Transitions, Trust, and Triumph

Devotion 8 Psalm 27:1(a) Fearful but not Afraid The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? We often find ourselves in situations that may frighten us. We may have fear because we have observed bad outcomes in others or simply a lack of faith in this instance. Regardless of the situation, we can always draw upon the one thing that is certain. If we have accepted the Lord as our personal Savior, He has made promises to be with us, lead us, guide us and provide a home in heaven above all other homes we may find ourselves in on earth. This knowledge and assurance can help us face those fearful times without being afraid. --------------------------------- As mom moved from the hospital back to a different nursing home for rehabilitation, I believe that she was fearful that she would never come home. She stated to me that she wondered why I was sending her to this place as “People never come home from there.” While she never showed any real signs of fear, and never once to this day shed any tears that I could see, I believe she was fearful of this place where she would reside for the next several weeks. Having been through the journey of nursing homes with both my grandmother and father, and working in the healthcare profession, I began to pull out my resources to review the facility to which she would be transported. I reviewed every website, and there are many that rate the quality of care. I read every brochure, spoke with others, and drew upon my experience in my church where I am often called upon to visit parishioners in nursing homes. All of this research was helpful when looking at the percentage of times the nursing home had people develop bed sores or pressure ulcers. I reviewed how they ranked with staffing and managing pain in the residents. I also reviewed whether they had twenty-four hour visitation for family members, how many times we could expect the doctor to visit, did they have a wound care specialist, and the quality of the physical therapy services. I asked the residents what they thought of the food and I observed for cleanliness. I then thought of things such as convenience. Often people think of convenience first, but I have come to learn that what may have been most convenient for me was not necessarily the best for mom. Even if it meant I had to drive a little further, take the bus a little longer, or walk an extra mile, it was better to be in a reputable facility. Working closely with the social worker at the hospital, we decided on a place that would meet our needs, help mom to recover, and get her back home as quickly as possible. That was my plan. I had to believe this because I knew she didn’t want to be in this facility. She entrusted decisions regarding the course of her care to me, her only child. She devoted her life to taking care of me, and now I must do likewise as the Bible clearly directed me in 1 Timothy 5:8, “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” I knew that, in this instance, it meant making the hard choice of sending her to a place that I thought could help her even if she were fearful. The one thing that was evident was that even if she was fearful of the particular situation, she was not afraid of any ultimate outcome. If she never had the opportunity to come back to her physical home, she was confident and assured of her salvation. She knew that Jesus was the light of her life, and no matter where she was, He would be there with her. She knew that if she called upon Him, He would be there whether the nurse, medical assistance, or any of her family members heard her. Jesus was her salvation. She had no fear of her ultimate home, only this temporary new home. Journal Reflections • When were you last afraid? • What was your first reaction? • How did you reassure yourself? • Are you confident in your salvation and your ultimate home above all other homes?