“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Psalm 139: 14 (KJV)
A caregiver faces many issues. Beyond the physical demands of helping someone to rise from a bed or chair are the emotional demands of assisting in nutrition or personal hygiene.
For my mother, meals consist of liquids hung in a gravity-feed bag called a kangaroo pouch. The nutritional liquid goes through a tube into a valve implanted in her stomach wall – a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube. Each feeding and/or dose of medication requires exposing her upper abdomen for access to the tube.
Because she is weak and has poor balance, Mama requires help bathing and even going to the bathroom. She laments having to let me see her body, embarrassed by the lack of privacy and modesty she must experience. Although I try to be mindful of her dignity, sometimes we both fall prey to giggling fits as I wash and dry her feet, particularly between her toes. Neither of us is in a very dignified position at that moment!
Through all of this, I am amazed by her. Her limbs are wrapped in crepe-like skin, slack against out-of-tone muscles. Yet she works to pull herself up, to walk back and forth to try to build her strength. Although she’s given birth to four daughters, her stomach is still flat, although the skin is not smooth. I marvel at the grip of her gnarled hands, as we lock forearms to steady her gait.
How wondrous is the human body! Even as it winds down, it is a thing of amazing beauty. The gentleness of her touch and the comfort of her embrace are still delights. Her smile, when I can entice one from her, is as warm as June sunshine.
One day I will have to say farewell to her body. The truth which comforts me is that her soul will go on, and we will meet again in glory. How marvelous, Lord! How wondrously marvelous!
Father, I thank you for the love You put into creating each of us. We are each beautiful in our own way, by Your design. Help us to see Your creation in each other at all stages of life, and to appreciate each other in Your Name.
© 2009 Mary Beth Magee
Showing posts with label treasures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label treasures. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
The Glory of His Handiwork (Number 11 in a series)
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” Psalm 19:1 (KJV)
When I made the decision to move to California, I thought I’d miss the glorious autumns I’d experienced in the Midwest. Streets lined with blazing golden trees, a horizon painted a spectacular palette of reds and oranges, burgundies and plums – these were the joys I had experienced in Illinois falls.
What a wonderful surprise to find colors every bit as grand and varied here in northern California. I look out across the hills and see a rich patchwork of autumn hues laid against a velvety background of evergreens. Some days, there is a gauzy overlay of mist softening the riotous colors. Other days, they blaze in full splendor.
How shortsighted I was to think God would not display His artistry here! In a world He created, there cannot be a place where He does not allow His creation to draw hearts toward Him through its beauty. Sometimes the beauty is delicate as a butterfly’s wing; other times it is the savage beauty of a glacier. Always, the creation points to the Creator.
Look around you today. Do you find large markers of His glory, glowing like constellations in the sky? Or is it small things that remind you of His creation? Take time to enjoy the signs and to let them point you toward Him -- the Master Artist.
© 2008 Mary Beth Magee
When I made the decision to move to California, I thought I’d miss the glorious autumns I’d experienced in the Midwest. Streets lined with blazing golden trees, a horizon painted a spectacular palette of reds and oranges, burgundies and plums – these were the joys I had experienced in Illinois falls.
What a wonderful surprise to find colors every bit as grand and varied here in northern California. I look out across the hills and see a rich patchwork of autumn hues laid against a velvety background of evergreens. Some days, there is a gauzy overlay of mist softening the riotous colors. Other days, they blaze in full splendor.
How shortsighted I was to think God would not display His artistry here! In a world He created, there cannot be a place where He does not allow His creation to draw hearts toward Him through its beauty. Sometimes the beauty is delicate as a butterfly’s wing; other times it is the savage beauty of a glacier. Always, the creation points to the Creator.
Look around you today. Do you find large markers of His glory, glowing like constellations in the sky? Or is it small things that remind you of His creation? Take time to enjoy the signs and to let them point you toward Him -- the Master Artist.
© 2008 Mary Beth Magee
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Traveling by Faith (Number 4 in a series)
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11: 1 (KJV)
The route along I-80 between the Illinois/Iowa border and the Pacific Ocean is filled with references to the pioneer days of the United States. The very names of some of the towns declare their roots in the westward expansion: Council Bluffs, Gold Run, Emigrant Gap, Mustang, Salt Lake City. Others reflected the First Nation legacy of the area: Winnemucca, Washoe, Wahsatch.
