2013 JUST STARTED

In a previous blog, I mentioned my dad passed away on January 5. It was unexpected but at the age of 87, it wasn't completely unexpected. Some of you already know that my Dad was often a trigger for my depression. He could find the negative in any situation and I didn't handle it well. However, the last time I saw him was Christmas Day and it was fabulous, positive, fun and hopeful.

Three days after my dad passed, my dog was diagnosed with nasal cancer. Her nose has bled intermittently for a couple of months and my worst fear was now realized. She's 11. When she was 9 she had bloat, so, since surviving that, I feel every day has been a gift. She's lived a great life but the next few months could be agonizing.

If that's not enough, a few days later I found out that my mother-in-law is being moved into a seniors assisted living home. That means she'll be leaving her house of 50-plus years - the same house my wife, then girlfriend, grew up in. As an elderly lady, leaving her home and all those memories must be very hard. She's a very with-in lady; her problems are only physical, and my wife and I are concerned that she may not enjoy the new home and her health will quickly drop.

This blog brings three sad situations together, but I am looking at each of them separately and dealing with each with a different set of emotions.

About five years ago I was at a Christian conference where Kathy Troccoli was the guest speaker. She said, "You tell yourself you will never survive the passing of a parent. You tell yourself you won't make it." But, she said, "God gives you the strength when you need it. Not now, but when you need it."

I recalled that message as I sat with my mom when she died. That was three years ago and Kathy's words were absolutely true. God gives us the strength at the moment we need it most. I'm hoping God to do the same three more times. 

It's going to be hard. 2013 just started.