Abusing Your Elderly Parents Will Come Back on You!

I don’t understand how children can take advantage of their elderly parents. I am very proud to have the opportunity to share myself, abilities and love with my parents, especially now, when they have aged. I would never steal their money, hurt, or abuse their trust and love. But there are some children who are stealing from their elderly parents and instead of paying their bills; they are taking the money to use on their own needs. Yet, when you see these children or read their Facebook posts, they are asking you to pray for their ailing parents or they are talking about God and their Christianity.

 The Bible reads in Exodus 20:12

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Growing up I remember my mother teaching us about the Bible. I remembered this from Sunday and Sabbath Schools. When children treat their parents badly, disrespect them, steal and curse at their parents, their lives would be cut short.

To those children, who are robbing their parent’s blind, and trying to act all holy and sanctified, please know that God will uncover your sins. Leaving your parents without food, phones and electricity is horrible. I say this to you, God will remember, and Karma is something else.

It is something when I talk to folks, and they reveal stories about their siblings and their lack of love and attention to their parents. I feel so bad for seniors who are experiencing this and pray God will continue to hug and comfort them. If you know seniors being abused there are hotline numbers you can call, no one should suffer abuse.

To all my siblings, nieces and nephews who are helping me with my parents, you’re the best, and we appreciate everything you're doing.

 

Blessings in Disguise

I am so thankful for everything. I’m thankful for my parents, my husband, daughter, and all my relatives. Mostly, I am thankful that for the past year, I have had the time & opportunity to
spend so much time with my parents, without financial worries. You see, one year ago I was surprised with a lay-off. When people see you as a threat and as being successful, they go behind your back to sabotage you. I had a person who spent a lot of time lying on me and trying to make me look inadequate on the job. But I never dreamed those lies would impact my job. Though I was told the lies didn't, it's hard to believe that when you are staring at someone telling you out of the blue your job has been totally eliminated. People are devious and jealous when they think you are too successful. They try their best to bring you down. But, when you are dealing with one of God’s children, your efforts are useless. Though the same person who tried to do me harm, position was eliminated, exactly 4 days before my year off. Karma is something!

Since I have been off, one year and one day to be exact, I have achieved so much. Although I own my own publishing company, I have always been able to multi-task many things while still performing on a job. So being in management was something I did rather easily. One job never impacted the other. Publishing was a side thing for me because it was never my intentions to start a company. I simply wanted to write and become published without the pressures of trying to find someone who liked my work enough to publish it.

I honestly asked God to give me an opportunity to do what I love. I was experiencing burn-out on my job because I didn’t have adequate staff or tools to work with. So I worked smart, yet very hard. Then Dad became ill.

To make a long story short, God answered my prayers. Not in the way I expected, because I was shocked with the announcement that my job had been eliminated, but God works in mysterious ways. My publishing company is growing stronger and I have completed writing 4 books this year and started two more. I have also released 3 new books by other authors and signed two new authors. I also received, in the last 10 months, four awards for my work with teens and
from the work I do through my publishing company.

Writing this is not to brag, but to show others that when we ask God to help us and give our burdens to Him, He comes through in high fashion when we have faith. None of the awards or the books mean as much as the time I have spent loving and taking care of my father. God blessed me and my siblings with great parents and I have had the opportunity to return the same love and care while trying to be a good daughter to my parents, especially dad during his illness.

Though Dad’s health isn’t the best now at 77 years old, he is surrounded by a family that loves him unconditionally. I thank God for blessing him with the opportunity to share parts of me that were clothed in a busy work schedule. I thank Him for blessing me with an amazing husband, who is excellent provider and a daughter who has helped me by holding down the house, and assisting me with everything, including Dad.

They say when one door closes, another opens. I can truly say I don’t know where God is leading me, but I am enjoying the journey He is taking me on. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

I’m struggling to get my Mojo back. Not magic or witchcraft but that magnetic quality that draws folks to you. I’ve been out of whack lately. I haven’t been writing much, just basically hanging out with dad and mom which I have truly enjoyed. Husband and I have really bonded too. Not because we were pulling apart but because I was deep down in files, and working hard for an agency but going nowhere fast. I’m happy to be out of that situation but I’m trying to find me. What do I want to do? Do I want to travel to places I have never been? Do I want to relocate? I sort of do but really cannot because of my parents. They are older and having health issues and this is the time to be near to help.

Also, I am wondering if I should purchase a new home because they are cheap but if I do, can I sell mines for the price it is truly valued at. I know there is a market for buying but not so much for selling. Do I want a new car? Would a convertible Lexus get my mojo back? I am thinking about a convertible because I want to feel the spring wind blowing through my hair. Is it wasteful to buy a car when the news reporters are saying that food prices will skyrocket in the next few months? Also I am applying to return to school to get my PhD. Oh yeah, I also have my publicist writing a screenplay for one of my books. I also miss social service. Lord please guide my footsteps because there is so much to do. Maybe I’ll do consulting. There is so much to do; I want to make the right decisions……

BTW, you’re never too old to talk to your mom so I think I need to talk about all this with her too. She usually helps me sort things out.

On the Brink of Madness (Chapter 2)

I’ve changed. Life can do that to you. Sometimes when you experience fear or pain you go inside of yourself and cover your feelings like a turtle hiding under his shell. With suffering and regret you hurt with tremendous agony, but you won’t express it openly. If you do, people will think you are weak.

In the past I always felt strong, like I could conquer anything. However, having a parent feeling pain or weakness, and finding that you can’t do much to help alleviate their suffering, changes you. You become the parent. You worry about them. Where are they? What are they doing? Do they have food? Have they eaten? You raise your children like your parents raised you; now the cycle has circled back. Now you must take care of your parent.

It’s hard. As a child you are accustomed to your parents protecting you and now you must reciprocate. But you do it out of love, because you want to, not because you have to. You don’t want your parents to hurt. How could they, when they healed your scars, cooed your fears, loved you until you felt confident? Now this? You don’t want this to happen to someone you love. Not my parents. They are healthy. They are good people. But illnesses have no preferences. It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor, good or bad. When it happens, it just does. No choice.

So you have to be gentle. Not cause them anymore harm than they are already experiencing, so you taper your emotions. You hold them in, because you have to help them. That day was hard. If your dad is seeing something that you can’t see, you know something is wrong. But because you never thought about this scenario you don’t know what it is, or what to do about it.

That day I had to keep talking to Dad. I needed to know what was happening so that I could find him the help he needed. I remember that conversation like I do my name.

“Dad, are you afraid of them?”

“No, I just want them out of my house.”

“How many are here?”

“It is three men. They are this tall.” He bends down and hold his hand flat to show me their height. They are about two feet high.

“How long have they been here?”

“About two months but I didn’t want to tell you all because I knew you would think I am crazy.”

“We know you are not crazy.”

“Can you see them?”

“No, Dad I can’t. But I believe you see them.”

“Can you help me get rid of them?”

“I can’t, but I know the doctors might be able to help.”

“What can they do?”

“They can see why they are here and where they are coming from?”

“Look at him over there by the book shelf. He’s just staring at me with them beady eyes.”

He is pointing to the shelf. I turned to look and I slowly walk to where he is pointing.

“Don’t go over there. They might hurt you.” He whispers.

“I’m not afraid of them. Get out of my Dad’s house!” I scream.

“Be quiet. Don’t say anything. They can hear you.”

This is killing me inside. I cannot stand to see my dad so vulnerable. I don’t know what to do.