For me, this trip took five days. For the pioneers, the trip could easily take six months.
Just as I had my vehicle packed with belongings and food, they carried their belongings and food with them in their covered wagons.
I had concrete and steel highways with large signposts to ease my way. They had only rough trails and great hardship in crossing the Great Plains and various mountain ranges along their route.
As I drove, I pondered the courage those early settlers must have had. They left behind all they knew and headed into the unknown, the unfamiliar. Traveling in faith that something better lay ahead, they moved out. Although they had not seen the land waiting for them, they were willing to strike out toward it.
If you think about it, heaven is in a similar situation. We haven’t seen it yet, but we move toward it in faith that it is as promised: the better place for us, the Promised Land.
Faith is the key. We have faith that Jesus can do what He said He can do: redeem us and give us eternal life.
What have you done lately through faith? In what ways have you seen your faith rewarded? Have you moved toward a goal you couldn’t see yet? Pray for your faith to increase on a daily basis.
© 2008 Mary Beth Magee
The route along I-80 between the Illinois/Iowa border and the Pacific Ocean is filled with references to the pioneer days of the United States. The very names of some of the towns declare their roots in the westward expansion: Council Bluffs, Gold Run, Emigrant Gap, Mustang, Salt Lake City. Others reflected the First Nation legacy of the area: Winnemucca, Washoe, Wahsatch.
For me, this trip took five days. For the pioneers, the trip could easily take six months.
Just as I had my vehicle packed with belongings and food, they carried their belongings and food with them in their covered wagons.
I had concrete and steel highways with large signposts to ease my way. They had only rough trails and great hardship in crossing the Great Plains and various mountain ranges along their route.
As I drove, I pondered the courage those early settlers must have had. They left behind all they knew and headed into the unknown, the unfamiliar. Traveling in faith that something better lay ahead, they moved out. Although they had not seen the land waiting for them, they were willing to strike out toward it.
If you think about it, heaven is in a similar situation. We haven’t seen it yet, but we move toward it in faith that it is as promised: the better place for us, the Promised Land.
Faith is the key. We have faith that Jesus can do what He said He can do: redeem us and give us eternal life.
What have you done lately through faith? In what ways have you seen your faith rewarded? Have you moved toward a goal you couldn’t see yet? Pray for your faith to increase on a daily basis.
© 2008 Mary Beth Magee
Laying Up Treasures (Number 3 in a series)
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6: 19-21 (NIV)
For four nights, I unloaded the rooftop container on the car and carried the duffel bags into my motel of the evening. For four mornings, I carried them back out and repacked the rooftop carrier. I must have made quite a sight: an overweight middle-aged woman dragging a series of tightly packed bags in and out of the local budget motel! Along with the bags, there was my little dog and her gear.
Other than my laptop computer, my purse and Shady’s food and medicine, I wasn’t taking anything from the interior of the car. All of those contents stayed put. One of the items was a portable ice chest. It was so buried under other things, I wasn’t been able to add ice to it or get any of the beverages out of it the whole trip. Snacks I had purchased to eat in lieu of buying meals along the way were likewise buried in the depths of the back seat. I could only hope the rain I’d experienced the first three days hadn’t ruined everything.
Looking back on my folly, I was reminded again of the uselessness of trying to acquire “things” here on earth. In the process of packing up for this move I had given away a large number of items. Another list of things had been damaged through mishaps and discarded. Of all the things I had owned, only a few had made it to the point of the move and now some of them were in danger of being lost to water damage or mildew.
There will always be something threatening the security of worldly possessions: natural disaster, theft, financial hardship. No complete safety is available here in this life. Only in Jesus Christ can we find shelter from the ills of the world. I’m so grateful to have a Savior who offers me eternal security in His arms.
Where do you look for your security? Are you counting on possessions or people like government leaders? Do you depend on your net worth? Take time today to look to the true Source of all security: Jesus Christ. Those under His care know true safety.
