Today, my daughter-in-law texted me and informed me that the doctors suggested that they start hospice. She said that my son, Brian is having a hard time processing this and she wanted to contact me but, he would when he could wrap his mind around this.

I asked her how she was processing and she replied that she was okay but worried about her two sons of eleven and almost thirteen.

I told her that I still had hope beyond what the doctors say. She said she did too until this morning. Now, she has none.

How do I help? They like their privacy. My instinct is to rush down and help any way that I can. Yet, they have always been so very private. Enjoying their little 4 person nest.

I am thinking of this as my aunt just went into a medical care facility today and a cousin who was caring for her has just been hospitalized and is confused. A childhood classmate/co-worker, has had a setback from a stroke he experienced in June after showing much improvement. My cousin is struggling with caring for her husband who is basically bed/wheelchair ridden, while she, herself, has afib that they can’t get to the bottom of and now her 4 year old grandson has bone cancer and started treatment. Our brother-in-law had a stroke a couple weeks ago and they thought he was on his death bed but just the last day or so, has started showing some improvement.

These are all huge challenges of people I hold dear. How do I help? I pray, I listen, I get emotional. I pray, “If you will…please heal. Help me, if I have any unbelief.”

Until I hear otherwise, I will continue to have hope for these I hold dear.