One Task at a Time
Yesterday marked one week since my mom’s second discharge from the hospital. And today, we saw her cardiologist — the same one who’s been with her since day one. Truly one of the kindest and most gentle human beings I’ve met. For him, medicine really is a vocation, not just a job.
The last few days have been tough, I won’t sugarcoat it. I’ve been reminding myself to take things one task at a time. Not even one day — that feels like too much sometimes. But one task? That feels doable.
My mom’s nutrition, fluid intake, meds, daily vitals… it’s all been a huge shift to her routine (and mine). Caregiving isn’t for the faint of heart, but it’s such an honor to be part of this chapter of her life — to walk beside her through it all.
Balancing work, home life, and all the “in between” things has been intense. But last night, when I finally sat down on the couch after a long day, I was hit with a wave of gratitude. Gratitude for Stan and the girls, for their love and patience, and for the amazing friends and community who have been holding us up in prayer and support. I honestly don’t know how I’d manage without them.
My mom’s appointment today went well. The doctor made a few adjustments, gave me a couple things to keep an eye on (which scared me a little), but overall, he’s still optimistic. We’ll go back next week and the week after that, and hopefully, by then, she’ll be feeling even stronger.
And she really is improving — more energy, better appetite, a healthier glow. I’ve been cooking lots of healthy meals for her. She loves oatmeal for breakfast — definitely her comfort food. Cooking for her is comforting for me too. Time in the kitchen always feels like a small investment in love.
Right now, I’m sitting on the couch wrapping up the day — just a few minutes of quiet for myself. There’s a book beside me by the wonderful Kate Bowler called Have a Beautiful Terrible Day. I picked it up, closed my eyes, opened it to a random page… and landed on a chapter called, “for a very busy day.”
“I’m climbing, step by step, to the top of this very full and busy day. Each step is a thought, a plan, a preparation, a catch in the breath. And like a kid at the top of the playground slide, I just sit down and stop, because I know that in a moment, I’ll have to lean forward and assent to the moment that is latent in all these plans.” — Kate Bowler
That line hit me. Because that’s exactly what this season feels like — climbing, pausing, catching my breath, and then leaning forward into the next moment with hope.
Be kind. Be gentle. Be present.
Good night. 🌙
