Jimbo's Jots

I actually had to look to see when the last time I had done a post. It’s been a month. But what a month September was. I last wrote on September 3 and the last post, “Sing Your Story – Part 7”, was dropped on September 7. So here’s is what has happened:

September 6 – well actually, this story starts July 20. Mom had a fall which resulted in a broken hip. Fast forward to the end of July and she is moved to a nursing facility. After a couple of weeks there, she is diagnosed with COVID. Early September, she became depressed and a bit disoriented. Between myself and other family, we continued to encourage her and say she’ll go home soon. Now, on September 6, mom’s nurse at the facility called me to tell me that they are taking mom to the hospital because her breathing was shallow. Pretty much an hour after that phone call, mom passed away in peace. The week that followed was spent traveling to St. Louis and back to make arrangements for mom’s service.

September 24 – Sarah and Tim were to get married. Their wedding day was scheduled for October 25. However, the venue called and said they would not be able to have their wedding on that date with all of the guests because of COVID. So, a new date, new plan and a small family gathering was planned at the venue for them to get married. Oh and it’s in Nashville. So, I get back in the car and travel to Nashville to celebrate with Tim and Sarah and their families. And the party was on!

October 3 – Back to St. Louis for mom’s memorial service. This time the family and I flew. A small gathering, again because of COVID, was planned at the Florissant Church of Christ, in Missouri. Everyone said mom was honored and she would have loved it. I was able to see family I hadn’t seen in a while and meet some of my mom’s cousins that I probably met at some point.

Whoosh!! What a month it has been! But life is like that. We experience highs and lows every day. There are moments of blessing and moments of dread.

The key to the ebbs and flows of life and even the day to day is the how we manage our own response. If you are around me, you will hear me talk about what I can do and what I can’t do. Those things I can do, I’ll do to help. If I can’t manage the situation, then I can monitor my own response whether experiencing a period of anxiety, like on September 6 or a time of celebration, like on September 24 and October 3.

Many don’t handle changes well. If this is you, contact me! Let me sit down with you and help you process how you’re working through your own times of “WHOOSH!” Let’s work together to bring a sense of peace into your life.

Be blessed and be a blessing!