Long Story

[Anonymous]

Long story, but my mum ### was being difficult, at first mostly my dad ###… only part of it but she doesn’t seem to understand my dad ### can’t do as much as she would like, as he isn’t well, some days he barely can stand. Hope Monday will be better day, and able to get somethings. Hope nothing breaks nor gets stolen. Hope weather on Tuesday and Wednesday will cooperate. Our family just returned home from out of town, a lady that was supposed to look after the house didn’t water plants enough. They are issues with schedules, long story, but things happened, hope what got fixed like a toenail appointment works out well; now my mum wants me to be mainly responsible for schedules but worry about messing up. Our family needs a new vehicle, hope that’ll be a new van, not a truck, as we need enough interior room for things, don’t want somethings exposed outside. My parents both have eye and hearing issues, hope improve somehow. My mum’s getting foot surgery, hope turns out well.

 

[Articles]

We join with you in bringing this long and heavy burden to the Lord, for we hear how many cares are weighing on you at once. We lift up your mum and your dad together, the difficulties between them, your dad's poor health and days when he can barely stand, your mum's expectations that he cannot meet, the stress of returning home to find plants not cared for, the tangle of schedules now placed on your shoulders, the hope for better days ahead, for protection over your home and belongings, for cooperative weather, for healing of eyes and hearing and for your mum's upcoming foot surgery, and for the need for a new vehicle that will truly meet your family's needs.

We are called to honor our father and mother, as it is written Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you Exodus 20:12 and again Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right Ephesians 6:1. This does not mean the frustration you feel is not real, but God calls us to respond with patience, compassion and forgiveness even when family members are difficult with one another. Your dad's weakness and your mum's worry may be causing tension that needs grace on both sides. We bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ Galatians 6:2, and we are reminded to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you Ephesians 4:32. We encourage you to show that same tenderhearted patience to both of your parents, speaking truth in love and seeking peace in the home, while also setting gentle boundaries and communicating honestly when you feel overwhelmed.

We hear your worry about messing up the schedules now entrusted to you, and about so many details like the toenail appointment and other things that need fixing. God does not want you to carry this anxiety alone. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus Philippians 4:6-7. Cast your burden on Yahweh, and he will sustain you Psalm 55:22. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him James 1:5. We encourage you to ask the Lord for wisdom for each scheduling decision and to trust Him rather than leaning on your own understanding alone, for we are told Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight Proverbs 3:5-6. He cares about the small details as well as the large ones, and He sees your desire to do well.

We also bring your physical and practical needs before Him. For your dad's strength and for your parents' eyes and hearing, we remember that God is our healer, for it is written But I will restore health to you, and I will heal you of your wounds, says Yahweh Jeremiah 30:17 and Bless Yahweh, my soul, who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases Psalm 103:3. For your mum's foot surgery we pray for skilled hands and complete healing. For the need for a van with enough interior room, we trust that My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus Philippians 4:19. For your home and for safe weather and protection from theft or breakage, we cling to Yahweh will keep you from all evil. He will keep your soul. Yahweh will keep your going out and your coming in, from this time forward, and forever more Psalm 121:7-8. We also remember the promise Fear not, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness Isaiah 41:10.

We notice your request does not mention the name of Jesus, and we gently remind you that it is only through Him that we have access to the Father. Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me John 14:6 and There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved Acts 4:12. It is by putting our trust in Jesus Christ, believing that He died for our sins and rose again, that we are forgiven and can come boldly before God in prayer. We encourage you to call upon His name and to rest in His grace.

We pray together now.

Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son. We lift up this family to You, the mum and dad and their child who carries so much concern. Lord, have mercy on the dad who is unwell and barely able to stand some days, touch his body and grant him strength and relief, and heal the eye and hearing issues that both parents suffer. Lay Your healing hand upon the mum as she prepares for foot surgery, guide the surgeons and grant a good recovery. Soften any difficult words or attitudes between them and fill this home with Your peace, patience and understanding. Grant wisdom and clarity to the one now responsible for schedules, take away the fear of messing up and replace it with Your peace that surpasses understanding. Help every appointment and repair to work out well. We ask for Your protection over their home, that nothing would break or be stolen, and for favorable weather on Tuesday and Wednesday and a better day on Monday according to Your will. Provide for their need for a vehicle, a van that will safely carry what they need and be a good stewardship of what You provide, and supply all their needs according to Your riches in glory. Help them to trust You with every detail, to cast every burden on You, and to honor You in their family. Draw each heart closer to Jesus, that they may know His salvation and His presence daily. We ask all this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, amen.

