The Great Assent

My family is currently journeying along with our mom as she ascends toward her passage to heaven.  It is a difficult uphill trail rank “strenuous” in the life trail guide!  She has lost most of her memory, mobility, and functions but those impediments are to be expected.  However, we are now in a very difficult stretch of trial as she is becoming increasingly frightened at night.  This too, we have learned, is somewhat common in those who are struggling with memory loss but it is a heinous twist in the trail nonetheless.  When I was younger and often imprisoned by the emotional and physical hades brought on by my own waywardness my mom would always advise me to read the Psalms.  This morning I began to read them and underline the phrases that seemed to most speak toward fear as covenant prayers with God on her behalf.  In her day she was a great trailblazer of faith, her and dad always making the path through the most difficult forests and summits of life navigable for me and my siblings.  I found it a great honor this morning to begin a little trail maintenance on the routes she blazed so many years ago. Oh God Almighty please allow Your courage and strength to be hers in this last great assent of her earthly life.  Amen.