“Things I’ve learned in the past week” by Charlyn Elliott (a special guest post)

Last updated on: March 30, 2018 at 9:58 am by Shaunti Feldhahn

“Things I’ve learned in the past week” by Charlyn Elliott (a special guest post) 2018-03-30T09:58:34-04:00 Shaunti Feldhahn

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Hi friends –

Yes, it is a cliché, but when it rains it pours! As y’all know, my dad had a stroke almost two weeks ago, and I’ve spent most of that time in and out of hospitals helping my mom. My team was amazing: they stepped in and took everything off my plate so I could concentrate on what was more important. Whew!

But was that the end of it? Oh, no! My staff director’s father ALSO suddenly had a serious health issue – she was told he needed sudden spinal surgery. She lives in Atlanta; he lives alone in an assisted living facility in Florida. Suddenly, not only were she and the rest of the team trying to do their jobs AND mine, but Charlyn (my staff director) herself had to juggle a sudden parental health crisis, hospitalization, and all the stress that comes with it. She made last-minute plans to fly to Florida.

And that’s where we pick up the story, with her list of “Things I’ve learned in the past week” about her father. Which were so hilarious I just had to include them as a sort of guest blog this week. Because it’s just been that sort of week.

-Shaunti Feldhahn

“Things I’ve learned in the past week”

by Charlyn Elliott (Shaunti’s staff director):

When you’re old and you have a “I’ve fallen & I can’t get up” button, you better wear it. (Hellooo, 83-year old dad, did you hear that? …Nope, he’s deaf.)
When you’re told that your dad is in the hospital, but you call 2 hospitals and neither has any record of him, just call a certain doctor of his. Because they can give you a play-by-play in detail: The “he checked in at 6:30, they put a C-collar on him, he was complaining of pain, they did an x-ray, and now he is waiting in the hallway for an MRI” kind of detail.
When half the world is on spring break and you can’t fly into Ft Myers, Sarasota is not that far away.
When you’re told that he’s going to have surgery (which was the reason you rushed down and flew into Sarasota), they might be mistaken.
When you’re told he’ll likely go home on Saturday, don’t believe them.
When they tell you on Saturday, that it will likely be Tuesday, don’t believe that either.
When the kidney doctor mentions getting a CT, jump on it and ask her to make sure that it will give the urologist info that he needs. Because, on Monday, when the assisted living place takes your dad to his appointment that had been cancelled, the urologist will be nice enough to work him in. (And since you managed to get that CT done at the hospital, he’ll have everything he needs.)
When the spine doctor realizes that the outpatient procedure that HE was going to do on Friday isn’t going to happen because your dad is in the hospital – he will care enough to reschedule AND give you his personal cell # in case anything goes awry.
When you’re an hour from heading to the airport to fly home on Sunday, THAT is when the doctor will decide to discharge him. (Yeah, 2-3 days earlier than expected. Or a day late, depending on how you’re counting.)
When the doctor says he’ll discharge him, you best get on the phone with Delta to rebook your flight – because you will be getting one of the last of 2 seats on the last flight out. But Delta will be kind enough to waive the crazy fees. (Thank you, Delta!)
When the hospital calls in prescriptions to the drug store without asking you, don’t expect it to be the right drug store. And don’t expect them to actually call in ALL of the prescriptions. They’ll still be giving you some paper prescriptions that you’ll need to fill. And you’ll finally get to the drugstore 30 minutes before it closes – with a 45-60 minute wait time on prescription fills. And your flight leaves shortly, so that ship sailed. Oh well. You’ll get the facility to pick them up.
There are some amazingly kind people in the world, who can make you laugh, and help out in wonderful ways. (You know who you are!)
And I have the best husband in the world who takes care of my “not-so-little anymore” “little dudes” while I’m gone. And those dudes are pretty cool, too!

#whatanadventure #notdoneyet #backtoRSWonFriday

Sometimes we make our own plans, and God has other plans. And sometimes we try too hard to stick to a plan that we created and we need to allow Him to change our plans. That’s what Find Rest is all about. Stop roadblocking God and when he shifts your plans, go with His plan. And sometimes, He may seeming change the plan multiple times. Just know that He is in control, He knows what you need, and He’ll provide it just when you need it. And not a moment sooner. I have a lot to learn, but I am learning. And most of all, thank you, Jesus, for taking care of my dad, me, and all of these shifting plans. It will all work out. I know You’ve got this!

”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord…” – Jeremiah 29:11

Previous Post

March 26, 2018

A Tip for Finding Rest No Matter Where You Are

Next Post

March 31, 2018 A Permanent Love

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Christmas church current events dissent Editor's Choice family gifts growth humor kindness marriage men money news other parenting personal personal sex singleness teenagers Uncategorized women work

Select a Month September 2025 August 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

In the parable of the talents, what is rewarded?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Faithfulness Sincerity Riches Patience

Books by This Author Books by Shaunti Feldhahn

See All Titles »