How do you handle interruptions throughout the course of your day? I don’t always handle them well. Sometimes, I have a plan for how I need want my day to go, then when (notice I didn’t say if) my plans are interrupted I can become quite stressed.
In my current season of life, I find that my days are interrupted quite often. My mother, who has Alzheimer’s, often feels the need to be comforted or reassured. She is still mobile and sometimes she takes walks when she is restless. Many days though she comes to me instead or in addition to. This is what I want her to do. This is why I live next door to her. I want her to feel safe and welcomed.
Still. Some days when I need rest or time to reflect, or write, or even just be, the interruption can be somewhat overwhelming. Especially, when it is the third, fourth or fifth time in one day. I pray about this for two reasons. One, I don’t ever want my mother to feel like she is intruding and two, I don’t want to have any regrets in how I’ve ministered to her during this season of her life.
She won’t always be with me and so I want to treasure the time I have left with her and if that means putting my plans on hold to chat with her for a few moments that is what I will do. God will give me the grace to show her mercy and compassion.
I’m reminded of God’s grace and mercy to me. I’m reminded of how Jesus interrupted his life to lay it down for me. How can we even complain when our life is interrupted to meet the needs of another? I don’t think we can.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7
Dear Father, help us today to show your mercies to those you send our way. May we be ever mindful of your great mercy shown to us in the gift of Jesus Christ and his death on the cross for our sins. Amen.
Finding mercy in grace,
Teresa
This post is part of a 31 day series in which I am prompted to write by the ebb and flow of my daily life. I may miss a day here and there. You can click the button to the right for the complete series. Thanks for reading. I’d love for you to leave a comment and let me know you stopped by.
Teresa L Hardymon 
Oh, do I need to hear your words today – and they really struck home this morning! I so often am trying to either read a blog post, or write mine, or study my online course work or…and who comes walking in but the hubby!! And he wants to sit and talk and talk and talk…usually not about anything really, and usually not requiring any type of response!
Your words “She won’t always be with me and so I want to treasure the time I have left with her and if that means putting my plans on hold to chat with her for a few moments that is what I will do. God will give me the grace to show her mercy and compassion” really hit home!! Thank you God that you DO show grace to ME and help me to be the compassionate, lovable, understanding wife I need to be for my husband!
Thank you so much for this glimpse into you and your mother’s journey – so good she has her place and it is so close to you!! I haven’t taken the time to read all of your posts, but will do so soon!
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Thanks, Barbara for stopping by and for your encouragement. I’m glad my words were able to speak to you today. I know what you mean about taking time to read posts. There are so many blogs during this 31 days, including yours, that I have wanted to read and I am not able to make it to all of them every day, but I will catch up and I hope you continue writing after the 31 days, at least some of the time, so I can keep in touch with you. I may take a break after the 31 days, but I’ll still be around.
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It is so wonderful that you are able to live next to your mom when she needs you the most. I’m sure she appreciates it more than her words can ever describe.
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I’m so thankful that we can be here – I can’t imagine not going through this with her – she would do the same for me. She used to joke that when I was old and in the nursing home she’d take care of me.
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