One Body - Many Members

First Corinthians 12:12-27 tells us that we are all part of "One Body with Many Members".  It is something I honestly hadn't thought much about.  However, in the past few days, as family members spent time at Rose Arbor hospice with Dad, the words took on new meaning.

Verses 14-18 say, "For the body does not consist of one member, but of many.  If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' that would not make it any less a part of the body.  And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.  If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing?  If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?  But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them as He chose." 

This past week was a difficult one, but even in the difficulty, I watched as the wisdom of these words played out.  

Each of our family members is very different - and each had a different role to play to ensure Dad's transition was an easy one.

Mindy took the role of coordinating Dad’s care, talking with both the nursing staff at the hospice and her daughter, Annelie who is a doctor in Massachusetts.  Together, Mindy, Annelie, and staff members made sure that Dad's medications kept him comfortable, while still offering us moments of lucid conversation.  Mindy spent her nights sleeping in a chair, feeding Dad ice chips when he got restless, and holding his hand when he was awake.

Fred took time off work so that he could stay with Mindy and support us all.  Like Mindy, he stayed at the hospice through each night to make sure someone never left Dad's side.  During the day Fred told jokes to keep us from getting too morose, and  offered the comfort and wisdom of one who has gone through this already with his own parents.

Mindy's other daughter, Emma, came from Ann Arbor to play cards with her Pop Pop and ensure his last days were ones he enjoyed.  

My son, Max, drove down from his job up north so that he could spend time with Dad and make sure he knew that his grandkids would miss him.  

My dear husband Jim, our newest family member, left his own family's annual reunion (truly a big affair) to bring us all food and to be the shoulder I needed when the waves of sadness washed over me.

For my part, I spent the days with Dad, and the nights with Mom - doing my best to make sure each had what they needed at this difficult time.

And mom offered kisses and kind words - assuring Dad that she loved him, that she would be "okay", and that he needn't worry or suffer any more.

The Bible says that each of us is "made in the image of God," however I honestly believe that the good qualities we each have are just a small part of God's AMAZING perfection.  And it isn't until we all come together - working as one body, and playing the unique role He designed for each of us - that we begin to get a accurate picture of what the true goodness of God actually looks like.