Tough Conversations About Death

Tonight I sat in the hospital watching my friend Joe, barely alive, on oxygen, a frail, thinning body just laying there. At the same time I talked with his wife Nancy, grieving, hurting, and wanting to talk about all the decisions that must be made,  - just tomorrow! The hospital is giving her one more day to find a nursing home or other palliative care place to move him or does she dare try to take him home with home care nurses? What appear to be broken promises of what care can be provided and dealing with family members that won't be here to take care of the details but of course with opinions. It is hard work! Glad I had the easier job of being a listening friend. That's one thing friends can do. That is one way to show HIS SPIRIT. And of course I will pray for her! God help Nancy!

Don't shoot off your mouth

There was this Open Windows devotional Sunday night that got my attention, but it was the Scripture verse that really spoke to me at the moment:

Don’t shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think.
Don’t be too quick to tell God what you think he wants to hear.
God’s in charge, not you—the less you speak, the better.

That's Ecclesiastes 5:2 in THE MESSAGE, the key verse, with fuller message in verses 1-7. I have always had a problem of talking too much. Somehow, this time, this passage got my attention. Though I've said it before, I'm going to try harder now to talk less, listen more and do most of my talking to God. As a hyperactive adult, prayer has been difficult for me. So I'm setting as a goal again to talk less and pray and listen more. Maybe you will pray that I accomplish it this time. Thanks!