, knowing heart.
God bless you back.

Dear Sister Terry,
supporting shadow by my side.
When two are leaning against each other ^ they'll be holding each other upright, even feeling weak and exhausted.
Thank you for always being such a stair, never giving in.
I think I am here today because of the strong prayer cord and the saving, healing grace.
Gunnar is of course helping out as much as his condition can allow. He never says never or nay.
Oh, yeah I found myself a rare jewel in him.
Nevertheless; I am not strong anymore (I was a true bull in my youth). Now am getting by day by day. His Grace is new every day, that is my testimony so far.

And I sure recommend you the spiritual records Dylan made in the eighties. He setting words to the joy, wonders, hope and pain all Christians have felt.
Maybe he is not that burning today. But his songs are still as pure and genuine as when they were written.
And I have been to a couple of his concerts. His still singing his hymns of the eighties along with his other stuff.
I praise God for that. He reaches many that would not else be listening.
Like Jim I feel sorry for him. Its no easy path he's following. I pray for his final salvation.

When I first began to work in the psychiatric ward I experienced conditions lie the ones you describe, Terry. I also found so many ways of making the patients better. That's way I chose to get an education as a nurse for psychiatric and mentally disabled persons.
The times have changed. Now pills are replacing care and nurses.
They are only allowed a minimum of time with each patient. Staff is diminished to the bone.
People simply aren't profitable.
It's so sad.
My Mom get quite good care since she is living with us. Registered nurses comes twice a day, nurses aid another twice a day, physiotherapist twice a week and language teacher twice a week.
It can be quite crowdy at times..
I have to plan our four meals carefully, not to speak of the necessary shopping. I wish I had Amrita's maid.

Dear Jim,
I think its wonderful that both Amrita, Terry, Mrs. Jim and you are voluntarily working to help the helpless. Guess you'll never know just how important that work is.
I know that Jesus does. May he reward you richly.
At Sunday school we talked about getting stars in our crowns. Yours must be shining like daylight by now.

Dear dlyn,
thank you for praying for an unknown fellow wanderer.
I have visited your blog and was thrilled to find another burning soul.
I'll leave my comment there very soon.
Payers are the best help and support anyone can get. The almighty and alcaring ure is listening after his promises.

Yours Felisol




Dear Jim,

Felisol said...

Dear Vicki,
funny we should be praying and blogging simultaneously.
Or may be not.
The prayers reaches the Lord even before we speak.
I do hope you have found a way to deal with your serious problems.
Which way to choose.
I also hope all the prayers have strengthened you, to feel calm and find rest what ever you might do.
"He knows your deeds/ He knows your needs before your speak."
Yours Felisol

Vicki said...

Dear Felisol,

Thank you for visiting my blog today. Thank you for your prayers, too.

What did you mean by my "serious problems"? I am doing well since having my thyroid gland removed. So very thankful that God provided a good doctor, and medication to replace my thyroid hormone.

I wanted to email you, but you left no email address...hope to hear from you again.

Blessings,
Vicki