DAY 8

It was not a surprise to hear that my niece, Jennifer's, health was such that the doctor said it was time to put her on the hospice program. I began to develop a plan to help my sister, Mary, and her husband, Steve, as they took on the role of 24/7 caregivers. 

Jennifer's attitude was not basically fear or anger, although she did express each occasionally, but rather, of preparation for meeting Jesus! She amazes me with her openness and honesty. 

We sometimes talked about Job and how his friends disrespected him by insisting he admit his sin to God instead of complaining of how God does not answer him. 

There is a piece of scripture from the book of Job that I have begun to carry around. It fills me with joy and excitement as I read it. It is Job 26:7-14:

7 He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; He suspends the earth over nothing. 8 He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight. 9 He covers the face of the full moon, spreading his clouds over it. 10 He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness. 11 The pillars of the heavens quake, aghast at his rebuke. 12 By his power he churned up the sea; By his wisdom he cut Rahab to pieces. 13 By his breath the skies became fair; His hand pierced the gliding serpent. 14 And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?

Jennifer's window looks out upon a lawn with flowers in the summer and trees that her dad puts lights on when Christmas approaches. We sometimes look out on this expanse of nature and talk about how blessed we are, and I feel doubly blessed, realizing how spending time with her has enriched my life. We never know who is going to change our lives for the better.