© 2008 Mary Beth Magee
For four nights, I unloaded the rooftop container on the car and carried the duffel bags into my motel of the evening. For four mornings, I carried them back out and repacked the rooftop carrier. I must have made quite a sight: an overweight middle-aged woman dragging a series of tightly packed bags in and out of the local budget motel! Along with the bags, there was my little dog and her gear.
Other than my laptop computer, my purse and Shady’s food and medicine, I wasn’t taking anything from the interior of the car. All of those contents stayed put. One of the items was a portable ice chest. It was so buried under other things, I wasn’t been able to add ice to it or get any of the beverages out of it the whole trip. Snacks I had purchased to eat in lieu of buying meals along the way were likewise buried in the depths of the back seat. I could only hope the rain I’d experienced the first three days hadn’t ruined everything.
Looking back on my folly, I was reminded again of the uselessness of trying to acquire “things” here on earth. In the process of packing up for this move I had given away a large number of items. Another list of things had been damaged through mishaps and discarded. Of all the things I had owned, only a few had made it to the point of the move and now some of them were in danger of being lost to water damage or mildew.
There will always be something threatening the security of worldly possessions: natural disaster, theft, financial hardship. No complete safety is available here in this life. Only in Jesus Christ can we find shelter from the ills of the world. I’m so grateful to have a Savior who offers me eternal security in His arms.
Where do you look for your security? Are you counting on possessions or people like government leaders? Do you depend on your net worth? Take time today to look to the true Source of all security: Jesus Christ. Those under His care know true safety.
© 2008 Mary Beth Magee
Dampened Spirits (Number 2 in a series)
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5: 16-18 (NIV)
For my first three days on the road, I was in rain, often coming down hard enough to obscure visibility. I fretted about the damage that might be done to the things I had on top of the car. I worried about missing a directional sign. I griped to God about the danger of driving in such weather and the time I would lose because of it.
Another problem soon became apparent: the nylon straps I had used to secure my “do-it-yourself” roof rack passed through the interior of the car and acted as wicks to bring the rain inside. The water followed the dictates of gravity and sought the lowest point. For one of the straps, that point was right over the front seat! Another crossed through the car in the back. Now I had to worry not only about my belongings on the roof, but also my dog, the things inside the car and myself. The whole world seemed to be perpetually damp. I prayed for the rain to stop.
Watching the news in my motel room on the second night, I heard the broadcaster report on the happiness of area farmers and ranchers over the much-needed rain. I felt instantly ashamed of myself. What I perceived to be a trial, someone else received as a huge blessing.
Isn’t that often the issue with us? The circumstances aren’t the problem so much as our reaction to those circumstances. Perhaps that’s why we have to be reminded to keep an “attitude of gratitude.” We are easily distracted from seeing God’s blessings as we get caught up in the cares of the world.
How often have you complained about something, only to find out later it was a blessing in disguise? In this Thanksgiving month, resolve to heed 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 and give thanks in everything.
© 2008 Mary Beth Magee
For my first three days on the road, I was in rain, often coming down hard enough to obscure visibility. I fretted about the damage that might be done to the things I had on top of the car. I worried about missing a directional sign. I griped to God about the danger of driving in such weather and the time I would lose because of it.
Another problem soon became apparent: the nylon straps I had used to secure my “do-it-yourself” roof rack passed through the interior of the car and acted as wicks to bring the rain inside. The water followed the dictates of gravity and sought the lowest point. For one of the straps, that point was right over the front seat! Another crossed through the car in the back. Now I had to worry not only about my belongings on the roof, but also my dog, the things inside the car and myself. The whole world seemed to be perpetually damp. I prayed for the rain to stop.
Watching the news in my motel room on the second night, I heard the broadcaster report on the happiness of area farmers and ranchers over the much-needed rain. I felt instantly ashamed of myself. What I perceived to be a trial, someone else received as a huge blessing.
Isn’t that often the issue with us? The circumstances aren’t the problem so much as our reaction to those circumstances. Perhaps that’s why we have to be reminded to keep an “attitude of gratitude.” We are easily distracted from seeing God’s blessings as we get caught up in the cares of the world.
How often have you complained about something, only to find out later it was a blessing in disguise? In this Thanksgiving month, resolve to heed 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 and give thanks in everything.
© 2008 Mary Beth Magee
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