John 15:1-17
15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
Remain in me, as I also remain in you.
No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain
in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business.
Instead, I have called you friends,
for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
This is my command: Love each other.
There is no doubt. This has been the most unusual set of years.
We have been 440 miles 16 times to help my mother transition to Memory Care, Monticello and sell her house and settle her belongings. My mother and I do not discuss her home or belongings. Considering the extent of her collections, I find this to be where I lean into what she wants to discuss. So far, no discussion. Really, no one would want to bring up just about 88 years of collecting without permission, to have peace and joy.
There is no doubt this last week was the most attitude descending and ascending of the entire set of months and weeks. We went to Dallas 3 times in a week and a half. My mother-in-law is about to be 88 years old, same as my mother, at the end of the summer. And both are suffering from Dementia. My mother would be living the joy and conversations of wine, martini, smoking, smoking and happy prescription pill finder. My mother-in-law would be bradycardia heart conditions for 30 years without chocolate and caffeine.
We brought my very elegant and fun mother-in-law home for the family to move her belongings to Memory Care as well. Her doctor has issued a Doctor's Order for her to be in full-time care due to inability, related to aging. We love to have my mother-in-law visit because we realize, again, when we try and sit up straighter, straighten up life a little more diligently and have a higher calling, we have just more than an armload of Joyeaux de Vivre. We have loved all the 36 years of visits. And as we wanted the weekend to be very memorably enjoyable, we were thrilled when our youngest son brought his two adult-owned, Siberian Huskies over.
The photo turned out to be unusual, for a post-pandemic doux mother summer.
Father, Bless both our mothers with Your complete and filling Love and mercy. In Jesus, Amen.
The sun is beginning to become evening, and the last rays caught the hallway chandelier and bounced off the dining room chandelier. About right for the day.
Alexander is entering into the adult phase of doggies before children. He is bringing his adult life to see his grandmother and meet the 8-week-old puppies. Gran's dog is going home forever with his dog camp counselor for all the years of day dog camp he had to have exercise. The puppies come in and meet him for the first and last time. Gran's beautiful lab leaves them his beloved Snoopy.
Alexander had a new car given to him by my mother-in-law, when he graduated from Baylor and later LSU. The joy in both that great day, was a world-class memory made! And this week, someone hit Alexander in the median, near his apartment. Lord Jesus, we pray this car to recover and still provide such joy. We ask in the Highest Name of Jesus. Amen.
My mother had to go by ambulance, before Hospice, to see her Pulmonary Specialist. And she moved her hands and head as if she was Cleopatra, giving the wave. And her attitude was about as warm as the Nile Queen, to the couple, who drove 6 hours many weeks to attend this situation. Her friends and family have waned due to this since 2013.
Dementia is not tea and cookies.
My mother-in-law has lost the ability to call by name some of her children, and doesn't recognize some grandchildren. She doesn't know where she is as she drives. And in this loss, due to age, she will ask why someone moved into her master bedroom and caused her to work all night to move out her things. And why there was a secret party, leaving all the dishes. Asking, who is that person. And why her things have been stolen. There wasn't a party and no belongings were moved and nothing is missing.
Now the good news.
Both of our mothers have entered into Memory Care as if it is a walk in the park. In fact, we got a phone call asking if my mother's transition could have some joy for everyone going into Memory Care. Mother paid for Long-Term Insurance for 24 years. To be with health professionals when the time came for calm, morphine and oxygen. It's the Plan, Stan.
The further good news.
Not everyone will have this happen to them. Today! This top of the Blog photo arrived in my lap from the internet. Surprise !!!!!!!! The top photo is my paternal Grandmother Bit's front porch in Oxford, Mississippi. That is her chair and her urns and she might just come out in a minute and sit for a few minutes, if this was 1986. Or Heaven. We might talk about the blue color and how you find the blue to repeat the right blue porch ceiling. You rid yourself of bees and wasps that way.
I had a good cry for all the changes. It's actually the first one in a few weeks. And it felt good to remember Grandmother Bit and all her good sense, until she passed on. And Grandmother Anita, age 94. There is hope. Father God, in Jesus, we pray to end well. To be of active service to You, until the day we enter Heaven. We pray to have Enoch's blessing. To have the Blessing of Your Disciple, John. In Jesus, to finish well. Amen.
And I thought about being sheltered under God's Tree, Jesus liked to tell us about this Heavenly Tree as an analogy of Heaven. We really have the same as one another, we have today. We can enjoy what today brings us.
Rain or shine
we are part of His Goodness.
They call pals to back each other up when we spray them. My sons kid me and say, that's a dragonfly. No, dragonflies don't sting. Today, as I swam and thought about God's Vine, God's Shelter, God's Heaven, I saw a dragonfly perched during my swim on one of the glasses in the garden. A blue one seeming to enjoy the garden. I love dragonflies and this was a blue one.
Perfect. Love the blue dragonflies. And today, I'd seen Grandmother's Porch. Complete with the anti-bug blue, perfect blue, ceiling.
And as I spoke on the phone, this landed in the water beside me......
It's as long as your little finger, or mine. And after years of telling my adult sons about Godzilla wasp, here it is. Complete with the proof of the sweet blue dragonfly, giving me the time to take a photo of it after my swim. How perfect. A wonderful, Heavenly photo of my Grandmother Bit's front porch with perfect blue ceiling. And the two insects I could - Finally - text my sons.
I've even called the Texas A&M Extension Service to try and figure out what it is. And talking on the phone in the pool, plop, it landed and now is in a giant jar.
The time and seasons of God's Timing and Provision. His Own.
Abba holds us in His Hand. And Abba gives us a view from under His Branches.
Abba, Father God,
Cover us with Jesus Living in us. Dwelling. Help us to seek You First.
Protect us from all evil. Fulfill Your purpose in our lives. Thank You for praying parents.
Through Jesus Christ we are Overcomers, only in Jesus Christ are we truly free.
Guide us in Wisdom, Cover us in Your Love, Seal us in Your Mercy, Forgive our Sins,
Keep us on Your Path and in Your Plan.
Bless our Nation with Goodness to Overcome the Pandemic.
Bless the earth, Your Good Creation.
In Your Great Love let us bring forth Love to the others around us.
Father God reconcile us with Joy to Your Love and Your Plan.
For ourselves, our family, our friends, our neighbors, our Church,
our co-workers, our State
and Our Nation shining to all those who believe the Highest Name of Jesus.
Amen. Amen Amen Amen. In Jesus Christ, Wonderful, we have the Alleluia.
Thank YOU, Lord Jesus Saves
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