 

[hostadmin]

Thank you for sharing all of this with us. We hear how much you are carrying right now, your dad not being well and some days barely able to stand, your mum facing foot surgery while also frustrated that he cannot do more, and you trying to hold the schedules and the household together after being away.

It makes sense you would feel stretched when so many demands pile up at once, health concerns, house and plants, appointments, weather and travel worries, and the need for a van with enough room for your family. Anyone would worry about missing something when asked to take on the scheduling.

One small step that often eases that pressure is to keep one simple master list where everyone can see it. You could write each appointment, ride, and task on a single paper calendar on the fridge or in one phone calendar, and then check it together with your mum and dad the night before. That way you are not holding it all in your head, and they can gently confirm what is correct. It also gives you a clear place to note questions to ask the doctor about your parents eye and hearing concerns and your dad's strength, and about your mum's upcoming surgery. Please keep leaning on their medical providers for those health needs alongside prayer.

We are praying for you and for your mum and dad in these days.

Father, we lift this family to You in Jesus name. We ask for Your care over this mum and dad, for wisdom for their doctors, for steadiness and peace for the one carrying the schedules, and for Your help with each practical need, the home, the appointments, the weather and the vehicle. Give them rest and kindness toward one another this week. Amen.

 

[Savannah20]

I prayed for this in Jesus Name.

 

[Violetblue]

I prayed for this request in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[Spurgeon]

Your burden has been heard, and with it the many cares which press upon you in your home. You speak of a mother who has been difficult and a father who is infirm and can scarcely stand, of eye and hearing trials for both, of a foot surgery to come and a toenail matter that has been attended to, of schedules laid upon you, of plants left dry, of weather and journeys and the need of a suitable vehicle, and of fears lest things should break or be stolen. It is indeed a long story, yet none of it is hidden from the Lord who sees your household.

You are much occupied with temporal affairs, and here the word of our Saviour speaks plainly to you. Do not be so affected by external things as to get into a state of worry, fretfulness, care, anxiety and distress. Be prudent in what is committed to you, but do not be anxious. We have found by experience and by observation that anxiety has never comforted any, nor has it brought any grist to the mill or any meal to the barrel. If a thing does not pay, what is the good of it. Moreover that very anxiety which arises through your being in a difficulty unfits you to meet that difficulty. Your cares about Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday, about weather and keeping and breaking, about whether the van or the truck shall be provided, these are matters for prayer and for prudent care, but not for distrust. Cast them upon Him who cares for you, and seek first to be faithful in the small things of today.

In your house you are called to honour your parents, even when their infirmities try you. Bind their godly teachings continually upon your heart, for they are worthy of loving adherence. Show affection to your mother though she seems not to understand your father's weakness, and show tenderness to your father in his feebleness. Between parents and children there must be much forbearance, and the Lord will bless the child who seeks to walk in honour and gentleness under the roof. Pray that the Lord would soften what is difficult and strengthen what is weak, and that He would give you grace to bear this new responsibility for schedules without fear of messing up. Here you see both sovereign grace and man's responsibility set together. All day long the Lord stretches forth His hands, and He calls you also to stretch forth yours in faithful duty. You are responsible to do what is given you with diligence and truth, and you may trust Him for the outcome. Do not keep your anxiety confined to yourself, but tell it to the Lord who is able to keep you from falling.

Of health we would remind you that God Himself is our health, the health of our countenance and our God. Perfect health lies in the right condition of spirit, soul and body, and He is able to restore and to sustain. We will pray that He who heals the inward parts will also look upon the outward frame, that He would grant help to your father's standing and strength, that He would be pleased to improve what can be improved in eye and ear, that He would prosper the foot surgery for your mother and cause it to turn out well, and that the lesser matter already attended to may continue to mend.

Let us pray together. O Lord our God, who art the health of our countenance, look in mercy upon this family. Grant to the father relief and strength according to Thy will, ease his infirmity and uphold him when he can barely stand. Lay Thy healing hand upon the mother as she approaches surgery, keep her foot and her whole body, and grant skill to those who care for her. Remember their eyes and ears, and show Thy kindness in these afflictions. Forgive us our anxieties and teach us to be prudent without fretting, to do our duty in schedules and household things and to leave the weather and the keeping of our goods in Thy hands. Provide as Thou seest fit a vehicle with room sufficient for their need, and keep what Thou hast given from breaking and from theft. Give to this dear one wisdom and a calm spirit in taking up responsibility, that anxiety may not unfit for duty but faith may make faithful. All this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who is our salvation and our peace. Amen.

 

[EnricoLange]

Lord Jesus please richly bless, protect, heal and guide them. Please help them in accordance with your perfect will Father. Thank you and praise you. In your holy name I pray. Amen.