Life after Death
Taking care of parents in their advanced years is exhausting and frustrating at times. One doesn’t have the easiest of patients to deal with, and one’s own patience can often wear thin. Yet, obeying the fifth commandment to honor our parents in this way brings blessings beyond measure. That is, if you have eyes to see them.
- Andrea G. Schwartz
From The Kingdom Driven Family Blog:
A colleague of mine, along with her brothers, has been a faithful caretaker of her elderly parents. She was there to help them as their bodies succumbed to the illnesses which eventually led to their deaths—about two months apart from each other. Although she has the comfort of knowing their names are written in the Book of Life, there are still the mixed emotions that accompany the death of one’s parents.
Back in the early 1980s, my husband and I brought his mother into our home to live with us. Since I grew up with my maternal grandparents living on the first floor of our house, I was accustomed to an additional family member being present all the time. Having three generations living together, while at times challenging, is also quite rewarding. Children and the elderly have much in common and appreciate each other in ways that are beautiful to witness.
- Andrea G. Schwartz
Andrea Schwartz is Chalcedon’s family and Christian education advocate, and the author of eight books including: A House for God: Building a Kingdom-Driven Family, The Biblical Trustee Family: Understanding God’s Purpose for Your Household, Empowered: Developing Strong Women for Kingdom Service, Woman of the House: A Mother’s Role in Building a Christian Culture, and The Homeschool Life: Discovering God’s Way to Family-Based Education. She’s also the co-host of the Out of the Question podcast, the Chalcedon podcast, and has an active teaching schedule with women and high schooled students.. She can be reached at [email protected].